The Sam Houston softball team extended its winning streak to five games by sweeping a Southland Conference doubleheader from Southeastern Louisiana Friday by scores of 9-1 and 2-1.
Second baseman Dani Allen totaled four hits on the day including a walk-off RBI double in the first game and third baseman Breanna Homer brought in the winning run with a triple in the nightcap. Sam Houston totaled 21 hits in the two games. Taylor Atkinson and Lindsey McLeod combined in the circle to hold the Lions to only seven hits.
“I'm so proud of this team,” Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. “Every Monday I felt like, no matter what we do the rest of the week, this is a talented young team. Things are starting to come together. We've all said this is who we are and we're going to get it done.”
The Bearkats started the week with a 4-0 shutout of Texas Southern and then swept Louisiana-Monroe in a pair of games Wednesday night. The five straight victories have upped Sam Houston's season record to 12-21. The Kats stand 4-7 in Southland play.
Two-run singles by designated player Ashley Goetz and left fielder Jennie Keival and RBIs by first baseman Codi Carpenter and Allen plus a Lion error powered the Bearkats to an eight-run first inning to open the doubleheader.
The Lions escaped a shutout as shortstop Jaquelyn Ramon scored in the top of the fifth inning on a walk, two stolen bases and a Bearkat error. Allen's walk-off double scored Samantha Belongia to give the Kats a run-rule victory. Belongia singled and stole second base with one out to set up the play.
Belongia went 3-for-3 in the first game while Allen posted a 3-for-4 performance and leftfielder Jennie Kieval accounted for two of the Kats' 12 hits in the contest.
Atkinson chalked up her fifth victory in the circle this season, allowing only four hits in five innings. The Lions had only eight base runners in the contest. Atkinson struck out two batters.
Carpenter opened the scoring in the nightcap with an RBI single in the second inning. Her hit scored Goetz who led off the frame with a double to left center.
After the Lions knotted the game at one apiece in the top of the third, third baseman Breanna Homer blasted her second triple of the season down the right field line to score center fielder Bailey Watson.
McLeod earned her sixth win in the circle this season. She struck out five Lions, giving up only three hits. Her biggest strike out of the day with runners on second and third, two outs, and Southeastern Louisiana clean-up hit Amber Sather (a .360 hitter) at bat. With a 3-2 count, McLeod struck out the first baseman looking.
Sam Houston and Southeastern Louisiana meet in the final game of the series Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Softball Complex.
