HOUSTON (Interstat) — Alex Solis struck out six over four dominant innings of relief, and Cade Climie and Riley Jackson homered as the Houston Cougars edged the Rice Owls 4-3 on Tuesday night at M.O. Campbell Center.

The Cougars scored three times in the first inning, keyed by Xavier Perez’s RBI double, and never relinquished the lead. Solis entered with the bases loaded in the fifth and escaped the jam, allowing just one earned run on zero hits to earn the win. Climie hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth, and Jackson added a solo shot in the ninth for crucial insurance.

Rice rallied with two runs in the second and another in the seventh but left the tying run on base in the ninth. Houston improved to 18-21, while Rice fell to 24-18.