Sam Houston State totaled nine hits but managed just two runs as they lost 5-2 to No. 12 Houston Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium. The Bearkats struggled to get timely hits off of the Cougar pitching staff that boasts the best combined earned run average in the nation.

Houston took a 2-0 lead going to the fifth inning before Sam Houston (25-12, 9-6 SLC) tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth.

Center fielder Colt Atwood drove in the first Kat run with a single to center field and catcher Anthony Azar ripped a double down the left field line to plate the second run and knot the game.

First baseman Ryan O'Hearn nearly gave SHSU the lead when he hit a hard liner back up the middle that the pitcher knocked down and threw to first for the final out of the fifth inning.

The Cougars took the lead for good in the seventh on three singles. UH then tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth after a pair of Bearkat errors.

Dylan Ebbs started and pitched 4 2/3 innings. Seth Holbert allowed the winning run in 1 1/3 innings of relief. Alan Scott was charged with a pair of unearned runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Brinley allowed the inherited runners to score. Alex Bisacca pitched the final frame and didn't allow a run.

Sam Houston will hit the road again for a pivotal weekend series at Lamar that starts Thursday at 6:30 p.m.