HOUSTON -- Ryan O’Hearn’s two home runs propelled Sam Houston State to a 10-6 win against No. 26 Texas Tech in the second day of the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park.
O’Hearn shrugged off his tough day at the plate Friday and blasted an opposite-field solo home run on the first pitch he saw Saturday. Then in the sixth inning, the left-handed hitting first baseman crushed a homer to right field, making the Kats’ lead 8-4. He finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBI.
“I struggled a little bit yesterday and was chasing pitches out of the zone. Today I was just worried about getting strikes and getting good pitches to hit,” O’Hearn said. “I got a few of them. It was a lot of fun, especially here at this stadium and to help my team win. It’s huge for us to get wins against these teams in this tournament.”
Texas Tech scored a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the first inning to take their only lead of the game before SHSU put up a five spot in the second and never gave up the lead.
Bearkat starting pitcher Andrew Godail struggled through the early innings and was only able to pitch 2.2 innings. The junior lefty allowed three runs on four hits and four walks.
Freshman Sam Odom came out of the bullpen to toss 4.1 innings and pick up his second win of the season. Odom allowed just one run on three hits and struck out three batters.
“This is just a crazy experience,” Odom said. “I never expected to come into my first year in college and be able to throw as many innings as I have. Playing at Minute Maid going against what I grew up watching, it’s just an amazing feeling and I can’t explain it.
Left fielder Luke Plucheck backed up Odom with another amazing diving catch in left field. Catcher Hunter Redman ripped a ball into the gap in left center and Plucheck covered a lot of ground and leapt to make the catch.
O’Hearn wasn’t the only Bearkat to show off at the plate Saturday. Right fielder Hayden Simerly continued his hot start with his fourth three-hit game of the season. Simerly went 3-for-5 with two RBI and his first homer of the season.
Second baseman Ryan Farney went 1-for-3 with a two-RBI single in the seventh. Center fielder Colt Atwood had a three-hit day with an RBI and two runs scored.
Lefthander Logan Boyd pitched the final two innings of the ballgame. He allowed two runs on one hit and three walks. One of the runs was unearned.
