Second baseman Luke Plucheck went 2-for-3 including a two-run single for the game-winning run as Sam Houston defeated Northwestern State 5-3 Saturday afternoon.

The victory completed a three-game Southland Conference sweep of the Demons by the Bearkats. The sweep was the third straight for Sam Houston, a first for the Bearkats in their 25 years in the league.
Sam Houston (23-9, Southland 12-2) extended their winning streak to 12 games, the program’s longest victory string in their 25 years at the NCAA Division I level.

Justin Jackson (6-2) was the winning pitcher, spreading six hits over seven innings and striking out eight Demons. Michael Oros picked up his second save of the season, throwing the final two innings.
Northwestern State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a double by left fielder Colin Bear that scored right fielder Jordan Buckley who singled.

The Bearkats roared back with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Center fielder Colt Atwood led off with a double. Left fielder Luke Pluchek scored Atwood with a single to left. After Plucheck reached third on a wild pitch and an error, designated hitter Anthony Azar brought Atwood in with a single. Azar scored on an RBI single by right fielder Jake Arrington.

Second baseman Jesse Plumlee added two more runs with a single in the fifth inning. The hit scored third baseman Kevin Miller and right fielder Jake Arrington who led off the inning with consecutive singles.
Center fielder Drew Helenihi’s RBI single and a triple by Buckley in the top of the seventh cut the Bearkat margin to 5-3.