HOUSTON ? The Rice Owls used a seven-run fourth inning and held off the Kats in the late innings for a 9-3 win of Sam Houston State on Tuesday night at Reckling Park.

Cody Springer was the starting pitcher for the Bearkats and took the loss. He worked into the third inning before he was taken out of the game giving up five runs in the frame.

Brent Powers came in for Springer and was hit for two more runs, putting the Owls up 9-3. Neither team scored the rest of the night.

Mark Wyatt had two of the Bearkats five hits on the night, driving in a run and scoring a run.

In the bottom of the second inning, Rice struck first with a sacrifice fly to put the Owls up 1-0.

The Kats answered back in the top of the third with a single by Ryan Mooney. He stole second and advanced to third on an error by Rice catcher Diego Seastrunk. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Keithley.

The Kats get two in the top of the fourth after Wyatt hits a deep shot to the wall in center. Nick Zaleski scored on the play, but Seth Hammock was thrown out trying to score from first. Two pitches later, Wyatt scored on a wild pitch to put the Kats up 3-2 at the time.

The Kats will now turn their attention to Southland Conference play where they will welcome Lamar to Don Sanders Stadium starting with a Thursday night game.