Kats hold on, top Gents 8-7

By Gene Schallenberg
Sports

April 24, 2008 12:41 am

— Despite leading comfortably for most of Wednesday’s game, the Bearkats withstood a late rally and held on to an 8-7 victory over the Centenary Gents at Don Sanders Stadium.
“We turned it into a nail-biter,” SHSU head coach Mark Johnson said. “We created a huge inning for them. ... I was glad we got a W out of it. This time of year, this kind of game can be a trap and you have to have yourself ready. But when you can get a win and not play great, that’s a good thing.”
Shortstop Ryan Weber led the Bearkats (26-15) with five RBIs and had two hits on the day, including a grand slam over the left-field wall.
“I knew I was ahead in the count,” Weber said of his second-inning slam. “I knew (pitcher Joe Hagen) would try and challenge me with a fastball. Once I hit it, I knew it had a chance of going out. It put us up in the game early and I think it’s what we needed to get things going.”
Weber’s homer put the Bearkats up 5-2. Seth Hammock and Ryan Trevino also had two hits for SHSU.
The Gents (22-16) added a run in the fourth inning. With runners on the corners and no outs, second baseman Tim Deering grounded the ball to Weber, who started a double play.
The Bearkats scored again in the sixth to regain their three-run advantage. With runners on the corners, Nick Zaleski hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Trevino and push the score to 6-3.
The Bearkats added two insurance runs in the seventh inning.
Jaime Rohlmeier led off the inning with a sharply hit single to left. Weber brought him in on a looper to shallow center field. Centenary center fielder Jomar Tabor attempted to make a diving grab, but misjudged it and the ball bounced in front of his glove, then headed to the center field wall. Weber motored around the bases for a stand-up triple to score Rohlmeier.
Weber then scored on a wild pitch by reliever Chris Lalonde.
That gave the Bearkats a five-run lead heading into the ninth.
Those extra runs came in handy as the Gents patiently worked the count on the SHSU relievers.
“I think we either walked or hit six of the first seven batters,” Johnson said. “That’s not a formula for success.”
Guillaume Duguay closed it out for the Bearkats, striking out Teddy Saenz for the final out to pick up his first save of the season.
Will Skelton (3-3) got the start for the Bearkats and pitched five solid innings.
The Bearkats head to San Antonio this weekend to face the first-place Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners.