Jax State rallies to finish sweep of Kats

Sunday, March 15

Huntsville

12:00 PM

8-11, 0-3

Jax State

17-3, 3-0

Jax State

Sam Houston

Photo by: Maddie Wilson

Jax State rallies to finish sweep of Kats

3/15/2026 5:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston scored three times to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Jax State rallied with two scores in the top of the ninth to pick up a 4-3 win over the Bearkats and complete a series sweep on Sunday at Don Sanders Stadium.

Sam Houston (8-11, 0-3 CUSA) got a career-best start from Tate Hickman, but again saw its offense slow to get going against Gamecock (17-3, 3-0 CUSA) starting pitching as JSU ran its win streak to seven games in a row.

Hickman went a career-long 5.0 innings in the start and struck out five JSU hitters without a walk. He allowed a pair of runs in the second inning, but nothing else and got taken off the hook for the loss with the Kats' rally in the eighth.

JSU starter Steven Cash gave the Kats a tough time, striking out five and allowing just two hits in 6.0 shutout innings of his start, retiring 11 of the first 12 hitters he faced while getting staked with a 2-0 lead with a pair of Gamecock runs in the second.

The Kats still trailed 2-0 going into the bottom of the eighth but put two runners on base with just one out and Sean Bazmore delivered a pinch-hit, RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1. A walk to Ryan Franden then loaded the bases for Hunter Alvord who put the ball in play and beat out a double-play grounder that was compounded by a JSU error which allowed two runs to score and Sam Houston to take a 3-2 lead.

But the Kats immediately put themselves in hot water in the ninth by hitting the leadoff man and walking the next, setting the table for the Gamecocks to re-take the lead on an RBI grounder by Jaxon Pate and an RBI single from Trey King.

Sam Houston threatened in the bottom of the inning, getting the tying run to second base with nobody out; however, Jax State stopper Skyler Hutto left the runner there with outs of the final three hitters of the game to earn the win in relief.

Sam Houston had just five hits in the game, all singles, with two coming from Nathan Fink. Hickman took a no-decision on the mound, while Jonathan Anders continued to show well this year with 2.1 strong innings of relief. Kade Neuenschwander was the tough-luck loser, allowing the go-ahead run in the ninth to fall to 0-2 on the year.

UP NEXT
The Kats have a busy week coming up with a midweek game at Lamar set for Tuesday and a 3-game series at FIU on the slate for the weekend. All games can be watched on ESPN+.