HUNTSVILLE ? Justin Keithley and Mark Wyatt hit run-scoring singles in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Sam Houston State an 8-7 victory over Northwestern State and a split with the Demons in a Southland Conference baseball doubleheader Saturday at Don Sanders Stadium.
Northwestern State won the first game 9-6 powered by a grand slam home run in the top of the second inning by Chase Lyles.
Sam Houston (15-9, SLC 6-5) and Northwestern State (11-11, SLC 5-5) will meet in the third and deciding game of the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The Bearkats trailed 6-5 in the seventh inning but forced extra innings thanks to an RBI single by Tyler Lundy. Northwestern State took a 7-6 lead in the top of the 11th on a run-scoring single by Beau Snodgrass.
Sean Weatherford (3-2) was the winning pitcher for SHSU. Ryan Zimmerman (0-1) took the loss for the Demons.
In the first game, Demon center fielder Dominic Gamboa added a two-run home run in the fifth inning. For Sam Houston Justin Keithly hit a two-run homer and Nick Zaleski added a solo shot in the late innings.
Northwestern State scored their nine runs on 10 hits and three Sam Houston errors. First baseman Justin O'Neal went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Demons. The Bearkats totaled nine hits with Keithley, Seth Hammock and Adam DeLaGarza each collecting two hits.
Jimmy Heard (4-1) was the winning pitcher for Northwestern State. Chad Sheppard picked up his fourth save of the season in relief in the ninth inning. Bearkat starter Jacob Howard (2-2) took the loss. Dallas Gallant and Daniel Nottebart threw in relief.
