San Antonio, Tx - Sam Houston head coach Mark Johnson earned his 1,000 career coaching victory Sunday afternoon as the Bearkats rallied from 6-4 down to defeat UTSA 8-6 at Roadrunner Field.

Johnson, who coached for 21 years at Texas A&M and the past four at Sam Houston, has compiled a 1000-517-3 record. He stands as the 15th active coach and the 44th coach all-time to win 1,000 games as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level.

Second baseman Braeden Riley's RBI double and a run-scoring single by first baseman Taylor Davis gave Sam Houston a two-run lead in the eighth inning. Center fielder Mark Hudson tied the game on a ground out to third base to score shortstop Ryan Mooney in the sixth inning. Mooney had singled and advanced on a Roadrunner error.

The Bearkats totaled their eight runs on 11 hits and four UTSA errors. Sam Houston led 3-0 and 4-2 before UTSA took a 6-4 lead with a four-run fifth inning.

Brandon Kimbrel (2-0) picked up the victory in relief, giving up only two hits in the final two and two-thirds innings. Brent Powers, Sam Houston's starter, struck out 10 of the 24 batters he faced before leaving in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The victory gave the Bearkats a series sweep over UTSA .Sam Houston (11-13 6-3 Southland) has won six games in a row and eight of its last 10 contests.

"It's great to get a sweep over a quality program like UTSA," Johnson said.  "We haven't won a regular season game over UTSA in a long time, so this was a big weekend for us. Things are leveling out for us now. We're starting to put hits together and producing some big innings. With so many young players, we've got a way to go but we're making progress every game."  

Coming into the weekend's games, UTSA had swept the last four regular season series with Sam Houston. The Bearkats had not won a regular season Southland game over the Roadrunners since 2005 until their victory Friday night.

Johnson, who picked up his first victory as an NCAA Division I head coach when Texas A&M defeated Northeast Louisiana 10-1 on February 24, 1985, stands No. 15 among active Division I head coaches in total victories with his 1,000 career wins.

"Winning 1,000 games was never something I set out to do when I got into coaching," Johnson said. "I wanted to win championships and go to the playoffs and the 1,000 victories just happened. I have several very close friends who are in the group of coaches that have won 1,000 games, so its good to join the group.  

"I've had the priviledge to work for two great universities with outstanding facilities and quality young men. I've always had outstanding assistants and outstanding players. It's the players that win games for you.   Also, my faith has given me a peace to accept both the losses and wins with humility. That's something that has allowed me to enjoy the game of baseball for so many years."

The Bearkats return to Don Sanders Stadium Tuesday, March 30, for a 6:30 p.m. non-conference encounter with Dallas Baptist. Tickets for Sam Houston State baseball home games are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com.

The Sam Houston State athletic ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office telephone number is 936 294-1729.

Fans also can order exciting Sam Houston State gear at Bearkat Gear link on www.gobearkats.com.

NCAA DIVISION I ACTIVE HEAD COACHES WITH 1,000 CAREER VICTORIES