HUNTSVILLE – As the old saying goes, the game of baseball gives and it takes away. That was no more evident than in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium.
With the Bearkats clinging to a one-run lead, Abilene Christian's Russell Crippen hit what appeared to be a two-run home run with Hunter Markwardt as first. While rounding first base, Crippen passed Markwardt and the long ball counted for just one run, giving Sam Houston new life in an eventual 2-1, 13th-inning Bearkats victory.
“Obviously, it was a huge play in the game,” second-year head coach Matt Deggs said. “The kid hit the ball out of the ballpark and he did pass the runner. We're fortunate the umpire got the crew together and got the call right. It's been since 2007 since I've been a part of something like that.”
In the 13th, third baseman Andrew Fregia delivered a one-out triple, sending it off the wall in left center. After the Wildcats (13-24, 5-13 SLC) intentionally walked Bryce Johnson, Lance Miles clubbed a fly ball to center field, caught by the center fielder but deep enough to plate the winning run.
“I was on time and I felt really good on the first curveball I missed,” Fregia said. “I was telling myself to wait on the fastball and I jumped all over it. They have a pretty good centerfielder but when I saw him miss it I was thinking third all the way.”
Sam Houston (25-16, 17-4 SLC) right-handed starter Riley Gossett, who had permitted just three hits entering the ninth, was unable to record the win despite a masterful performance. The freshman tossed 8 2-3 innings, allowing five hits and one run – coming on the quirky homer.
The Wildcats followed the homer with a single, chasing Gossett from the game. The Bearkats turned to closer Greg Belton (3-1) who stranded four runners between the ninth and 12th inning including runners on first and second in the 11th with his third of four strikeouts on the afternoon.
“He's got ice water in his veins,” Deggs said. “He recorded two wins and two saves this week. Since he's gone to the very back of the bullpen, we've been on a role. He's solidified things back there and has the right personality for the job. He was gigantic again today.”
On the week, against Baylor and Abilene Christian, Belton logged two wins and as many saves, striking out 13 hitters in eight innings while permitting just three hits.
“If I already closed on Friday and Saturday, my goal coming out of the pen on Sunday is to get it done no matter it takes or no matter how much energy it takes” Belton said. “I've never had a week like that one in my life.”
Gossett set down the Wildcats in order four times while permitting just one ACU runner to reach third base excluded the homer. It marked the seventh time in nine starts that the Cypress native allowed two runs or fewer.
Sam Houston opened the scoring in the first as Bryce Johnson led off the frame with a single to left center and swiped second base, his 16th stolen bag of the season. He advanced to third on a Lance Miles groundout and scored on a sacrifice flyout from Zach Smith.
To its credit, Abilene Christian right-handed starter Kyle Carroll was equally as sharp, tossing 8 1-3 innings, allowing just seven hits and one run while fanning three without permitting a walk.
The win was Sam Houston's seventh straight while the three-game sweep was the fourth in Southland action. Coupled with Southeastern Louisiana's loss at McNeese, the Bearkats inched closer to first in the league standings.
