Preview: Prairie View Panthers at Sam Houston Bearkats

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — The Sam Houston Bearkats look to build on a quality midweek win when they host the struggling Prairie View Panthers in a nonconference baseball game Saturday evening.

The Bearkats (5-7) enter following a 5-2 road victory at Houston on Tuesday. Reliever Noah Kendrick was pivotal in that win, throwing three scoreless innings with one strikeout. Over his last two appearances, spanning four innings, Kendrick has allowed just one earned run while giving up no hits.

Sam Houston will need continued stability from its bullpen against a Prairie View team seeking to end a five-game skid. The Panthers (2-6) were swept in a three-game series at New Mexico State last weekend, culminating in a 16-1 loss on Sunday. Their last victory came on Feb. 14.

A bright spot for Prairie View has been reliever Ty Pankonin. In his last three outings, he has not allowed a hit over 4 2/3 combined innings, though he was charged with three earned runs in one appearance at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 24. In Sunday’s loss, he provided 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief.

The teams opened a two-game set Friday, with Sam Houston earning a shutout victory. Saturday’s contest offers the Panthers a chance for a split.

Historically, Sam Houston has dominated the series. According to Interstat’s game simulator, that trend is projected to continue with a narrow 3-2 Bearkats victory.

Following Saturday’s game, Prairie View begins an eight-game road trip at Stetson on Wednesday. Sam Houston travels to Baylor on Tuesday before opening a home series against Jacksonville State next Friday.