The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Monday, 28 March 2022 | Volume 109 | Issue 4
Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism
Walker County Fair kicks off with Huntsville Parade
CAMPUS PEO seeks to uplift women through grants Getting back into school can be tough for anyone, this grant works to help women work to gain their higher education goal Sydney Ferguson
Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) is currently looking for candidates ready to receive the organization’s P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education (PCE) grant. PEO is a private international group so where other scholarships give the money to universities and allow them to choose how to dispense it, PEO requires that candidates be brought to them for subsequent awarding. According to PEO’s website, the heart of the organization is, “help-
ing women reach for the stars.” It follows then that one of the very first criteria for a candidate to be eligible is that they must be a woman. Payne has spoken to various deans, the Financial Aid Office, the Student Money Management center and has now expanded to Evolve, an Academic Support Program for female students at SHSU. Still, she’s had no luck. “For this particular scholarship, it needs to be someone who has had a break in their education at some point since graduating from high school of two years or more,”
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Committee Chair for the PCE grant Grettle Payne said. “So, it can be somebody who went to work for a couple years and now wants to go back to school, or it could be somebody like me who went back when I was 45 to get my master’s degree. You just have to have two years of a break between high school and now.” Interested candidates must also already be enrolled in school and within 18 months of their expected graduation date. Payne is able to award this scholarship up to four times a year. However, she has averaged only one candidate a
year for the past four years. Payne says some issues are lack of information and lack of qualification. “I guess it’s just finding someone who qualifies. I think there’s probably a need for more information for most people,” Payne explained. “I think that’s also an issue is getting the information to the appropriate candidates. Just finding someone who fits that qualification of returning to school and really needing it. They want the money to reside at Sam Houston and our group doesn’t work that way. We won’t give you our scholarship funds and have you make the award. It has to be someone who contacts us.” Payne has no prospects yet. Due to Privacy of Information laws, many of the schools and offices Payne has reached out to are unable to simply give her a name. It is her hope that those who now know of the organization will make the move to refer students in her direction. “I’ve tried. I’ve gone on campus with a big sign saying, ‘Free money’ and passed out fliers to students as they passed by the mall,” Payne said. “I have been down to the Woodlands campus, same thing, passing out fliers, and we just don’t seem to be connecting with the right people.” The last grant Payne was able to give was in December 2021 to Elizabeth Edwards, an SHSU student Payne knew from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, right here in Huntsville. This was also the largest award Payne has ever given, coming in at $2600. The scholarship is international and can go to anyone. However, as Program Chair and a strong sup-
porter of Sam Houston, Payne would like to see the money given closer to home. “My husband was Vice President of Academic Affairs for 10 years,” Payne said. “Other scholarships that we have are for graduates and they apparently have much better luck at Texas A&M. But the Sam Houston connection for me, I’m like ‘I want this money to go to Sam kids.” While the period for this term has passed to be awarded the scholarship, the application is currently open for the fall and spring semester for next year. “In order to have an award for next fall I have to have the information ready to present to my club in the first part of May, so all the paperwork has to be done in April,” Payne said. “Then I present the name of the person to the club, they vote. I can forward the application information 10 weeks before the start of school so that puts it in June sometime. Then a scholarship can be ready by the start of school in August.” Payne described the vote as “pro forma,” meaning, “as a formality.” So long as Payne is able to submit to her committee a genuine applicant, nearly nothing else stands in their way. Timelines for PEO are rigid but on paper, the application process is simple. More opportunities with different criteria are available at peointernational.org and, though Payne does not work with those projects she is happy to pass the information along to those that do. Payne encourages interested and eligible students to contact her via email at grettlep@gmail.com. www.houstoniannews.com
Jeanine Bias: What Women’s History Month means to her Daniel Robinson
On Wednesday, March 23 recently appointed Chief Diversity Officer Jeanine Bias spoke during the virtual speaker series recognizing Women’s History Month. “Diversity is data,” Chief Diversity Officer Jeanine Bias stated. “Diversity is really about who’s in the place in the space.” During her virtual event, Bias discussed her experience earning a bachelor’s degree in political science at Sam Houston State University and later an Executive Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University. “Growing up, my primary identity was always seeing myself as being black, and not so much as being a woman,” Bias said. Being raised primarily by men, Bias interpreted herself receiving many mas-
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KAT CHATS: Alumni gives student body tips for after graduation Kali Camacho
Student Alumni Association hosted their 3rd annual Kat Chats on Thursday, March 24 from 6:008:00 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center. During the event students were given an opportunity to ask Sam Houston State University alumni questions about entering the workforce after graduation. The event started with a recep-
Photo courtesy of Kali Camacho
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tion followed by a dinner and a question-and-answer session with the alumni panelists. This event was to give students leadership development, career advice and for them to build a relationship with alumni. “The purpose is to connect students with alumni,” Student Engagement and Program Coordinator for SHSU Student Alumni Association Teona Hughes stated.
