Anthony Azar’s game-winning single in the bottom of the eight innings helped the Bearkats defeated the University of California-Riverside Highlanders by the score of 4-3 and to take 2 out 3 in the series.

The win gave the Bearkats an overall record of 6-5 for the season.

“I wanted to get any pitch that was around the zone that I could get a good swing on and just put the ball in play and get the run in,” Azar said.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to score in the top of the second inning when Bart Stephonovich drew a base on ball with two outs. However, Stephonovich was thrown out at second by Bearkat catcher Azar to end the threat

The Bearkats capitalized on that mistake and struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Kevin Miller hit a single up the middle that allowed Azar to score from second that made the score 1-0. Azar led off the inning with a double.

Ryan O’Hearn’s RBI single in the bottom of the third increased the Bearkat lead to 2-0. Colt Atwood reached first on a fielder’s choice and stole second base.

The Highlanders scored their first run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Bearkat lead to 2-1 on a RBI single by Jake Gallaway that allowed Vince Gonzalez to score. Gonzalez walked in the top of the inning with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch by starting pitcher Caleb Smith. He reached third on a single by Cody Hough.

They scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead by the score of 3-2 on a RBI ground out by Eddie Young and a RBI single by Cody Hough. tunity to tie it in the top of the fifth when Bolasky led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Phil Holinsworth.

The Bearkats tied it at 3 on a RBI ground out by O’Hearn that scored Corey Toups. Toups led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and advanced to second on a bunt single by Atwood. A bunt single by Luke Plucheck loaded the bases.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning when
Clayton Prestridge singled in the top of the seventh inning with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Michael Oros. Young walked to make it first and second. Gonzalez grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Plucheck led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a triple and scored the eventual game-winning run on Azar’s single with one out in the inning.

The highlight of the game came in the top of the ninth inning when Plucheck made a diving catch to rob pinch hitter Nick Vilter of a possible double and ended the hopes of the Highlanders from starting a rally in order to tie the game.

“I felt that I had a chance to get it, so I called for it,” Plucheck said. “When a pitcher is giving his all to win, the position players have to come through for him sometimes and I was just glad I was able to do that.”

He (Plucheck) got a lot of speed,” head coach David Pierce said. “He basically outranned the ball and timed his jump. He really save the day.”

Reliever Michael Oros went two innings and got the win. He struck out two batters and gave up a hit.

Highlander starting pitcher Trevor Frank pitched seven inning and suffered the loss. He gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out seven.

Smith went four and two-third innings for the Bearkats and got the no-decision. He struck out eight batters and gave up three runs on five hits.

The loss give the Highlanders an overall record of 4-6.

The Bearkats next game will be on Tuesday as they host Houston Baptist Huskies at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time is at 6:30 p.m.

Here is Plucheck’s catch that saved a double in the top of the ninth inning called by Derek Martin of the Bearkats Sports Network:

Sam Houston State Bearkat baseball team defeated the University of California-Riverside Highlanders by the score of 9-4. They are now 5-4 for the season.

“I thought we had some quality at-bats and because of that, we got some guys in scoring position and that counted in our favor,” head coach David Pierce said.

The Highlanders struck first in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by Phil Holinsworth to make it 1-0.

Kevin Miller’s RBI single tied the score at 1. Luke Plucheck reached first with one out in the bottom of the first on an error by thirdbaseman Cody Hough and advanced to second on a single by Anthony Azar.

The Highlanders answered in the top of the second when Eddie Young scored on a fielder’s choice that made it 2-1. Young led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Colt Atwood. He advanced to third on a bunt single by Cody Hough.

Jake Arrington scored on a sacrifice fly by Corey Toups that tied the game at 2. Arrington led off the bottom of the second inning with a double. He advanced to third on an error by starting pitcher Dylan Stuart when he tried to pick off Arrington at second base.

Miller’s RBI double in the bottom of the third gave the Bearkats a 3-2 lead.

The Bearkats scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth that made it 5-2 on a RBI single by Corey Toups’ and a sacrifice fly by Plucheck.

They added four runs in the bottom of the seventh to increase the lead to 9-2

The Highlanders scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to cut the Bearkat lead to 9-4 on a RBI triple by Holinsworth and an RBI single by Clayton Prestridge.

