Hunter Courson smashed a two-run go-ahead home run in the sixth inning but the lead didn't hold up as Baylor beat Sam Houston 4-3 in 10 innings Tuesday at Don Sanders Stadium. The Bearkats and Bears will complete the midweek series at Baylor Ballpark Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Making his fifth start of the season and just his second at third base, Courson put together his best performance of the season, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. The sophomore nearly gave the Kats a 4-3 lead in the eighth with a solo home run but the ball died at the warning track.
Starting pitcher Seth Holbert gave up two runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched.
The first run of the game came around in the top of the first. Baylor center fielder Logan Brown started the ballgame with a single and a stolen base. He moved to third on a fly out to right field and scored on a single by designated hitter Cameron Miller.
Baylor added another run in the second inning when catcher Matt Menard opened the frame with a single up the middle and shortstop Justin Arrington followed with a walk. The Bears' second baseman and nine-hole hitter drove in Menard with a soft single through the right side of the infield.
With runners on the corners and two outs, right fielder Travis Lee made a great grab in the gap to save two more runs from coming across.
A two-out double to left field ended Holbert's night. Lefthander Hayden Nixon was called on out of the bullpen and he delivered with a strikeout to end the inning. Nixon struck out two more batters in a perfect top of the fourth inning. In all he worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out three.
Right fielder Dylan Ebbs walked to start the fourth and moved to third on a single by designated hitter Trevor Winne. The Bearkat DH was thrown out trying to advance to second.
Catcher Collin Yelich drove in Ebbs with a single right up the middle of the infield to cut the Baylor lead in half, 2-1.
After Courson gave SHSU the lead, Greg Belton came out of the bullpen for the seventh inning and the Bears tied the game 3-3 on an RBI groundout by designated hitter Mitch Price.
Jordan Church then tossed a scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth. But Baylor first baseman Aaron Dodson opened the tenth with a single and was pinch run for. Runner Jonathan Ducoff immediately stole second base and moved to third on an errant throw.
Alex Bisacca came in from the bullpen and got a strikeout of the first batter but a couple of tough breaks allowed Baylor to grab a 4-3 lead.
The Kats had a great chance to prevent extra innings from even happening when center fielder Bryce Johnson led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and was sacrificed to second base. After an intentional walk of Travis Lee, Baylor turned to Daniel Castano out of the bullpen and he did the job getting two outs.
Senior Colt Atwood, who has 200 career starts in center field, made his first ever start at a different position at second base. He went 1-for-3 in the game.
