Houston - In its second game playing at the Houston Astros' Minute Maid Park, the Maryville baseball team had the tying run on third base but Arkansas Tech escaped the jam to take a 7-6 decision.
 
Trailing 1-0, the Saints evened the score in the bottom of the second when Alex Hoff doubled and scored on an RBI single by Matt Schuler. Arkansas Tech pushed four across in the top of the third but the Saints pulled one score back. Brad Willis walked, took second on a Joey Polak single and dashed home when Ben Hopkins doubled to the gap.
 
The pitching staffs kept both offenses off the scoreboard until Maryville scored twice in the bottom of the seventh. Schuler and Andy Bunton both reached via walk and Michael Gould doubled down the line in left as the Saints closed to 5-4. ATU extended its lead to 7-4 before the Saint nearly walked it off.
 
With two out in the bottom of the ninth, Gould singled and Willis walked. Polak singled to center to plate one run. Hopkins hit a ground-rule double to left to score Willis as the Saints had runners on second and third. However, the Saints were unable to bring home the tying run as Arkansas Tech remained unbeaten on the season.
 
The Saints close out their season-opening trio of games at Minute Maid Park as they take on Arkansas Monticello Sunday in a 10 a.m. first pitch.