Las Cruces, New Mex. - Sam Houston State lost both its games on the first day of the New Mexico State Softball Classic Friday at NMSU Softball Complex.
The Bearkats fell to Southern Utah 2-0 in their opening contest then dropped an 11-8 decision to Louisiana-Monroe.
A pair of three-run home runs by freshman catcher Sarah Allison highlighted the day's action for the Bearkats.
In the first game, Southern Utah's Heather Black retired 21 of the 23 batters she faced as the junior right-hander limited Sam Houston to one hit. First baseman Kim Damian's two-out single in the first inning accounted for the Kats' one hit.
Black retired the next 10 Bearkats she faced before Shelbi Tucker reached first on an error. But the Southern Utah pitcher did not allow another base runner with nine consecutive outs.
The Thunderbirds, now 2-4 for the season, scored one run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Designated player Heather Hoch hit an RBI double in the fourth and Rachel Richardson doubled to bring in the second run in the fifth.
Junior Tomi Garrison was the losing pitcher for Sam Houston. Garrison struck out eight Thunderbird batters and gave up only four hits. One of the two Southern Utah runs was unearned.
Six Bearkats had two-hit performances as SHSU totaled 14 hits in the loss to Louisana-Monroe but the War Hawks rallied to run their 2011 record to 6-1.
Sam Houston jumped out to a 7-5 lead in the first two innings as Allison hit a three-run homer in the first inning and added a another three-run home run in the second.
Monroe scored three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth inning to take an 11-7 lead. The key blow was a bases loaded three-run single by Cassie Cassel in the fourth.
Hailey Wigington, Alyssa Coggins, Damian, Tayler Gray and Brittany Gutierrez each had two hits for Sam Houston.
Courtney Schoenemann was the losing pitcher for SHSU in relief. Shelby Lancaster started and Cecilia Castillo threw in the final inning and one-third.
Sam Houston dropped to 5-5 for the year with the two losses. The Bearkats will play Oklahoma at 11 a.m. Huntsville time Saturday, then face host New Mexico State immediately following their game with the Sooners.
