The Sam Houston Bearkats just keep winning.
The 24th-ranked Kats (20-9, 10-2 SLC) got two runs in the second inning and held on to beat No. 9 Rice 2-1 on Tuesday night at Reckling Park. The win extends the Bearkats winning streak to nine games, and gave head coach David Pierce a win against the school he served as an assistant for nine years.
Michael Oros (4-0) got the start for the Kats on the hill, and was solid. He picked up the win going five innings without allowing a run. Allan Scott and Michael Burchette, who picked up the save, also didn’t allow a run in relief, as the Kats picked up a win at Rice for the second straight season.
The Kats got all the offense they needed in the second inning, connecting for three consecutive hits. Kevin Miller got it started with a one-out single. Jake Arrington, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, also followed with a single. John Hale doubled home Miller and Arrington scored on a groundout by Plumlee.
After a solo homer by the Owls in the 8th inning, Burchette came on in relief and got a pop up and a strikeout to leave the potential tying run at second base.
Pierce then made a defensive substitution in the bottom of the ninth inning that might have decided the ballgame. He inserted Greg Olson to right field for Jake Arrington and with one out, Olson threw out a runner at third. Burchette followed with a strike out end the ball game.
The Bearkats will return home on Thursday to begin a three-game series against Northwestern State. Thursday and Friday’s games will get started at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday will begin at 1 p.m.
