The Bearkats were one out away from a 1-2-3 second inning Wednesday. Instead, Texas A&M turned a couple of miscues into game-changers.
The 22nd-ranked Aggies scored three runs with two outs in the top of the second to deal Sam Houston State a 4-1 setback at the Bearkat Softball Complex on Wednesday night.
The loss marked the third in a row for the Kats, who dropped to 15-25 on the season.
"You can't do that with a team like A&M," SHSU head coach Bob Brock said. "It is unfortunate, but all I can say is that I've been in that situation before. You can't give away outs against a nationally ranked team. It always seems to come back and hurt you."
The Bearkats jumped on the Aggies (31-11) for a run in the bottom of the first inning to take a quick lead. Third baseman Shelbi Tucker ripped an RBI single with two outs to bring home center fielder Tori Benavidez, who reached on a walk.
Sam Houston starter Tomi Garrison breezed through the first and was on her way to a quick second frame when the Kats ran into trouble in the field.
A&M center fielder Kelsea Orsak reached on an error with two outs, and left fielder Emily Albus followed with an infield single. The Aggies caught another break on an error to load the bases and Natalie Villarreal took advantage with a two-run single.
Cassie Tysarczyk pushed the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single before Garrison was finally able to get out of the inning.
A&M added another run in the third on a solo home run to left-center field off the bat of Mel Dumezich. But the damage was done in the second.
"Tomi is having a really good year," Brock said. "After that second inning, she came back out and did a nice job. Sometimes pitchers have to do that when things go wrong. We gave them extra outs and that cost us."
The Bearkats did not do much to help themselves at the plate after the Aggies took the lead. Sam Houston only had one more base runner until getting a semi-rally going in the seventh.
Tucker laced a one-out single into left field and stole second base with two outs. Right fielder Erin Burford looked like she was going to trim the lead when she ripped a ball into the gap in right-center field.
But Orsak ran it down and made a solid diving catch to end the contest.
"I thought we really played hard and did a nice job for the most part," Brock added. "We fought and we came close. Hopefully we can carry that into this weekend."
The Bearkats return to Southland Conference action with a three-game home series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