Starting pitcher Cody Dickson went seven innings and got his first win for the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one.

“Coach Pierce stressed that we had to come out with a lot of energy and I think we did that well tonight,” Miller said.

Stuart went 6 1/3 innings and suffered the loss.

Game two of this three game series will be tomorrow at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time is at 4 p.m.

By Cheval John

Behind guard Mike James 22 points in the second half, the Lamar Cardinals defeated Sam Houston State Bearkats men’s basketball team by the score of 72-49.

The win gave the Cardinals increase their Southland Conference record to 9-5 (18-11 overall).

“We wanted to win pretty bad,” James said. “We kept grinding it out and we came out with the win.

The Bearkats started the game on a 7-2 run to make it 7-2.

The Cardinals answered with a 6-3 run to cut the lead to 10-8.

The Bearkats scored six straight points on three possessions to extend the lead to 16-8.

Cardinals went on a 10 -0 run to take their first lead by the score of 18-16.

From that moment, it was a back and forth battle between the two teams as they exchanged a total of 22 points to end the half with the game tied at 28.

Guard Darius Gatson led the Kats with 9 points in the first half, shooting 3-5 from the field. The Kats shot 100% from the free throw line.

James and guard Devon Lamb led the Cardinals with 8 points each in the first half.

The second half began with a 10-4 run by the Cardinals to make it 38-32.

They exploded with a 25-7 run to extend the lead to 60-45 and went on to win by the score of 72-49.

“You got to give credit to Lamar,” head basketball coach Jason Hooten said. “They fought really hard and responded real well with their SFA game and outplayed us.”

James finished the game with 30 points and had 3 rebounds with two assists while Lamb ended the game with 15 points, 5 assists and three rebounds.

“I put these guys at a terrible spot on purpose,” Cardinals head basketball coach Pat Knight said. “I wouldn’t had done it if I didn’t have tough players.”

Gatson finished the game with 13 points and had 4 assists with 3 rebounds. Forward Steven Werner contributed with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist.

The Bearkats next game will be against their arch-rival Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday, February 29 at Johnson Coliseum. It will be the final home game of the season.

For more information, visit gobearkats.com

Sam Houston State Bearkats defeated University of San Diego Toreros by the score of 10-3 to take 2 out of 3 in the weekend series. They are now 2-1 for the season.

“Doing the little things everyday gives us an opportunity to win,” head baseball coach David Pierce said. “San Diego is a great team and for us to play well against them is a great confidence builder.”

The Bearkats struck first in the bottom of the third inning when leftfielder Hayden Simerly (0-1) scored on a throwing error by Austin Bailey (0-2) that made it 1-0.

Simerly led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Corey Toups (0-1).

An RBI sacrifice fly by secondbaseman Jessie Plumlee (0-4) increased the Bearkat lead to 2-0. Thirdbaseman Kevin Miller (3-5) led off the fourth inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Shea Pierce (1-1) that allowed him to score on the sacrifice fly.

The Toreros scored their first run in the top of the seventh inning on a RBI single by shortstop Andrew Daniel (2-4) that made it 2-1. Firstbaseman Bryan Haar (2-4) singled with one out in the top of the seventh inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Andrew Godail and score on the single by Daniel.

The Bearkats exploded for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on rightfielder Greg Olson’s
(1-1) two run double and a two-run bloop single by Miller and an RBI single by pinch hitter Anthony Azar (1-1) to increased the lead to 7-1.

The Toreros scored two runs in the top of the eight inning to cut the lead to 7-3 on back to-back RBI singles by thirdbaseman Connor Joe (1-4) and Bryan Haar.

Pinch hitter Victor Rasor-Thompson (1-2) led off the top of the eight inning with a single and advance to second on a single by Kris Bryant (2-3). Designated Hitter Corey LeVier (0-3) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

The Bearkats added three more runs in the bottom of the eight inning to make it 10-3.

Starting pitcher Justin Jackson went five innings and got the win while starting pitcher Dylan Covey suffered the loss.

“Justin was really sharp and did a great job today,” coach Pierce said.

The Bearkats host Prarie View A&M on Tuesday at Don Sanders Stadium. Game time is at 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit gobearkats.com