HOUSTON – HBU's Taylor Wright and Sam Houston State's Tyler Eppler each only allowed five hits, but the Bearkats were able to cash in on a pair of errors to claim a 3-1 decision in the Southland Conference series opener Friday afternoon at Husky Field.
 
Wright (2-9) allowed three runs, only one earned, on five hits, struck out two and walked one in eight innings for his fourth quality start in conference play. Junior Josh Martinez came on for the ninth and struck out a pair without allowing a hit.
 
Eppler (7-5) went the distance for SHSU, giving up a run on five hits and striking out nine.
 
Junior catcher Samm Wiggins singled and scored, while Martinez singled and drove in the lone run for the Huskies (22-24, 11-14 SLC). Senior shortstop CJ Jarvis singled to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, tying the season-best mark of senior leftfielder Jordan McCoy.
 
Corey Toups had the only extra-base hit of the game, a solo home run, walked and scored twice for the Bearkats (35-14, 17-8).
 
SHSU's only earned run of the game off Wright came when Toups led off the second with his homer to left.
 
HBU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Wiggins singled on a wicked hop at shortstop, McCoy followed with a single to center, and Martinez delivered an RBI single to right.
 
The Bearkats answered back in the fifth as Travis Lee reached on an error to lead off the inning and scored on a ground out by Hayden Simerly. SHSU added an insurance run in the sixth when Toups led off with a walk, and Ryan Farney reached on a dropped fly ball in right. Luke Plucheck's sacrifice fly put the Bearkats ahead, 3-1.
 
The series continues with a 1 p.m. start Saturday, followed by the finale Sunday at 2 p.m.