Mar 16th, 2007 04:51PM
by:

By STEVE EAST
UCA SID

CONWAY — Senior Matt Warren doubled to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning to score Kevin Rawls with the game-winning run in a 6-5 victory over Sam Houston State on Friday (March 16) at UCA Field.

The Bears (9-7, 1-0) won their first-ever Southland Conference game behind a 13-hit offensive attack and a 10-strikeout performance from junior Matt Whitaker. Five different Bears had at least two hits, with Warren contributing a game-high three RBI. Whitaker (2-2) went eight innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs.

The Bears fell behind 4-0 after the Bearkats (13-8, 0-1) put up three runs in the fourth inning. UCA answered with a four-run fifth inning, sending eight batters to the plate. All four of the runs were unearned off starter Jesse Marshall because of a pair of errors. Warren had a two-run single to left and right fielder Derrick Corso doubled home two more.

Sam Houston went back ahead 5-4 in the top of the sixth but UCA tied it in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by pinch-hitter Grant Gatlin.

The Bearkats brought in reliever Luke Prihoda to start the eighth but Rawls greeted him with a leadoff single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt by Gatlin moved him to second. One out later, Warren laced a double to left for the game-winner.

Freshman Bobby Pritchett came on to pitch the ninth, faced four batters and earned his first save. Warren, Dickson, Payton Seelinger, Jonathan Ashworth and Rawls all had two hits for the Bears. SHSU shortstop Jeremy Holzbach was the only Bearkat with multiple hits, finishing 2 for 4.

Game 2 of the series will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.