HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston got rocking at the plate in the seventh inning to put away Illinois 10-6 in the series finale at Don Sander Stadium on Sunday.
The Bearkats (6-7 overall) trailed 6-4 and was on the brink of a series sweep heading in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Justin Wishkoski was hit by a pitch to open the frame, and
Walker Janek ripped a two-run home run to left center field to tie it.
Jake Tatom connected on a one-out double, and
Hunter Autrey gave Sam Houston the lead with a double to left field.
Easton Loyd was hit by a pitch with two outs, and
Myles Jefferson sent a three-run blast over the wall in left to put the Kats up 10-6.
The Illini scored first with a run in the second inning, but Sam Houston brought three to the plate to take a brief lead in the third.
Jefferson drew a lead-off walk and
Joe Redfield and Wishkoski hit back-to-back singles to lead the bases. Janek hit a sacrifice fly to center, and
Carlos Contreras pushed a two-run single through the right side.
Illinois retook the lead with a run in the fourth and three in the fifth. The Bearkats got one back in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Loyd.
Braden Davis got the win in relief. He gave up two runs in 2 2/3 innings to improve to 1-0.
Sam Houston will travel to Austin to face Texas on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
