HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston Bearkats erupted for a 12-run third inning and quickly took care of business in an 18-3 blasting of Baylor on Tuesday at Don Sanders Stadium.
Malachi Lott had five hits, two RBI and pitched a scoreless ninth on a night which saw the Kats (14-7) pick up just their second win over the Bears (7-13) in eight games since 2019.
The bulk of the night's damage came in a 12-run bottom of the third which turned what was a 3-1 ballgame into a 15-1 thrashing. The Kats sent 17 hitters to the plate in the frame to score its dozen runs, not getting the benefit of a Baylor fielding miscue until the final run of the inning.
Walker Janek sparked the Bearkat bats from the very beginning, socking a 2-run homer over the right-field fence just two batters into the game to extend his season-opening hit streak to 21 games on his way to a 3-for-5 night with three RBI. He was one of six Bearkats with multiple RBI and five with multiple hits, a mark which could have been more had the Kats not made massive lineup changes midway through the evening.
On the mound, Michael Watson got the start and allowed just one run in 4.0 innings, striking out two and throwing 60 pitches before freshmen Noah Kendrick and Brock Rod each tossed a pair of innings before Lott's scoreless ninth. Rod struck out a pair and did not allow a run in his stint, but it was Kendrick who picked up the first win of his collegiate career.
Tanner Duke was the losing pitcher for the Bears, allowing three runs in just an inning of work before seven bullpen arms ultimately saw the mound.
In all, Sam Houston finished with eight extra-base hits and 17 total hits, including six doubles. Jeffrey David and Hunter Autrey each had two hits and two RBI, while Jake Tatom drove in two with a double in the third. Easton Loyd picked up two RBI and had two hits, while Caleb Cotton, Lane Brewster and Jace Martinez each drew a pair of walks and scored a combined four runs.
UP NEXT
The Kats will quickly turn around and host the Northwestern State Demons on Wednesday night at Don Sanders Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. with the game to have audio streamed on the Bearkat Sports Network.
POSTGAME NOTES
- The Kats erupted for 12 runs in the third inning, which is the most in an inning since scoring 12 vs Prairie View in 2016. The dozen scores in a single frame are tied for the third most in program history with the record being 18 vs St. Thomas in 1968.
- The 18 runs marks only the fifth time the Kats have scored double digits vs Baylor in 119 games vs the Bears dating back to 1952. The 15-run margin of victory marks a new high in the series, surpassing a 13-0 win in 1953.
- Malachi Lott finished 5-for-6 with a pair of doubles, his second game of 4+ hits in his last four games. In that span he is 13-for-21 with seven RBI.
- It is the 21st game in program history with 5+ games and the fourth since 2022. The last Bearkat to pull off the feat was Tyler Davis on April 28, 2023 vs Stephen F. Austin.
- Walker Janek's homer in the first inning extended his season-opening hit streak to 21 games. He is still the lone Kat to have hit safely in all 21 games this year and has hit in 25 consecutive games overall, dating back to the end of the 2023 season.
- His hit streak is only the third hit streak of 21 or more games within a single season in program history.
- Sam Houston has now scored 51 runs over its past five games, reaching double digits three times.
