WACO -- Starting pitcher Dylan Ebbs tossed 5 2/3 innings and Sam Odom finished off the remaining 3 1/3 innings to lead Sam Houston State to a 4-3 win over Baylor Wednesday night at Baylor Ballpark.
With the win Ebbs improved to 3-1 this season, while Odom registered his first save of the season and the second of his career.
Originally scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m., the first pitch wasn't until after 8:00 p.m. because of weather.
After being held to just one hit through the first three innings, the Bearkats broke out in the fourth with some timely hits. Second baseman Zach Smith led it off with a single and moved to third when left fielder Bryce Johnson reached on an error.
Right fielder Travis Lee drove in the first run with a fielder's choice ground out. Ebbs followed with a single to right field to put runners on the corners again.
First baseman Spence Rahm then plated another run with a single to right field. After going first to third on Rahm's single Ebbs scored on an RBI ground out by third baseman Hunter Courson.
Catcher Collin Yelich capped off the inning with a single to left field that scored Rahm to make the score 4-0.
Ebbs kept Baylor from answering in the bottom of the fourth after they started the frame with back-to-back singles. The sophomore righty got a chopper back at him and turned a 1-6-3 double play before getting a pop up to end the threat.
Baylor was able to scratch a pair of runs across with two outs in the sixth inning to chase Ebbs from the game. Center fielder Logan Brown singled with one out, moved to second on a ground and stole third base. He crossed the plate on a single by third baseman Duncan Wendel. After a walk, Wendel scored on an error to make the score 4-2.
Odom was called on out of the bullpen and was able to get the final out of the sixth. He retired the first nine batters he face and would have recorded a perfect relief outing if not for a two-out error in the bottom of the ninth.
Ebbs batted for himself and was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Smith was also 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Yelich had two hits and an RBI. Lee and Rahm were the other Kats with runs driven in. Returning to his role in center field, Colt Atwood was the only SHSU player with an extra-base hit after he ripped a one-out double in the seventh inning but was stranded at second base.
Sam Houston (4-2) will host Nicholls (3-3) for a three-game series this weekend at Don Sanders Stadium. Check GoBearkats.com or Twitter.com/BearkatSports for updates regarding the weather this weekend.
