HOUSTON – Houston's Brandon Uhse delivered a go-ahead, 3-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Cougars to an 8-6 win on Tuesday over Sam Houston at Schroeder Park.
Sam Houston (16-13) had just taken the lead an inning earlier, erasing a 2-run deficit with a pair of runs in the seventh before going up on an RBI single by
Brandon Pruitt; however, on a night that was back-and-forth throughout, the Cougars (20-9) were able to have the last laugh with Uhse's blast.
The win clinches the Don Sanders Cup for the Cougars for the second straight season with the teams set to meet once more on May 10 at Constellation Field in the series finale.
Both teams took advantage of the midweek game to use a number of arms, but for the Kats it was
Gavi Coldiron who was saddled with the loss after facing just two hitters in the top of the eighth inning. Ben Sears, the seventh and final pitcher of the night for Houston, moved to 5-0 on the year with a pair of relief frames.
Sam Houston out-hit the Cougars by a 13-10 margin, getting five multi-hit games from throughout the lineup, including three hits apiece from
Justin Wishkoski and
Wes Folse.
Lane Brewster did not have a hit for the first time in five games, but did drive in a pair of runs.
But despite the Kats' 13 hits, only one went for extra bases, while the Cougars got a home run from not only Uhse, but a 2-run blast from Zach Arnold in the sixth inning as well.
The Kats scored their first four runs without the benefit of a hit with a pair of ground balls and two sacrifice flies before an RBI single from
Clayton Chadwick tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh. One inning later singles from Folse and Jefferson gave Pruitt a chance and he delivered a sure single to right field on an 0-2 pitch to put the Kats in front 6-5.
But things unraveled quickly in the bottom of the inning after each of the first two Cougars of the inning reached base, forcing the Kats to turn to stopper
Lance Lusk out of the bullpen. The righty was able to immediately retire Brandon Burckel, but then was touched up by Uhse for the eventual game winner.
The Kats will now return to WAC play this weekend for a 3-game road series at preseason division favorite Abilene Christian beginning Friday evening.