“This started out as a sit-down table discussion where students can find a mentor. We wanted to go with a different direction this year and make it more general and do a panel discussion where students can ask any questions.” The panel consisted of class of 1994 Sam Houston alumni Deirdre Holloway, class of 2002 Brian Starr and class of 1988 Brian Hall. Holloway is currently the Director of Student Affairs in Fort Bend ISD and is receiving her Doctorate at SHSU this May. Starr is a partner at the accounting firm, Whitley Penn LLP and is on the SHSU College of Business Advisory Council. Hall serves as manager and Small Business Liaison Officer for Shell Oil Company. During the reception, students had the opportunity to get to know their fellow piers and meet the panelist which continued during dinner. After dinner, students
were able to ask the alumni about financial advice, resume and interview advice and overall, how the job market works. “My biggest take away was tips for interviewing,” senior health care administration major Janneaha Woods said. “I’m not a big fan of interviews I stutter a lot especially when I’m talking to a panel so this interview with the Kat Chats was really helpful for me.-” During the dinner, a few door prizes were given away, such as a speaker, Airpods and a smart TV. The event concluded and students continued to ask the alumni questions one-on-one and took pictures together. Students were then asked to take an online survey of how the event could improve. Student Alumni Association meets every first Tuesday and every third Wednesday and are planning some upcoming events later in the future.
culine traits, in attitude and in clothing style. As the first woman born in her family, initially her name was decided to be James Roy, named after her two grandfathers: with the intention of fooling a potential interviewer with the initials J.R. “All of the lessons that I learned really through all of elementary school, all of high school were really more lessons on being independent,” Bias explains. Bias thought that tasks her mother did were not uplifting, due to having more male role models through her dad and uncles. That view did not change until she attended college, where she met many of the women who inspired her. “I started to learn that empowered women really empower other women,” Bias said. These included her great aunt Irene, a former teacher and superintendent who had a school named after her according to Bias. “I remember as a college student having a conversation with her and she said that your choices are limitless; you are only limited by your own fears,” Bias said. Joining a sorority at Sam Houston State, she met many of the women she considers family. “I’m hoping regardless of who you are: women, men, however you identify that you have those people in your circle and in your life that truly empower you and push you forward,” Bias said. “If you have on a crown, if you are not confident, if you don’t stand in who you are, if you dip your chin just a little bit, then that crown falls off.” “I remember as a college student having a conversation with her and she said that your choices are limitless; you are only limited by your own fears.”
28 March 2022 | Houstonian News | 03
ARTS & ENT.
Laughter is the best medicine in style From pop culture references to physcial comedy to, "A Doctor in Spite of Himself" was a perfect blend of comedy and entertainment that showed that maybe laughter really is the best medicine; well, sometimes
Photo courtesy of Makyra Etienne Photo courtesy of CAM department
Photo courtesy of Makyra Etienne
Julia Landry
Filled to the brim with pop culture references, well-known songs and characters that were larger than life, “A Doctor in Spite of Himself” had the audience laughing from start to finish. Sam Houston State University’s Department of Theatre & Musical Theatre performed Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp’s adaptation of Moliere’s piece March 24-26 and sold out every show. Telling the story of a young girl 04 | Houstonian News | 28 March 2022
Photo courtesy of Makyra Etienne
who feigns an illness in order to avoid an unwanted marriage and receives help from a fake doctor, “A Doctor in Spite of Himself” showed audiences that laughter really is the best medicine. It took an ensemble of actors and actresses to pull-off this production and each one was needed for the story to feel complete. A standout role of the production was that of the infamous doctor Sganarelle played by SHSU senior, Katlyn Cox. Cox’s comedic timing, facial and body mannerisms and
connections to the other characters really helped set the foundation of the play and storyline. Other standout characters were Lucas and Valere, played by SHSU seniors Aaron Piccirillo and Trace Vaughn, respectively. These two stole the show each time their characters were on scene. The chemistry between the two characters and their bold and blunt personalities they shared made it difficult to not enjoy their time on stage. One more character that really stood out was that of Geronte,
played by SHSU sophomore Paige Klase. Klase’s character was not as extravagant as some of the others on stage, but it was her contrast and subtle mannerisms that made her stand out from the others. The beauty of the production was the fact that the show was written as a comedy, and it succeeded in being interpreted as a comedy by the audience. It may sound like performing a show that was written to be
