Brent Powers had a strong outing on the hill and Michael Burchette worked 2 2/3 innings of relief for the save as the Bearkats took game 2 of a Southland Conference series against UTSA 6-3.
Powers, who improved to 3-2 on the season, was solid on the mound, working six innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out seven.
UTSA (7-17, 1-7 Southland) got on the board first, scoring a run in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Rockett.
But the Kats (16-8, 3-5) started getting things going in the third inning, posting a pair of runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Chris Andreas started it off with an RBI single to plate Greg Olson. Mark Hudson followed with a single that brought home Ryan Mooney to give the Kats a lead they never gave up.
Kevin Miller scored on a groundout in the fourth and then Mooney made it two in the inning on a single that scored Doug Oney. It was Miller again in the fifth, this time doing it with the bat. After a sacrifice bunt by Daniel Nottebart moved two runners into scoring position, Miller immediately followed with a single to score Braeden Riley and Hudson.
A pair of triples in the sixth by Riley Good and Ryan Hutson made it 6-2 in favor of the Bearkats. Jason Mohn then hit a pinch-hit homer in the seventh off relief pitcher Jordan Westra to make it a 6-3 game. But Burchette came on for the Kats and closed out the seventh, eighth and ninth innings without allowing a hit for his fourth save of the season.
Olson and Mooney each went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead a 12-hit attack for the Bearkats.
Sam Houston and UTSA will complete the series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats will travel to Dallas Baptist on Tuesday then play host to Rice Wednesday, March 30, in the first of three games against teams included in the special $20 Bearkat Baseball "Super Weekday Pack" on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets .
The "Super Weekday Pack" includes a reserved seat ticket for Sam Houston baseball versus the Rice Owls on Wednesday, March 30; the Baylor Bears on Tuesday, April 5 and the Houston Cougars on Tuesday, April 12.
Sam Houston head coach Mark Johnson, the 44th coach in NCAA Division I baseball history to roll up more than 1,000 career victories, has announced his retirement at the end of the 2011 season. This will be an opportunity to see history in the making as the Bearkats play host to three in-state Division I rivals.
For more information go to www.gobearkats.com/tickets or contact the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
