HUNTSVILLE, Texas (Interstat) — Ryan Peterson delivered a dominant six-inning start, and the Sam Houston Bearkats capitalized on early opportunities to defeat the Prairie View A&M Panthers 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Don Sanders Stadium.

Peterson, building on a stellar 11-strikeout performance his last time out, overpowered the Panthers’ lineup. The right-hander allowed five hits and walked none while striking out eight over six scoreless innings. He effectively worked around traffic, stranding Prairie View runners in scoring position in the first, second and third innings to preserve an early lead.

Sam Houston (7-7) struck for two runs in the bottom of the second against Prairie View starter Beau Beaty, who was otherwise sharp. Nathan Fink drew a leadoff walk and scored when Cade Corcoran doubled to right field. After Corcoran was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple, Jace Curtis walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error. Blake Brown then singled him home for a 2-0 lead, with the run being unearned.

The Bearkats added a critical insurance run in the fifth. With Isaac Herrera now pitching in relief for the Panthers, Jake Martinez walked, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Hunter Alvord, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Prairie View (2-8), which out-hit Sam Houston 8-7, finally broke through in the eighth against Bearkats reliever Tyler Ryden. Ryland Duson singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out RBI single by Hunter Ham, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Sam Houston responded immediately in the home half of the eighth. Caleb Cotton, who finished 2-for-4, singled and later scored on a two-out RBI double by Fink, restoring the three-run cushion at 4-1.

The Panthers threatened in the ninth against closer Zak Johnson, putting two runners on, but Johnson induced a pop-up from Basilio Williams to end the game. Williams went 2-for-5 for Prairie View.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the second inning. After Beaty had retired the side in order in the first, Sam Houston’s patient approach and aggressive baserunning generated two runs without the benefit of a hard-hit ball until Corcoran’s double. The combination of a walk, a timely hit, a stolen base, an error, and a clutch two-out single from Brown established a lead that Peterson and the Bearkats’ pitching staff would not relinquish.

Beaty took the loss for Prairie View despite a strong line, allowing two runs, none earned, on no hits with three walks and three strikeouts over five innings. Herrera was effective in relief, striking out five over three innings but was charged with one run.

Attendance was 634. The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Friday evening.