Designated hitter Hayden Simerly went 6-for-9 at the plate to lead Sam Houston to a doubleheader sweep of Abilene Christian Saturday evening at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene.
The Bearkats rallied from an early three-run deficit to defeat ACU 6-5 in the opening game. Sam Houston led from start to finish in the nightcap to earn an 8-2 victory.
A rainout Friday forced the doubleheader. Saturday's first game was interrupted for 40 minutes in the ninth inning with a hail storm. The two teams are scheduled to finish the series Sunday afternoon.
Saturday's two wins extended the Kats' current winning streak to eight games and lifted the team's record to 22-19 for the year and 13-7 in Southland Conference play. Abilene Christian drops to 8-28 on the season and 6-11 in league action.
Simerly wasn't the only Bearkat with a hot bat. Shortstop Miles Manning went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the opener. Manning hit a run-scoring double in the second inning, scored on a Colt Atwood single in the fourth inning after blasting a second double and accounted for one of the Kats' two runs in the fifth frame with a single.
Simerly was 3-for-5 in the first game. His double scored Atwood for the Kats' opening run in the first game. The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead. Right fielder Bryce Johnson accounted for the game's winning run with a single to right field to score Atwood in the top of the ninth.
Alex Bisacca (4-1) was the winning pitcher, facing four batters in final two innings and striking out two. Andrew Godail pitched the first three innings as the Kat starter. Greg Belton and Hayden Nixon also pitched in relief.
The first of Simerly's three hits in the nightcap started a three-run first inning. Simerly and Johnson scored on a two-run double by third baseman Zach Smith. Second baseman Jake McWilliam, who went 4-for-5 in the second game, singled to bring in the inning's third run.
A bases loaded walk by catcher Collin Yelich started a three-run sixth inning for Sam Houston. Simerly singled for another RBI and Manning scored on a bases loaded double play. Brinley tallied a run in the seventh inning on a balk after a walk and another hit by McWilliam.
Logan Boyd (5-3) spread eight hits over eight innings, facing 34 batters to earn the win as Sam Houston's starting pitcher. Hayden Nixon pitched the final inning. The Bearkats totaled 25 hits in the two games.
