Freshman Alex Castleman struck out six batters over five shutout innings and had a team-high three hits to lead Houston past Summersville 10-0 at home Tuesday.

Castleman delivered the final blow in the bottom of the fifth inning with a RBI single to score Ty McCloud for the Tigers’ 10th run. It was Houston’s third shutout of the season.

HHS (6-11) topped last year’s win total with seven to go as well as the district tournament.

SCHEDULE/RESULTS: HHS baseball

“If people watched us last year and this year, there’s a night and day difference,” Houston coach Brent Hall said. “We just aren’t finding ways to come through and win games in the end. We’ll get better at that.”

It didn’t take a close finish Tuesday.

Houston batted around and scored six times in the third for a commanding lead. The Tigers added a single run in the fourth and three more in the third. They out-hit Summersville 11-5.

Hall said he thought his team played more confidently against their Texas County foes.

“We think we can perform well against this team,” Hall said. “We must have that same approach against every team we play.”

Castleman threw 52 of his 81 pitches for strikes en route to his second victory of the season. He gave up five hits and walked none.

Castleman faced his lone trouble in the top of the third when a pair of singles put runners on the corners with one out. But he got a three-pitch strikeout and lineout to second base to escape the jam.

“Alex was great at the start of the year and then kinda sputtered –– whether it be youth or loss of confidence,” Hall said. “We all know he is capable, and it was good to see him succeed.”

Castleman led the HHS offense by going 3-for-4 with a double and pair of RBIs. The Tigers’ top three batters –– McCloud, Gavin Alston and Sterling Jackson –– had two hits apiece. Jackson drove home two runs.

“We went through a stretch of the season where we didn’t want to swing the bat,” Hall said. “Coach (Jeff) Richardson has been throwing a lot of batting practice in the cage and working with them. It showed today.”

BOX SCORE

Summersville 000 00 – 0 5 1

Houston 006 13 – 10 11 1

HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Ty McCloud cf 2-2-2-1. Gavin Alston lf 3-2-2-1. Sterling Jackson 1b 3-1-2-2. Connor Wilson c 3-0-1-0. Nick Swanson pr 0-1-0-0. Alex Castleman p 4-1-3-2. Cody Allen 2b 2-1-1-1. Jacob Koch ss 2-0-0-1. Brecken Adey dh 2-0-0-0. Braedin Groff pr 0-1-0-0. Hunter Stilley rf 2-1-0-0. Totals 23-10-11-8.

2B: Castleman, Allen. SB: Alston 2, McCloud, Wilson, Castleman. CS: McCloud.

HOUSTON IP H R ER BB SO

Castleman, W 5 5 0 0 0 6