Outfielder Tori Benavidez went four-for-four in the both games of a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon but Houston Baptist picked up wins in both games, handing Sam Houston softball losses of 7-5 and 7-1.
After the Huskies jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning and six runs in the second frame of the opening game, Benavidez ignited a two-run rally in the top of the third with an RBI double. First baseman Kim Damian added the second run with the first of two sacrifice flies.
The Bearkats picked up three more runs in the top of the fifth inning when outfielder Alex Survant walked with the bases loaded and Damian again brought in a run from third base with a ball to the outfield.
Courtney Schoneman took the loss in the pitching circle. Shelby Lancaster came in as a relief pitcher in the second inning and blanked HBU for the next three frames. Tomi Garrison pitched the final inning, her ninth consecutive game to pitch at least one inning for the Bearkats.
After three scoreless innings in the second game, Erin Burford singled, reached third base on a double by Cecilia Castillo then scored on an error to give Sam Houston a brief 1-0 lead.
HBU picked up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a home run by Callie Herrington then added three more on a pair of doubles by Mollye Mlcak and Kate Maddock in the fifth inning.
Castillo was the losing pitcher in the second game. Sam Houston dropped to 19-29 with the losses while Houston Baptist upped its record to 31-22.
Shortstop Hailey Wiginton went 2-for-4 in the first game, moving herself with five hits of setting a new school record for career total hits. Lauren Boone set the current mark with 226 hits from 2003 to 2006. Wiginton currently has totaled 222 career hits in 203 games since becoming a Bearkat in 2008.
Sam Houston now returns home for its final Southland Conference series at the Bearkat Softball Complex this year. The Bearkats play host to Southeastern Louisiana. The series begins with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and the final game at the same time on Sunday.
