Big plays on offense, defense and in the pitching circle powered the Sam Houston softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana-Monroe Wednesday as the Bearkats won 3-2 and 6-2 at the Softball Complex.
Second baseman Dani Allen doubled to the wall in left center for a walk-off RBI to give Sam Houston the win in the first game. Right fielder Bailey Watson, Allen and third baseman Breanna Homer each posted a pair of RBIs to lead the squad to victory in the nightcap.
“I think we're finally lining it up,” Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. “I've said all along this young team had potential and they're finding themselves. We got some breaks today, but we were playing well and that makes good things happen. We pitched well, played good defense and got the big hits when we needed them.”
The Bearkats have won three games in a row to up their record to 10-21. ULM now stands 17-18.
Homer went 3-for-7 for the day, posting her fifth and sixth home runs of the season. Allen was 4-for-8 at the plate with three RBIs.
The junior who joined the Kat softball team this bring after playing volleyball three years is on a nine-game hitting streak. Allen now has hit in five consecutive games.
Allen's game-winning hit in the opening game scored right fielder Samantha Belongia who opened the seventh inning with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
Earlier, Belongia picked up her second RBI of the season with a bases-loaded single to open Sam Houston's scoring. The hit scored designated player Katie Doerre whose one-out single was the first of the contest for the Kats. The Warhawks evened the game with a run in the top of the fourth frame.
Homer blasted her fifth home run of the year over the left field fence to put the Kats up 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth. ULM's left fielder Rochelle Roberts answered immediately, leading off the top of the sixth with her fifth homer of the season to tie the contest at two runs apiece.
Taylor Atkinson pitched her second complete game of the season, limiting the Warhawks to seven hits. The victory was her fourth in the circle this year. Sam Houston played error-free ball with several players coming up with big defensive plays when needed.
Sam Houston's defense came up with double plays in both contests and made several spectacular plays.
ULM struck first in the nightcap on a pair of hits in the top of the second inning. The one-run lead was short-lived as the Kats struck for five runs in the bottom of the frame.
The action started with two out as left fielder Ashley Kopps reached on an error by the pitcher. Belongia followed up with a single. Both scored on a triple down the right field line by center fielder Bailey Watson. A double to right center by second baseman Dani Allen scored two more runs. Homer's second home run of the day put two more tallies on the board.
Sam Houston added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Allen.
Jordan Franks was the winner in the circle, allowing seven hits in six innings and striking out three. Freshman Lindsey McLeod came on in the top of the seventh to pick up her second save of the season.
The Bearkats return to Southland Conference action Friday and Saturday, hosting Southeastern Louisiana. Play starts both days at 3 p.m. with a doubleheader on Friday and a single game Saturday.
