Houston – Center fielder Tayler Gray blasted two home runs and right fielder Cecilia Castillo and pinch hitter Hillary Adams each added another to power Sam Houston to a 7-2 victory over Stephen F. Austin Friday morning.
Friday afternoon Adams added a three-run homer in an 11-5 loss to tournament host Houston.
The victory over SFA, which came in opening game of the Cougar Softball Classic, evened Sam Houston's season mark at 1-1.
Gray's two-run shot to left center in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winning run. The blast scored catcher Tiffany Castillo who led off the inning with a single.
SFA jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first after a bases-loaded walk by first baseman Shalie Day and a single by catcher Katelyn Standley gave the Jacks an early lead.
Left fielder Jessica Slater put Sam Houston on the board with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the third. Cecilia Castillo's solo shot to right center came in the fifth inning.
Gray led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo homer to right center. Adams' two-run home run completed the Kats' scoring.
Freshman Tayler Atkinson (1-0) was the winning pitcher in relief. Seeing her first college action Atkinson did not allow a hit in the final four innings, striking out two Lumberjacks.
Meme Quinn started in the circle. Haley Boros pitched two innings in relief.
The three-run homer by Adams highlighted Sam Houston's second game. The Cougars defeated the Bearkats 11-5, but, just as they did Wednesday in the season opener, the SHSU softball players responded to adversity with a rally.
Houston jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first and a six-run inning in the second.
Tiffany Castillo started the Kats' rally with an RBI single then Adams blasted her second home run of the day to cut the margin to 7-4. Jessica Slater added another run with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Shelby Lancaster (0-2) was the losing pitcher in the Cougars game. Haley Baros pitched the final six innings.
Sam Houston faces host team Houston at 2 p.m. Friday. Saturday the Bearkats will take on Nebraska at 2 p.m. and the Cougars again at 7 p.m. Play in the event will wrap up with a second encounter with the Huskers Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
