CORPUS CHRISTI -- Dylan Ebbs had a strong start on the mound and Spence Rahm had a 4-for-5 day with two doubles and a home run to lead Sam Houston in a 9-5 bounce-back win over A&M-Corpus Christi in the finale of the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field.
“It was a great start by Ebbs and really set the tone for us,” Bearkat head coach Matt Deggs said. “Our team revolves around our starting pitching. This is a very resilient group and a little adversity is good for us. There was a lot to overcome with three tough losses. But we did that with a tough team in A&M-Corpus.”
A&M-Corpus grabbed a 1-0 run lead on a solo home run by designated hitter Justin Perales in the bottom of the second but the Bearkats answered right back in the third inning.
Designated hitter Hayden Simerly worked a one-out walk and right fielder Travis Lee singled to right field. Center fielder Colt Atwood, who was named to the All-Tournament team, drove them both in with a double down the right field line.
The Kats narrowly avoided giving a run right back in the bottom half after Jordan Lee led off the inning with a single, stole second and moved to third base on a one-out error. Starting pitcher Dylan Ebbs was able to get Lee out at the plate on a chopper hit right back at him.
Sam Houston exploded for five runs in the fifth inning. Lee singled to start the frame and Bryce Johnson singled with one out. First baseman Spence Rahm followed with a three-run bomb to left-center field. The homer is his second of the season.
The Bearkats kept it going with two outs as second baseman Ryan Farney singled to center field and stole second base. He came around to score on a single up the middle by catcher Hunter Courson. A fifth run in the inning came home on a wild pitch.
SHSU scored two more in the eighth inning that extended the lead to 9-2.
A&M-Corpus made things interesting with four runs in the eighth inning. The Islanders knocked a pair of home runs off of Ebbs, who appeared to have run out of gas. Jordan Church came out of the bullpen to end the threat.
Church allowed just one hit in 1 2/3 innings pitched. The junior finished with one strikeout.
The Bearkats are scheduled to host Prairie View A&M Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium.
