Sam Houston Wins Twice On Saturday, Claims The 2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament Title
Sam Houston Wins Twice On Saturday, Claims The 2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament Title
Game 14 Box Score
Game 15 Box Score
MESA, Ariz. – Following an offensive barrage that saw 39 runs scored in a pair of elimination games one day prior, No. 2 seed Sam Houston entered play on Saturday needing to defeat No. 3 Utah Valley twice to capture the 2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament crown.
The Bearkats withstood a seven-run Utah Valley surge in the top of the first inning of game one, coming all the way back to score a 12-10 victory and force a winner-take-all game for the conference trophy. An 11-run second inning in the nightcap powered Sam Houston on its way toward the automatic NCAA Championship berth, giving the Bearkats a 21-1 win and conference tournament crown.
The championship game featured the highest run total by a winning team in a WAC title matchup since Cal State Northridge downed Brigham Young 23-15 in the rubber match of a three-game series to decide the 1996 WAC Baseball Championship. Sam Houston tallied 89 runs over six 2023 tournament games, which included 72 runs in its final four wins of the week alone.
Six members of Sam Houston made the all-tournament team, including pitcher Chandler David, first baseman Tyler Davis, outfielder Joe Redfield, designated hitter Jake Tatom and third baseman Justin Wishkoski. Catcher Walker Janek from Sam Houston took home tournament Most Outstanding Player accolades. Also on the all-tournament team was UT Arlington outfielder Garrison Berkeley and Utah Valley second baseman Daniel Dickinson, pitcher Logan Gerling, outfielder Calyn Halvorson and outfielder Cole Jordan.
Carlos Contreras led all Sam Houston hitters in the championship series with Utah Valley by batting .556 with four doubles, six RBI and two runs scored in the Saturday sweep. Tyler Davis hit an even .500 with three RBI and six runs scored, and Walker Janek scored in five of the six times he reached base safely on Saturday. Coltin Atkinson went six strong innings as the starting pitcher for the Bearkats in game two, allowing an earned run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Garrett Broussard hit an even .500 with two RBI and two runs scored for Utah Valley over the final two games with Sam Houston. Calyn Halvorson hit a home run and drove in five total runs on Saturday, and Daniel Dickinson chipped in two RBI and scored one run for the Wolverines.
2023 University Credit Union WAC Baseball Tournament – All-Tournament Team
Garrison Berkeley, OF, UT Arlington
Daniel Dickinson, 2B, Utah Valley
Logan Gerling, P, Utah Valley
Calyn Halvorson, OF, Utah Valley
Cole Jordan, OF, Utah Valley
Chandler David, P, Sam Houston
Tyler Davis, 1B, Sam Houston
Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston (Most Outstanding Player)
Joe Redfield, OF, Sam Houston
Jake Tatom, DH, Sam Houston
Justin Wishkoski, 3B, Sam Houston
--WAC--