The winning hit came an hour after the Bearkats stood  three outs away from a run-rule victory in the top of the fifth inning.

The Kats were up  11-3 but saw Texas State scored 10 runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The Bobcats tied the contest 12-12 on a grand slam home run by third baseman Courtney Harris and took a one-run lead on a seventh inning solo shot by designated player Katie Doerre.

After a one-out single, Benavidez scored on a base hit by Cecilia Castillo to force extra innings.

Two home runs by Damian and one apiece by designated player Hillary Adams and shortstop Cecilia Castillo erased a two-run deficit to give the Kats an 11-2 lead after three innings.

Sam Houston gave up two runs in the top of the first on an RBI single by Courtney Harris and an error in the outfield.

The Kats quickly tied the game on a two-run shot to left field by Adams, her seventh home run of the season. The blast scored Castillo who singled.

Damian added a three-run homer in the second inning. Castillo drove in a run with a single and two other Bearkats scored on a Bobcat error as Sam Houston went up 8-2. Damian would add a solo homer, her third round-trip of the season, in the bottom of the fifth.

Castillo hit the scoreboard behind the left field fence for a three-run homer in the third inning. The shot was the shortstop's fourth of the year.

Texas State avoided the run-rule with one run in the top of the fourth and two in the fifth off freshman pitcher Dani Allen.

Cecilia Castillo went 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs as the Bearkats totaled 18 hits. Benavidez was 3-for-6 in the batter's box.

Shelby Lancaster, Dani Allen and Haley Baros all pitched for the Bearkats with Baros getting the victory after working an inning and a third in relief.

Sam Houston State, now 9-12, begins Southland Conference play Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at Southeastern Louisiana. Next home action for the Bearkat softball team is Tuesday in a doubleheader with Purdue at Bearkat Softball Complex.