HOUSTON (Interstat) — Antonelli Savattere lined a single into center field in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring pinch-runner Dickens from second base to give the Houston Cougars a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The win improved Houston’s record to 10-5, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell to 5-12.

The game’s most important sequence unfolded in the final two innings, a dramatic reversal after Houston starter Kendall Hoffman and Arkansas-Pine Bluff starter Kenney Fabian had engaged in a tight duel. Hoffman delivered a strong seven-inning outing for the Cougars, allowing three hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Fabian was even more dominant through six no-hit innings, but was touched for three runs, walking five and striking out five.

Houston chipped away at an early deficit. Arkansas-Pine Bluff took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an unearned run via a sacrifice fly from Savattere after a failed pickoff attempt and a hit batter. The Golden Lions extended their lead to 2-0 in the third on a solo home run by Konner Giddley, his first of the season.

Houston responded in the bottom of the third. Xavier Perez led off with a solo homer, his third of the year. Later in the inning, Jackson doubled to left center to drive in Max, cutting the lead to 3-2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff got a run back in the fourth on a solo shot from Zach Wieder, making it 4-2. Houston answered in their half of the fourth when Perez singled home Helton, closing the gap to 4-3.

The game remained 4-3 until the seventh. After a pitching change, Perez tripled and later scored on a single by Sabathia to tie the game at 4-4.

The Golden Lions appeared to seize control in the top of the eighth. They loaded the bases with no outs against reliever Bryan. A walk to Grant forced in the go-ahead run. Wieder then lifted a sacrifice fly to deep left, scoring another run. A throwing error on the play allowed a third run to score on a subsequent sacrifice fly by Coleman, giving Arkansas-Pine Bluff a 7-4 lead. However, official scoring later corrected the total, as the Golden Lions finished with five runs.

Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Houston mounted its final rally. After Perez and Max were retired, Sabathia doubled to deep center field. Pinch-runner Dickens replaced him at second base. Jackson was intentionally walked, bringing Savattere to the plate. On a 1-1 count, Savattere delivered the game-winning hit, a sharp single to center, scoring Dickens easily and capping the comeback.

Perez led Houston’s 11-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with a home run, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Savattere finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs, including the decisive blow. For Arkansas-Pine Bluff, who managed six hits, Giddley was 2 for 4 with a homer and Wieder drove in two runs with his solo shot and a sacrifice fly.

Max McCraray earned the win for Houston after recording the final out in the top of the ninth. Brendan Hamlin took the loss for the Golden Lions, allowing the final run in his 1 1/3 innings of relief.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.