NACOGDOCHES ? Freshman pitcher Monika Covington shut out Sam Houston State for the second day in a row as Stephen F. Austin took two of three in the first Southland Conference softball series of the season for both teams.

SFA and SHSU split a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon with the Bearkats winning the first game 10-0 and SFA bouncing back for 7-0 shutout in the nightcap. The Lumberjacks won 3-0 in the series opener on Tuesday.

Covington allowed the Bearkats only two hits in the 7-0 SFA victory. Brandi Crnkovic was the losing pitcher, allowing all seven runs while Hailey Wiginton and Holli Hatcher provided Sam Houston its only two hits in the loss.

Whitney Wilson's three-run home run in the first inning of Wednesday's first game sparked an early offensive explosion for the Sam Houston State softball team. The Bearkats won the first game 10-0, run-ruling the Lumberjacks in six innings.

Alex Survant and Casie Everitt started the game with a back-to-back walks. Mandy Huckabee doubled in Survant then Wilson blasted her second home run of the year to put the Kats up 4-0.

Everitt added a fifth run in the second inning with a two-out RBI double, scoring Survant who had singled. Lauren Burns made it 6-0 in the third with another RBI double, scoring Wilson who got on base on an error.

Wilson again was involved in a scoring play in the fifth inning, hitting a single to center field to score Hailey Wiginton who had doubled.

Mikulin gave Sam Houston a 10-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning with a three-run homer to center field. The home run scored Survant and Tanya Hooser who both had singled.

Mikulin was the winning pitcher in the first game of the doubleheader. The sophomore right hander spread six hits over six innings, striking out four while walking two.

Sam Houston State stands 7-6 for the season and 1-2 in Southland action. The Bearkats will play a three-game series at Northwestern State Saturday and Sunday.