Huntsville, Texas - Shelbi Tucker, playing shortstop instead of third base for the first time in two years, powered the second walk-off home run for a Sam Houston softball victory in two days and the Bearkats rallied for a 4-3 win over Southeastern Louisiana Sunday.
The win gave SHSU a series victory over the Lions and kept the Kats in the Southland Conference tournament picture for one more week. Erin Burford's walk-off home run in the second game of a double header Saturday had given SHSU a 9-1 run-rule win.
Sam Houston (21-30, SLC 13-13) never had a lead until Tucker's home sailed over the fence on a day when the Bearkats fielded a patch-work lineup. Southeastern Louisiana (21-27, SLC 11-16) out-hit the Kats 7-6. Both teams left 10 runners on base.
Three-time All-Southland senior shortstop Hailey Wiginton missed Sunday's game due to a family emergency and veteran starting pitcher Tomi Garrison was used as a hitter only until the final inning due to an injury. But the Kats earned a victory to keep Sam Houston in the hunt for one of the top six spots in the final standings and a berth in the post-season event that will be hosted by SHSU in two weeks.
"I'm so proud of this team the way they came together today," head coach Bob Brock said. "We fought through a lot of adversity with some of our top players missing, but the girls came through. This was just a great effort."
The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Southeastern Louisiana right fielder Katie Matthews walked with the bases loaded to score the first run, then designated hitter Meghan Gomez's sacrifice fly to left brought in the second tally. The Lions had loaded the bases with a walk, an error and a single.
Shortstop Katie Duhe added another run in the second inning with an RBI single that scored third baseman Megan Moore.
In the bottom of the third inning, it was Southeastern Louisiana's turn to walk in a run. Center fielder Tori Benavidez, left fielder Alex Survant and first baseman Erin Burford loaded the bases with two singles and a walk 23. The Bearkats scored a second run on an error to cut the Lion lead to 3-2.
Catcher Sarah Allison led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a game-tying home run to left field, the third home run of the series off the Bearkat Softball Complex scoreboard. Third baseman Brittany Guiterrez walked and second baseman Alyssa Coggins reached first base on an error to give SHSU two runners with no outs but the Lions retired the side.
The Lions threatened in the top of the seventh inning with runners on first and third, but Garrison came on as the third Kat pitcher to get the final out and her 15th victory of the year.
Tucker was the leadoff hitter for Sam Houston in the bottom of the seven and blasted the first pitch over the fence as Kenna Terry (7-7) took the loss for the Lions.
Sam Houston will complete the 2011 regular season with a three-game series at Central Arkansas next Saturday and Sunday/ Northwestern State, currently the sixth place team in the conference, take on Texas State in the Demons' final series.
