Justin Jackson took a no-hitter to the ninth as Sam Houston swept a double header from McNeese State on Saturday, winning 5-2 and 4-0.
In the second game of the day Jackson (7-3) allowed just two base runners through the first eight innings, before surrendering back-to-back singles with one out in the ninth. The senior finished off the game with his 10th strikeout to complete the sweep for the 20th ranked Bearkats (28-10, 17-3 SLC).
Jackson’s performance overshadowed the work done by sophomore Caleb Smith in the first game of the day. Smith (6-2) didn’t allow a run until the eighth inning, limiting the Cowboys to just three hits while striking out nine. McNeese scored two off Smith in the 8th. Michael Burchett came on in the ninth for the save.
“We were able to get great pitching and great defense all day,” head coach David Pierce said.
The Kats pounded out a total of 21 hits in the double header, including 12 in the second game of the day.
In the opening game of the day, both teams were held scoreless until the Bearkats got on the board in the fourth inning on a pair of RBIs by Jesse Plumlee and Corey Toups. After the Kats got the benefit of a Cowboy error in the seventh to score a run, Plumlee and Toups each delivered again in the 8th to put the Kats up 5-0.
After the Cowboys answered back with two in the bottom of the eighth, Burchett came in to slam the door shut, picking up his sixth save of the season.
In the evening game, Toups got the scoring going again, with a sacrifice fly to score Jake Arrington in the second. The Kats added two more in the fourth on a triple by Colt Atwood to score Plumlee and then a Luke Plucheck single to bring home Atwood.
They added one more in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Plumlee, bringing home Kevin Miller.
The complete game for Jackson was his first of his career.
The Kats will go for the series sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m.