funny would be easy to do, but that is not the case sometimes. In the same sense that not just anyone can be a comedian, not just anyone can perform a comedic play. The actors have to be able to deliver the lines and body language necessary to get a reaction from the audience. This group of actors and actresses, stage crew and light and sound technicians worked well together to give an unforgettable performance. www.houstoniannews.com
From punk to country: Cannon Brand's story Kay Carpenter
Photo courtesy of Clay Banks on Unsplash.com
'Crash' album review Michael Garcia
“CRASH” is the fifth studio album released by Charli XCX. Since its release on March 18, the album has received universal acclaim. The Independent gave it five stars, a perfect score. Frankly, the word perfect cannot even really do it justice because perfect fails to describe all the ways in which this album is a miracle of modern music making. “CRASH” is simultaneously an eighties-inspired, full-throated, pedal-to-the-metal jam-fest and a meticulously modern hyperpop album, it is a truly incredible synthesis of sound. In between soaring ballad vocals and luscious eighties style synth sounds are all the technical vocal effects and gnarly little drum sounds that hyperpop fans adore. www.houstoniannews.com
Getting into the details, it is clear that a lot of thought was put into this album. All tracks are sequenced perfectly. The lyrics are very relevant to the current moment and still magically evocative of a bygone era. The songs themselves are like 12 multi-colored jewels on the crown that is this album. The album opener “Crash” is like the pace car for the rest of the album and rest assured, the pace is fast. The song ends with an incredible guitar solo and the sonic version of a car crash that sends you right into the next song, “New Shapes.” “New Shapes” is an incredibly danceable song. Christine and the Queens and Caroline Polachek are perfect features on this song. Along with Charli, they make this song take off like a rocket. Similarly, Rina Sawayama on
“Beg for You” is transcendent. “Beg for You” is perfect for the dance floor or a midnight drive, it is really something to hear. “Lightning” strikes in fantastic fashion. Every key is perfectly struck in this song, there is not a tile out of place in this utter mosaic of sound. It is punchy and addictive and yet at the same time it is “Never Too Much” like Luther Vandross. How do you move on from such a banger? The answer is with “Every Rule.” Every album ought to have that one song that is simply a vibe, this is that song for “CRASH.” “Every Rule” is full of sounds that fall down like leaves or rose petals in the autumn breeze. “Twice” is like a love letter at the end of the world. Emotionally, the relevance of this song seems obvious given the state of the world. Despite that or maybe even because of that, “Twice” is the perfect way to end this utterly immaculate album.
Texas is known for the country legends that call the state their home. George Strait and Willie Nelson themselves are Lone Star grown, and there is a new generation of country artists brewing just a few miles from Sam Houston State University’s campus. Cannon Brand, 20, is at Sam Houston State University studying Entrepreneurship. But all of his spare time is dedicated to his passion; creating music that makes him happy. “I just wanted to learn how to play guitar, then I ditched the lessons and went from there,” Brand said. “It started with rock music, I loved all kinds of music, but I started with rock.” He credits “School of Rock” at The Woodlands with giving him a solid start, taking lessons as a teenager and forming his first band within the school with most of his current bandmates. It was not long before Brand was searching for a new sound. “As soon as we stopped doing the teenage punk band thing, I started taking it seriously and made a career change. I decided to start singing country music,” Brand said. “It started with singing
George Strait and Garth Brooks in the corner of a BBQ restaurant. But I had enough people tipping me and saying, ‘Hey, you should keep doing this,’ so I did.” Brand’s newest single, “Still Around,” was released on Jan. 21, 2022. When asked about the song, Brand noticeably shifted from light-hearted jokes to a more solemn speech. “I always wanted to write a song for my late grandfather,” Brand said. “I was a lot like him, and I didn’t get to say goodbye, but I was young. It hit me hard later. But I always wanted to write something for him, and I could never get it right. It all sounded too cheesy.” He went on to talk about loss, a universal experience across the human species. He hopes to write a song that encapsulates the emptiness that a loss leaves, while simultaneously showcasing the later stages of grief, the part of coming to terms with loneliness that feels hopeful. “To me, this song isn’t even sad, it’s more hopeful. I’m sure everybody on this earth can relate to that in some way.” Cannon Brand is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music. He will also be performing on April 1 and 2 at the Montgomery County Fair.
