Sam Houston swept a non-conference softball doubleheader with Texas-San Antonio at the Softball Complex Wednesday afternoon. The Bearkats won 7-3 and 4-3.
With winds gusting out of the north at 20 mph, the opening contest started as a pitcher's duel then turned into a slug-fest.
Starting pitchers Shelby Lancaster and Kacy Freeze both kept their opponents hitless for the first three innings.
Second baseman Alyssa Coggins, right fielder Cecilia Castillo and designated player Hillary Adams opened the bottom of the fourth inning with consecutive singles. Adam's hit scored Coggins. Castillo tallied on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Tori Koerselman. Catcher Tiffany Castillo brought home her sister with a single up the middle to put the SHSU women up 3-0.
A two-run homer by designated player Jori Fox sparked a four-run sixth inning, giving the Roadrunners a short-lived 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth.
Sam Houston rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth on RBIs by Cecilia Castillo and Adams and a two-run single by first baseman Sarah Allison.
Freshman Tayler Atkinson (2-1) got the win in relief. Lancaster pitched the first five and one third innings. Haley Baros finished the game working the seventh inning.
Allison picked up two more RBIs to start the nightcap, giving Sam Houston a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. UTSA first baseman Megan Low got one run back in the top of the third inning with a solo home run to left center.
Adams smashed a single down the right field line to score Coggins from third to put SHSU up 3-1 after three. UTSA responded with an RBI triple to right center in the top of the fourth to make it a one-run game again, 3-2.
Pinch hitter Randee Crawford tied the game 3-3 with a single in the top of the sixth.
Coggins led off the bottom of the seventh reaching first on an error by the shortstop, was sacrificed to both second and third with bunts and scored on a bunt single by shortstop Tayler Gray to earn the sweep.
Haley Baros was the winning pitcher for the Bearkats in relief.
The Bearkats travel to San Marcos to face Texas State Thursday before returning to Southland Conference action Saturday and Sunday with a three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana. Sam Houston's next home softball game is a doubleheader with Texas Southern Tuesday.
