Second baseman Dani Allen broke a 30-year old record to lead Sam Houston to a 10-9 victory Friday over Jacksonville in the Kats' opening game at the South Alabama Softball Classic in Mobile.
Allen went 6-for-6 at the plate, setting the Sam Houston softball record for most hits in one game. The old record of five was originally set by Sandy Madar in 1985 and tied twice since.
Allen posted a one-run single in the fourth inning, a two-run single in the sixth, a two-run double in the seventh and the winning run on a solo homer run in the bottom of the ninth to account for six RBIs.
The Bearkats lead 6-4 after six innings. But Jacksonville put five runs on the board on a pair of homers in the top of the seventh to take a 9-6 lead.
Alexis Garcia's run-scoring single forced extra innings as the SHSU women rallied for three in the bottom of the seventh.
Jessica Slater and Hillary Adams each added a pair of hits. Slater, Sarah Allison and Angelica Gonzales each accounted for a run batted in.
In Friday's second game, defending Mid-America Conference champion Ball State run-rulled the Bearkats 8-0 in five innings.
Slater and Allison accounted for the Bearkats' only hits. Ball State pitcher Nora Steinbech struck out six of the 21 batters she faced.
Meme Quinn was the winning pitcher, striking out eight JU batters. Quinn left the circle in the sixth for as Haley Baros and Amber Neal saw relief duty. Quinn reentered in the seventh and finished the game.