Photo courtesy of Kay Carpenter
28 March 2022 | Houstonian News | 05
OPINIONS
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As journalists, what do we learn from opinion writing? While unbiased journalism is important, expression is just as crucial Lizeth Gonzalez
When it comes to journalism as a whole, it is a reporter’s duty to stay unbiased and fair. However, journalism will always have some sort of bias whether it comes in the form of a large editorial or the simple expression that is needed for student journalist. As journalists, we seek to be unbiased and report only facts. However, in opinion writing, a publica06 | Houstonian News | 28 March 2022
tion is selecting the opinion of the journalist based on the facts that have been collected. News reporting is gathering news, leaving the personal and moral judgement of the author aside. With opinion journalism they build off that, adding judgement, framing, context and illumination, according to Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Often, when journalism is viewed from an outside perspec-
tive it can seem troublesome but the level of trust from reader to publication is often based on personal political beliefs. When surveyed, publications like the New York Times, Washington Post and USA Today have been more distrusted than trusted by people who are mostly conservative and are more trusted than distrusted by people who are mostly liberal, according to the University of Michigan Library. Student jour-
nalists have learned from the start to only report facts and leave bias to the side as we report on the news, but we are also taught to have our own personal morals and opinions when it comes to what we write. However, that is what the opinion writing section is for. We are no longer reporting for the news section but rather reporting for the opinion section, so that our own personal beliefs based on the facts presented are used. In a podcast posted by Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, award-winning Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah explained the importance of opinion writing within journalism. “Opinion journalism is part of the journalism information product that an institution like the Post, or the
Times is offering,” Attiah said. “I think that opinion journalism, again going back to the fact that I think great opinion journalism is often based on reporting, is based on still talking to people, still based on getting as close to the story as possible.” As student journalists we look to accomplished publications and reporters for guidance in what we would like to do after college. For journalism, opinion writing is one of the things many of us aspire to do. “And we’re not claiming expertise, at the end of the day, we are writers, but we do, over time, build up a certain well of knowledge in our particular areas of interest that we do draw upon,” Attiah said. “So this idea that opinion journalism – good opinion journalism, I’ll say, good opinion journalism also has an element of reporting.” www.houstoniannews.com
Netflix: Tracking down password sharing users is not a good move Ana DeLeon
The practice of password sharing will soon be prohibited by Netflix, and the company is planning on using a new A.I software to enforce it. This may lead to less password sharing but it may also decrease the number of viewers and popularity of certain movies and shows. This practice is incredibly anticonsumer in nature and could lead to the streaming platform falling behind in popularity to other services. Although Netflix remains one of the main video streaming services, the vast majority of viewers are young adults who help the service by promoting their content through their personal social media platforms. If Netflix succeeds in blocking the use of password sharing it will only force people to find other
streaming services that offer the same variety of movies and shows to watch. These young viewers that Netflix depends on so much for free advertising are some of the biggest users of the password sharing practice. Young people like to save money where they can, they more than make up for the potential profit loss Netflix may incur with all the free publicity provided on social media that draws viewership in. Netflix could potentially become one of the least popular streaming services and social media platforms will help other services rise to the top, especially given the fact that other streaming services do not have A.I. blocking their use of password sharing. This practice will make the service incredibly unpopular among young viewers and lead to Netflix’s share prices plummeting.
Photo courtesy of Malte Helmhold on Unsplash.com
Physical is better than digital when it comes to the written word Jordan Kiefer
With the rise of e-books and audio books overtaking the industry, the debate between physical
and digital copies of books is more relevant than ever. Physical works are not easy to produce, it takes much more time to print things out physically rather
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than downloading books on a tablet, and consumers love the convenience of having their entire collection on a single tablet. But physical print offers some
benefits that make some consumers prefer and makes their reading experience more enjoyable. One factor that many readers love is the weight of a real book in their hands, turning those pages, smelling that fresh paper smell and the feeling of worn leather on your palms is a rewarding experience that can never be experienced with an audio book. Being able to see the physical process of how far a reader has made into a story with a good bookmark can be very rewarding for the reader. It gives them a sense of accomplishment seeing how far they have come and can even help motivate them to go farther than just swiping the screen of a Kindle can. A final and very important benefit to print is physical value. Book collections are something past generations have been proud of and can be transformative experi-
ences for young book enthusiasts. Being able to go into grandpa’s book room and experience the smells, feelings and joy of looking through the collections is something that just cannot be experienced if all of those books were downloaded and that is an experience that cannot be lost. As the debate between print and digital rages on, it is important to remember the soul and experiences that print can offer readers, it is something that will always be more fulfilling and will always give print a bit if an edge over digital. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and can even help motivate them to go farther than just swiping the screen of a Kindle can.
