After a mediocre start to a promising season, the Bearkat baseball team outscored their University of Texas-Pan American opponents nearly 5-1 in a four-game sweep this weekend at Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats opened the series at home on Friday, coming away with the win despite scoring just two runs.
Jacob Howard (2-1) took the mound first for the Bearkats and pitched seven shut-out innings while giving up just two hits to earn the win.
Luke Prihoda took over in the top of the eighth and earned the save by completing the shut-out and sealing the Game 1 victory for Sam Houston St.
After a quiet offensive day on Friday, the Bearkats found the sweet spot as thirteen batters combined to bring in 20 runs while Texas-Pan American was held to just one run in the top of the seventh.
Jesse Marshall (2-0) tossed the first seven innings for the Kats and gave up the lone run of the game while striking out six.
The Kats were unable to bring in a run through the first three innings, yet quickly caught fire in the bottom of the fourth as first baseman Nick Zaleski doubled, followed by a walk and a single from right fielder Todd Sebek loaded the bases.
Zeleski scored when center fielder Jeremy Holzbach was hit by a pitch.
After a sacrifice fly from Josh Warren and a pair of stolen bases, left fielder Bobby Verbeck doubled to bring in two more runs and put the Bearkats ahead, 4-0.
Yet it was Karl Krailo, moved to DH from first base, who put the icing on the cake by hitting a three-run homer to finish the inning with the Bearkats ahead 7-0.
The momentum created in the fourth inning continued through the bottom of the sixth as the Bearkats went on to score 10 runs before tacking on three more for good measure in the bottom of the eighth.
Jim Bob Farris pitched the final two innings for the Kats and held the Broncs to not hits and no runs as the Bearkats earned their second victory of the weekend.
The Bearkats went on to defeat UTPA in the final two games, 14-8, 18-2.
The Kats next game is set for tonight at 6:30 against the Rice University Owls at Sanders Stadium. The Owls are currently riding a six-game winning streak and boast a 9-4 record on the season.
Despite a disappointing performance in the College Baseball Classic at Minute Maid Stadium in early February, the Owls are ranked No. 6 in the Baseball America Division I Baseball Top 25 Poll.
Sam Houston St. brings a winning streak of it’s own to the game tonight as the Kats are 7-0 since Feb. 17 with their last loss coming from Army at Sanders Stadium on Feb. 16.