First baseman Kim Damian's two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning broke a 1-1 tie as Sam Houston's bats exploded in the late innings to secure a 7-1 non-conference softball victory over Texas Southern Tuesday afternoon.
Sam Houston moves to 4-2 for the season, winning their 2011 home opener. The Tigers drop to 2-2.
Texas Southern's JoAnn Herrera limited the Bearkats to only three hits in the first four innings, but SHSU totaled four runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth to pull away.
Outfielder Amy Pelton and pitcher Tomi Garrison started the action in the sixth with back-to-back doubles. Garrison's two-baser scored Pelton. Tayler Gray and Damian each produced runs with singles.
Garrison earned her third victory of the season in relief, throwing the final four innings. The junior struck out three Tigers and gave up only two hits.
Freshman Cecilia Castillo started, spreading five hits over three innings and striking out five.
The Bearkats totaled 10 hits for the game with Damien going 3-for-4 and second baseman Alyssa Coggins posting a 2-for-3 performance.
Sam Houston will play host to Houston Baptist in a 4 p.m. doubleheader Wednesday at the Bearkat softball complex before heading to New Mexico State for a weekend tournament.
