HOUSTON ?  Down 9-2 to the University of Houston after four innings, Sam Houston State rallied for six runs in the fifth and 10 in the eighth to earn an 18-16 non-conference baseball victory in a slugfest Tuesday night at Couger Field.

A grand slam by Tyler Knight followed by a two-run homer by Peter Goudeau started the rally in the eighth. Nick Zaleski brought in the go-ahead runs with two-out, bases loaded double.

The senior first baseman also had an RBI single in the first inning and a two-run double in the fifth. Zaleski went 4-for-6 in the contest to lead a Sam Houston offense that totaled 20 hits off eight Houston pitcher.

Knight went 3-for-5, batting in five runs. Seth Hammock was 3-for-7. Tyler Lundy, Braeden Riley and Heath Pugh each had two hits.

The Cougars totaled 21 hits, jumping out to a 9-2 lead after only four innings.

Ryan Tepera was the winning pitcher for Sam Houston. Jordan Westra started.  Cody Springer, Justin Jackson and Guillaume Duguay all threw in relief.