Matthew Piasecki | SHSU Athletics
The Sam Houston Bearkats and University of Houston Cougars turned scheduled 14 innings into an electrifying 17-inning affair at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, on Tuesday. In a relentless display of offensive power and resilience, the Bearkats clawed their way to victory in both games, solidifying their momentum heading into Conference USA play.
Game One: Bearkats rally for walk-off victory
The first game of the doubleheader resumed from its March 12 weather halt, with the Bearkats trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning. With Ryan Franden leading off against Cougar reliever Antoine Jean, the Bearkats wasted no time igniting a comeback.
A five-run bottom of the fifth put SHSU ahead, but Houston answered back with two runs in the eighth. However, the Bearkats had the final say, as Hunter Autrey delivered a walk-off single in the ninth to secure a 12-11 victory. The offense exploded for 16 hits, with Addison Smith leading the charge with four. Autrey, Franden and Nottlemann each contributed multiple hits, while Ty Marthiljohni and Autrey each drove in three runs. Parker Blackman added two RBIs, with Martinez and Lee also contributing to the run production.
Game Two: Extra-innings drama
The second game of the night proved just as thrilling, with both teams refusing to back down in a back-and-forth battle. Each squad plated a run in the first and fifth innings before the Bearkats took a brief lead in the seventh. The Cougars responded in the eighth, forcing extra innings, and both teams matched runs again in the 11th.
March Madness typically belongs to college basketball, but on this night in Sugar Land, it found a new home on the baseball diamond. The Bearkats finally broke the stalemate in the 12th inning when Hunter Autrey delivered another clutch single, driving in Parker Blackman for the decisive run, securing a 5-4 win.
The Bearkat offense continued to shine, with Autrey once again leading the way with three hits and two stolen bases. Addison Smith launched a crucial home run in the 11th, adding to his strong night at the plate. Blake Brown provided a pair of hits, while Blackman, Franden, Marthiljohni and Lee each added one. Patient at-bats helped the Bearkats draw walks, with Jace Martinez and Chris Benavidez each reaching base twice via free passes.
On the mound, the Bearkats relied on four pitchers to navigate the extra-innings contest. Danny Valadez secured the win after throwing 1 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Cam Diaz closed the door in the final frame, striking out two while allowing one hit to pick up the save.
With two hard-fought victories, the Bearkats now turn their attention to conference play. They will host the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in a three-game series at Don Sanders Stadium, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.