DENTON - Sam Houston State's bats exploded for 13 hits as the Bearkat softball team ended an eight-game losing streak Saturday afternoon with a 9-2 victory over Missouri State at the University of North Texas Mean Green Classic.
The game was the second of the day and the fourth in the tournament for Sam Houston. Earlier Saturday, the Kats fell 2-0 to Drake. Sam Houston, which now stands 2-8 for the season, will conclude play in the Classic with a matchup with host North Texas Sunday afternoon.
Junior shortstop Hailey Wiginton went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and senior designated hitter was 2-for-4 with one run batted in to lead SHSU at the plate.
Senior first baseman Amy Brown picked up her second home run in two days with a solo shot in the fifth inning. Sophomore Brittany Guiterrez hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning.
Sophomore right hander Tomi Garrison was the winning pitcher spreading six hits over seven innings in her second appearance in the circle this season.
Freshman Tori Benavidez, originally signed as an outfielder but who has been seeing action while Garrison has been sidelined with an injury, gave up only two hits to Drake in Saturday's early game. Unfortunately, both hits were home runs, one in the first inning and the other in the fourth. Benavidez struck out nine and faced only Drake batters only 25 times in seven innings.
Brown went 2-for-2 in the contest as Sam Houston totaled five hits. The Bearkats left nine runners on base.
Following Sunday's game with North Texas, Sam Houston will return to Huntsville to play host to Texas Southern in a doubleheader at the Bearkat Softball Complex Wednesday at 4 p.m.