28 March 2022 | Houstonian News | 07
SPORTS Softball breaks 13-game losing streak with win over Wildcats After a rough start to the season, Bearkats softball looks to be turning the corner after a Saturday win over Abilene Christian Ally Rollins
The Sam Houston Bearkats (1023, 4-5 conference) faced the Abilene Christian Wildcats (17-15, 8-4 conference) in a three-game series at home for the first time this season in their second conference matchup of the year. Game 1 In game one of the series and Friday’s double-header, the Bearkats fell in a 12-2 defeat in five innings. Junior starting pitcher Regan Dunn took the mound for the Bearkats. At the top of the 2nd, Wildcats freshman shortstop Rose Gonzales, sophomore infielder Miranda Davila and junior outfielder Mercedes Eichelberger scored giving them the lead of 3-0 early on in the game. The Bearkats had a pitching change where sophomore Christine Billmeier stepped in for Dunn at the top of the 3rd. Davila, Gonzales and freshman shortstop Logan Gaspar scored three more runs, bringing the score 6-0 Wildcats lead. During the top of the 4th, freshman outfielder McKenley Clark scored for Abilene Christian, making the score 7-0. At the top of the 5th, Wildcats’ graduate infielder Calie Burris and sophomore third baseman Matti Reiling both homered. Burris’ homer allowed for sophomore pitcher Riley White and freshman catcher Miranda Lista to also score in the 5th inning. Reiling’s home run was able to bring sophomore catcher Sydney Kaiser home for a run, making the score 12-0. The Bearkats scored their only 08 | Houstonian News | 28 March 2022
two runs when sophomore infielder Emily Telg hit a double to right center allowing for freshman outfielder Jordan Peno and sophomore utility player Avery Tumey to score. Graduate pitcher Sidney Holman for the Wildcats received the win for the game and Dunn was given the loss. Game 2 Both teams were neck and neck in game two of the series with the Wildcats scoring the first run of the game in the top of the 1st. Eichelberger scored the first run for the Wildcats of the night with the help of Burris’ single to right field. The Bearkats scored in the bottom of the 2nd which tied the game. Sophomore infielder Kylie Hobbs was able to score a run for the Bearkats when freshman outfielder Haleigh Carter doubled. In the top of the 3rd, Wildcat Burris homered to right field making the score 2-1. The Wildcats kept the lead until the Bearkats came up to bat at the bottom of the 5th. The Bearkats took the lead in the bottom of the 5th when Carter scored a run after freshman utility player Brodie Quinlan flew out to center field. Freshman infielder Allie Saville was able to run home to score the second run of the 5th inning for the Bearkats. At the end of the 5th inning, the score was 3-2 in favor of the Bearkats. Abilene Christian would go on to score two runs in the top of the 7th securing the win for game two. Holman again received the win for the game and sophomore
pitcher Mika Vento for Sam Houston to take the loss. Game 3 In the final game of the series against Abilene Christian, the Bearkats kept fans on the edge of their seats in a nail-biting 6-5 victory to break the team’s 13-game losing streak with a 6-5 final score. The Wildcats bat first with freshman pitcher Brailey Wasik for the Bearkats as the starting pitcher. Bearkat defense was able to prevent Abilene Christian from scoring in both the 1st and 2nd inning. Wasik was an asset in game three in preventing the Wildcats from scoring, she caught a pop-fly from Reiling and a ground ball to center field. In the bottom of the 2nd, Wasik hit a homerun to left field to open the game's scoring. At the top of the 3rd, Burris grounded out to second base allowing for Lista to score, bringing the score to 1-1. In the bottom of the 3rd, Dunn was able to score a run bringing the score to 2-1. Freshman outfielder Isabel Martinez for the Wildcats scored when Lista singled in the top of the 4th. With the bases loaded, White brought home two runners to give the Wildcats a 4-2 lead. Sophomore utility player Ellie Grill filled in to pinch run for Wasik and sophomore infielder Kenzi Lange also subbed in for freshman catcher Kelsey Bunch in the bottom of the 4th. In the same inning, Grill scored when Telg bats and advances to second base. Carter, Peno and Telg all scored a run when Quinlan hit a double allowing for the runners on base to advance. The four runs
Photo courtesy of Scott Morris
Photo courtesy of Scott Morris
Photo courtesy of Scott Morris
made in the bottom of the 4th set the Bearkats up to take the lead with a score of 6-4. Vento relieved Wasik at the top of the 5th to pitch for the Bearkats. During this inning, softball Head Coach Garrett Valis was ejected due to a disagreement at second base. Both teams' defense was able to prevent the other from scoring any
