April 17, 2009

Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. - Sam Houston State's lone run in the first inning proved to be all they would need as the Bearkats claimed a 6-0 lead over Nicholls Friday night in the series opener at Ray E. Didier Field.

"I was hoping we could come out with some momentum tonight after our big win Wednesday night," said head coach Chip Durham, "but we didn't play our kind of baseball. We've got to let this one go and make sure that we come out tomorrow ready to play."

Lefty Jarret Dunnam (Saraland, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) threw 6.2 innings in his ninth start of the season, fanning three and allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits, while Sean Weatherford threw a complete game shut out for the Kats, striking out eight Colonels.

Sam Houston State scored early, taking advantage of an error by the Colonels to take a 1-0 lead in the first with an unearned run.

Dunnam shut down the Bearkats through the next three innings, but a pair of singles and timely baserunning by SHSU in the fifth doubled the lead for Sam Houston for a 2-0 advantage.

In the eighth, the Kats padded the lead, plating four runs on back-to-back bases-loaded hits and a sac fly for a score of 6-0 through seven and a half.

"We didn't do a very good job defensively and we didn't get the support we needed out of our bullpen," Durham added. "We didn't get the timely hitting we needed with runners on base, and you can't win if you don't bring those runners in.

Nicholls (17-19, 8-11 SLC) scattered five hits through the game, including a double by catcher Jason Dennis (Mobile, Ala./Alabama Southern CC) - the Colonels' only extra-base hit of the game.

Game two of the series is set for 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

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