No. 1 Sam Houston State’s Offense Too Much for No. 5 Central Arkansas
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SUGAR LAND, Texas – No. 1 Sam Houston State run ruled No. 5 Central Arkansas 12-2 in seven innings in the 2016 Southland Conference baseball tournament Thursday night at Constellation Field.
A pair of rookies for the Bearkats lead the offense as freshman left fielder Clayton Harp and freshman third baseman Andrew Fregia each and three hits and two runs in four at bats.
Sam Houston State opened the first inning with a 1-0 lead over the Bears. Harp scored on a single up the middle from senior first baseman Zach Smith.
In the top of the second inning, the Bearkats tacked on five more runs for a 6-0 lead. Junior catcher Robie Rojas reached on a fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt to advance freshman designated hitter Jaxxon Grisham who scored on a throwing error. Junior shortstop Taylor Beene singled to left center to score Rojas and Fregia. Harp doubled to left center score Beene and Harp stole third then scored on a throwing error before the Bears were able to get out of the inning.
Central Arkansas put a run on the board in the bottom of the second inning when senior third baseman Logan Preston singled to left field scoring senior left fielder Brandon Montalvo for a 6-1 ball game.
The Bearkats scored two more runs off of one hit in the top of the third inning. Sam Houston State scored again in the top of the fifth inning on a single from Fregia scoring Grisham to extend the Bearkat’s lead 9-1.
In the top of the seventh inning Sam Houston State continued its offensive surge adding three more runs. Rojas singled to right field to score Grisham and freshman right fielder Riley McKnight. Rojas scored on a Beene single up the middle to lead 12-1.
Rain came into the area causing a 15-minute delay before teams took the field for the bottom of the seventh inning.
Central Arkansas scored on double to left center to score senior center field Tyler Langley, but the Bearkats closed out the inning for the 12-2 ball game.
Sam Houston State advances to take on either No. 8 Stephen F. Austin or a rematch against Central Arkansas Friday at noon.