KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Sam Houston State outlasted Louisiana Tech 14-13 on Wednesday evening at Fred Stillwell Stadium in a Conference USA slugfest that featured 32 combined hits and seven home runs.

The Bearkats improved to 25-32 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 33-24. Sam Houston snapped a five-game losing streak and avenged a two-game sweep by Louisiana Tech earlier in the week.

Sam Houston jumped in front immediately. Ryan Franden walked to lead off the game, and Jeric Curtis doubled. Cade Corcoran singled in Franden, and a sacrifice bunt by Caleb Cotton plated Curtis for a 2-0 lead after a half-inning.

Louisiana Tech answered in the bottom of the first. Colby Lunsford singled, Trey Hawsey walked and Eli Berch launched a three-run homer to left field. The Bulldogs added singles from Sebastian Mexico and Matt Houston, but a double play ended the inning with the score 3-2 in favor of the Bearkats.

Sam Houston extended its lead in the third. Wes Baker doubled and Caleb Cotton homered to right field, driving in two runs. The Bearkats led 4-3.

Louisiana Tech responded again in the bottom of the third. Sebastian Mexico singled, and Matt Houston homered to left, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Wes Scott followed with a solo shot to center, tying the game 5-5.

The Bearkats regained the lead in the fourth. Jace Martinez walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Curtis bunted him in, giving Sam Houston a 6-5 advantage.

Louisiana Tech erupted in the fourth. The Bulldogs sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs on five hits, including RBI singles from Eli Berch and Casey McCoy, a sacrifice fly from Sebastian Mexico, a sacrifice fly on a fielding error by the right fielder and a ground-rule double by Cade Patterson. The Bulldogs took an 11-6 lead.

Sam Houston chipped away in the sixth. Franden singled, Curtis doubled and Corcoran singled in two runs. A fielding error by the third baseman allowed Corcoran to score, cutting the deficit to 11-9.

The Bearkats took the lead for good in the eighth. Jace Martinez walked, and Franden homered to right field, tying the game at 11-11. Curtis doubled, and after a pair of walks, Cotton drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Curtis. Hunter Alvord doubled to left, clearing the bases and giving Sam Houston a 14-11 lead.

Louisiana Tech made one last push in the bottom of the eighth. Sebastian Mexico singled, and Wes Scott hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to right, pulling the Bulldogs within 14-13.

Sam Houston reliever Gabriel Winans worked a perfect ninth, striking out one and inducing a pop-up to end the game.

Jeric Curtis was the top star for Sam Houston, going 5 for 6 with a double, a run batted in and two stolen bases. He reached base in six of seven plate appearances and scored twice. Caleb Cotton went 1 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs. Ryan Franden added a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Jonathan Anders pitched three scoreless innings of relief, allowing one unearned run while striking out one.

For Louisiana Tech, Wesley Scott went 2 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Eli Berch had two hits, including a home run, and four RBIs. Matt Houston homered and drove in three runs. Riley Fisher threw 1⅓ hitless innings with one strikeout.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Louisiana Tech 6, Sam Houston 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Louisiana Tech with a 66.60 percent probability to win.