A rough start to a bad night proved insurmountable for the Sam Houston State baseball team Tuesday as the Kats (18-10, 4-2 SLC) suffered a 16-3 loss at Dallas Baptist University, an NCAA Div. II team currently carrying a mediocre 16-12 record.
Starting pitcher Casey Springer (1-1) gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings for the loss before being replaced by Jon Lindenberger in the middle of the third.
Lindenberger gave up three hits and two runs in 1 2/3 innings as the Kats were forced to utilize six different pitchers throughout the game.
Stephen price took the mound in the bottom of the fifth, followed by Tanner Rainwater in the bottom of the sixth, Zac Baker in the bottom of the seventh, and Will Goodwin in the bottom of the eighth.
The Patriots scored in every inning except the second, with four runs scored in the bottom of the fourth.
While the defense struggled on the mound, the Kats’ offense worked towards the same fate at the plate. The Patriot pitching staff held the Sam Houston State players scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when second baseman Clint Mann singled to bring in the Kats’ first run of the game.
The scoreboard would remain at one for the Bearkats until the top of the ninth when the final two runs crossed the plate on a home run from left fielder Nick Zaleski.
Justin Krum led the Patriots at the plate by hitting for the cycle in a 4-for-5 performance with four runs scored and an RBI.
Catcher Stephen Spaugh led the Bearkats with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate, followed by third baseman Austin Boggs, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
SHSU will play again this Friday in the first of a three-game conference series at home against Texas-Arlington.
The Mavericks are currently the bottom feeders in the SLC West and are looking for their first conference win of the season.