HUNTSVILLE ? Molly Guidry hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning to power McNeese State past Sam Houston State 3-2 in the first game of a Southland Conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon.
Jenny Clay slammed a two-run home run over the left field fence in the third inning of the second game to lead the Cowgirls to a doubleheader sweep. McNeese State upped its record to 12-24 for the season and 5-6 in Southland action. Sam Houston dropped to 15-17 for the year and 6-5 in SLC play.
The two teams complete the three-game series Wednesday with a 12 noon single game.
Catcher Jenny Clay doubled, then scored on a single to right field by Michelle LaVoie to put McNeese up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
Sam Houston struck right back in the bottom of the first. Amy Brown was safe on an infield error. Hailey Wiginton singled down the left field line. Morgan Mikulin singled in Brown and both Mikulin and Wiginton advanced on an error by the catcher. Casie Everitt brought in Wiginton with a sacrifice fly to center to make the score 2-1.
An RBI double by Holly Long scored Liz Morvant who singled to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth.
Guidry broke the tie with her third home run of the season, a solo shot over the fence in left center to put McNeese up by a run, 3-2 in the top of the sixth.
Sam Houston had runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth, but couldn't get the run across.
Mikulin started, giving up 10 hits and striking out two before Brandi Crnkovic came in with one out in the sixth inning. Crnkovic struck out three of the five batters she faced. Mikulin dropped to 9-7 for the season in the circle.
McNeese scored in the first inning again in the nightcap as the Cowgirls went up 1-0 on back-to-back doubles by Liz Morvant and Clay. Two innings later Clay made the score 3-0 with her third home run of the season.
Cowgirl pitcher Bethany Stefinsky retired 17 of the first 18 batters she faced, giving up only a walk in the third inning. But Sam Houston rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Krsytal Gay doubled, and Alex Survant, and Hailey Wiginton hit back-to-back singles to score Gay to cut the margin to 3-1.
Crnkovic was the losing pitcher in the nightcap, falling to 6-9 for the year. The junior allowed five hits in seven innings, walking two and striking 10.
