Houston’s Malachi Lott (13) pitches against the San Jacinto Raven during an NCAA college fall ball baseball game, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, in Houston, Texas.
Senior two-way Malachi Lott ignited Houston baseball’s comeback against his former team with a fifth-inning homer that put the Cougars on the board.
Lott then took the mound for the next two innings, allowing just one hit and securing the win. His performance made him the first Houston player since 2006 to record a homer and earn a win as a pitcher in the same game in Houston’s 4-3 victory in the Don Sanders Classic on Tuesday at Schroeder Park.
The win became in reach when a walk and a defensive error by Sam Houston set the stage for junior infielder Carsten Sabathia III’s two-run double in the eighth.
Sam Houston freshman outfielder Sam Lee dropped a ball hit to left by sophomore outfielder Tre Broussard, allowing him to reach second. Junior infielder Cade Climie reached base on a walk, and both runners eventually scored on Sabathia’s double.
The Cougars’ offense remained mostly silent until the fifth and sixth innings when they led off each frame with solo home runs to right field.
In the sixth, junior infielder Connor McGinnis hit a home run that brought Houston within one.
After senior infielder Hunter Autrey’s home run in the fifth put the Bearkats up 3-0, the Cougars’ pitching staff surrendered only five more hits the rest of the way.
Sophomore pitcher Richie Roman recorded his fifth save of the year, the most in DI baseball.
In total, Houston struck out a season-high 12 batters.
Next, the 6-2 Cougars will head to UT Arlington for a weekend series from Feb. 28 to March 2.
