Second baseman Zach Smith totaled four RBIs including the hit that brought in the game-winning run in the 10th inning as Sam Houston finished on top in a slugfest with Houston Baptist in a 12-11 victory in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Husky Field in Houston.
The Bearkats totaled 20 hits and Houston Baptist posted 15 in the contest. Designated hitter Jake McWilliam and shortstop Miles Manning each accounted for four hits and first baseman Spence Rahm and Smith both added three apiece.
Alex Bisacca (6-2) was the winning pitcher in relief. Starter Logan Boyd went six innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out three Huskies. Bisacca threw the final four innings as HBU totaled nine hits and had five earned runs. After the game winning hit, Bisacca retired all three Huskies, striking out two of the three.
Sam Houston held a 7-1 lead after six-and-a-half innings and looked in control going into the bottom of the ninth inning ahead 11-8. But HBU rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
Pinch hitter Travis Lee singled to start the 10th for Sam Houston. He advanced to second on a ground out and scored on a single up the middle by Smith.
Rahm's two-run double to right center broke a 7-7 tie in the top of the eighth inning. Sam Houston built a 7-1 lead after a four-run third inning and a three-run top of the sixth. The Huskies tied the contest by exploding for six runs in the bottom of the sixth.
With the extra-innings win, the Bearkats evened the series with HBU at one victory apiece. The third and deciding game of the series, originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon, will be played this afternoon to complete the Southland doubleheader.
Rahm began the four-run third inning with a run-scoring single to the left side. MacWilliam picked up his first RBI with a double up the left field line. Second Zach Smith wrapped up the inning's scoring with a two-run single through the right side.
MacWilliam's second RBI came on a bunt single in the seventh inning. LAfeft fielder Hayden Simerly scored on an error and Smith's single to center field gave the Bearkats a 7-1 lead.
After Rahm broke the 7-7 tie in the eighth inning, MacWilliam and shortstop Myles Manning each singled to right field to add two more runs.
The Huskies rallied for two more runs in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run single by second baseman Greg Espinosa.
