Bearkats Advance to Championship Game
Southland Conference
Photo Gallery |
ESPN3 Replay |
Highlights
SUGAR LAND, Texas – No. 5 Sam Houston State will make its sixth Southland conference tournament appearance and its’ first since 2009, when the Bearkats defeated former Southland member Texas State, 7-1.
Sam Houston State (30-27, 14-13 Southland) defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (26-26, 13-14 Southland) 3-2 to advance to the championship game.
In the top of the third inning, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi junior Casey Thomas bunted down the third base line for a single, advancing sophomore Lukas Hermanson to third base. With runners in scoring position senior Jordan Lee singled through the left side to score Hermanson and moving Thomas to third base.
Senior Jacob Dorris walked two Bearkats in the eighth inning before Rahm singled to the short stop to load the bases with one out forcing the Islanders to call on left-handed senior Trevor Belicek. Senior Colt Atwood was picked off third on a squeeze bunt attempt for the second out of the inning. Belicek struck out Smith to get out of the inning.
Sophomore Brett Burner scored on a fielding error for this Islanders in the fourth inning to gain a 2-0 lead over Sam Houston State.
The Bearkats tied the game in the seventh inning, 2-2. Junior Spence Rahm scored on a throwing error to score the first run for Sam Houston. Junior Trevor Winnie flied out to centerfield to score Zach Smith as the Bearkats made it a 2-2 ball game. A&M-Corpus Christi brought in right-handed senior Jacob Dorris to relieve starter senior Tyler Schnuriger.
In the ninth inning senior Wyatt Powell singled up the middle and advanced to second on a bunt from junior Ryan Brinley to put two runners on with one out for the Bearkats. Freshman Bryce Johnson singled to the pitcher to load the bases. Atwood struck out to put senior Jake MacWilliam at the plate with two outs. MacWilliams singled deep to left-center field scoring Powell to win 3-2 over the Islanders.
No. 5 Sam Houston State will face No. 7 Houston Baptist at 6 p.m. in the 2015 Southland Conference championship game at Constellation Field.