With runs on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and an RBI bunt single in the eighth, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi posted a 4-2 victory over Sam Houston Saturday afternoon.
The win evened the two team's Southland Conference series at Don Sanders Stadium to one victory apiece.
The Bearkats won the opening game 3-2 Friday night. The pair will battle in the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m. Sam Houston now stands 25-23 for the year and 14-9 in Southland Conference play. A&M-Corpus Christi upped its record to 21-22 overall and 11-12 in league action.
Third baseman Jake MacWilliam accounted for both Sam Houston runs as he extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. MacWilliam's singles to left field in the first and eighth inning each brought in Bearkat runs.
In the first inning, MacWilliam scored center fielder Colt Atwood who was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a ground out. In the eighth, it was Atwood again who scored after reaching on a walk.
Both teams had eight hits with Sam Houston leaving eight runners on base while the Islanders stranded seven. The Bearkats loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning and had the bases filled again in the bottom of the ninth inning but could not get a run across.
"We had our opportunities against a arm," Sam Houston head coach Matt Deggs said. "Their pitcher Trevor Belicek has really good numbers so we knew we would have our hands full. I thought we did a good job getting our swings off. We didn't cash in with the timely knock."
Second baseman Ryan Farney led off the third with a single, right fielder Travis Lee walked and Atwood followed with a bunt single. Farney was thrown out at home on a fly out to right field and the inning ended on with a strike out.
With two out in the ninth, catcher Trevor Winne singled, pinch hitter Zach Smith walked and Lee singled to load the bases. The inning and the game ended with a strike out.
First baseman Frankie Salas produced two RBIs for the Islanders while designated hitter Zacarias Hardy added a third.
Belicek (8-3), a left-hander, was the winning pitcher for the visitors from Corpus Christi. He spread six hits over seven and two-thirds innings, striking out seven of the 31 batters he faced. Right hander Jacob Dorris picked up his eighth save of the season retiring the last four Bearkat batters. He struck out two.
Sam Houston starter Logan Boyd (5-4) took the loss after working six and a third innings. He struck out two Islanders. Jordan Church finished the game in relief.
Southeastern Louisiana widened its hold on first place in the Southland Conference with a pair of wins over Lamar Friday and Saturday. The Lions stand 19-4 in the league with seven conference games left on the schedule. Northwestern State is in second place at 16-7 and McNeese in third with a 16-10 mark.