more runs resulting in a win in game three for the Sam Houston Bearkats. Vento received the win for the game and Holman took the loss. The Bearkats’ will travel north Wednesday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m. to take on the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks for their next game. before facing off against rival Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks. www.houstoniannews.com
Bowling knocked out in conference tournament
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Nicholas Phola
What the Sam Houston Bearkats had hoped to be a long trip to Harahan, Louisiana was cut short as they were upended by the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the second round of the consolation bracket 4-3. Last season, the Bearkats lost to Youngstown State in the regional finals last spring. The Bearkats looked to make a statement in the tournament going in as the No. 3 seed in the country behind McKendree University and the University of Nebraska, according to the NC Bowling rankings. This however was not the case. The Kats had a strong start to the tournament as they
handedly defeated the No. 8 Valparaiso Beacons 4-0 in their first match of the weekend to move on in the winner's bracket. After that it was all downhill from there. To finish off day one, the Kats would go on to face the No. 4 Youngstown Penguins in their second match and lose in blowout fashion 4-0 after the initial victory. The Kats started day two in the loser's bracket playing against No. 5 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs where they would eventually see their weekend come to an end early after losing 4-3. They began the match falling down 3-1 but would bounce back to send it to a
winner-take-all game seven. The Bulldogs would come out victorious in the final game and send the Bearkats home early. The Kats will now await their seed in the NCAA tournament, which will be announced at 3:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 30 and can be seen on NCAA.com. Depending on their seeding and schedule, the Bearkats will compete in the NCAA regional tournament April 8-9. The location of the event still has yet to be announced as each region will be determined based on the conference tournament outcomes. The Bearkats will be playing for a spot in the NCAA Championship pending the results of the regionals April 14-16.
Baseball takes first Battle of the Piney woods Collin Neill
The Sam Houston Bearkat Baseball started off Battle of the Piney Woods: Diamond Edition with a series lead over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in Nacogdoches two games to one. The series started Friday, March 25 where the Lumberjacks took the first game of the series in a close one 2-1. The one difference in that ballgame was a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first inning by senior catcher Jake Zarrello. Freshman outfielder Lane Brewster was able to tack a run in on a single in the fifth inning, but that was all the Bearkats could muster in the loss. The second game of the series the next day, while also close, was a lot higher scoring. The Bearkats won the second game 9-7 in a thriller. The Lumberjacks at one point were up 5-3 after a two-run home www.houstoniannews.com
run by senior outfielder Cameron Crawford in the fourth inning to break a 3-3 tie. After the Bearkats tied it up in the sixth inning via a run-batted-in single by sophomore catcher Wes Folse, Sam Houston strung together a strong four-run seventh inning to take the lead. They were led by none other than the junior transfer from Cisco College Carlos Contreras, who has made his presence known since arriving at Sam Houston. Contreras had two homers in this game, including a three-run blast in the inning. He would finish the game with a game high six RBI’s. The Bearkats then called on senior pitcher Lance Lusk to get the two-inning save to seal game two. The rubber match of this threegame series, unlike the first two games, was not even close as the Bearkats klawed the Lumberjacks 9-2 off of another amazing performance by Contreras. To put it in wider perspective,
Contreras was responsible for all but one run of Sam Houston’s 10 that crossed home plate. He started early with a grand slam in the first inning that was sent a long way. The next inning, he hit a two RBI single to make it 6-0 Bearkats. Contreras would then hit a tworun double in the fourth inning. He was not finished there. He would then put another exclamation mark in the sixth inning with a solo home run into center field. On the weekend, Contreras on his own outscored the Lumberjacks 15 runs to 12. Junior pitcher Matt Dillard also had a great game going seven innings on two runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine to earn the win. The Bearkats improved to 14-10 overall and 6-3 in the Western Athletic Conference as they head into another tough Tuesday night match against ranked No. 20 team Texas State Bobcats at 6:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Brisenia Flores
28 March 2022 | Houstonian News | 09
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