Stephen F. Austin rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to end Sam Houston's season with an 8-6 loss in elimination play at the Southland Conference Softball Tournament at North Oak Park in Hammond, La. Saturday night.
The Bearkats, who finish the year 26-26, overcame a 4-0 lead to go in front 5-4 in the fifth inning, but SFA answered for the victory and advances to the tournament semifinals.
"We just came up a little short," SHSU head coach Bob Brock said. "I was proud of the way we fought back for the lead. Both teams really competed well. It was a good ball game."
The Jacks put up a run in the first inning on an RBI single by first baseman Shalie Day. A double play with the bases loaded and only one out got starting SHSU pitcher Haley Baros out of an early jam.
In the top of the third inning, designated play Katelyn Standley's home run over the left field fence to score three runs literally brought rain. A cloudburst just after the blast delayed the game for 40 minutes.
Sam Houston bounced back after the delay, scoring two in the bottom of the third. Center fielder Jessica Slater led off with a bunt single then stole second base. An error on a ground ball by shortstop Tayler Gray scored Slater. In turn, Gray scored on an error at second base on a grounder by third baseman Tori Koerselman. SFA's lead was cut to 4-2.
The Kats added another run in the fourth as right fielder Cecilia Castillo singled then reached third base on another SFA error. Slater's sacrifice fly to deep left field scored Castillo.
With two out in the bottom of the fifth, catcher Tiffany Castillo's two-run homer over the left field fence put Sam Houston in the lead 5-4. The blast, Castillo's 19th career home run (fifth highest total in SHSU history) also scored designated player Hillary Adams who walked.
Lewis doubled off the wall in left to lead off the top of the sixth. She scored on a double by third baseman Taylor LeFlore to tie the contest 5-5.
A two-run single by Leflore in the top of the seventh put SFA back in front 7-5. SFA got an insurance run on an infield error.
Koerselman and Adams hit back-to-back singles with two out in the seventh. Koerselman scored on an infield error by SFA but the Kats could not get another run across.
Shelby Lancaster (11-11) was the loser in relief.
