One out away from advancing to the next round in the elimination bracket, Sam Houston saw a 10-5 lead slip away has Stephen F. Austin rallied for 11 runs in the top of the seventh inning to end the Bearkats' trip to the 2016 Southland Conference Softball Tournament in Lake Charles, La.
Thanks to a 25-minute lightning delay that caused the scheduled 11 a.m. contest to start at 11:25 and an hour long rain stoppage after an inning and a half, the contest didn't end until 3:40 on a hot and muggy afternoon.
Powered by a grand slam home run by shortstop Tiffany Castillo in the bottom of the third inning, Sam Houston scored 10 runs on seven hits in the first six innings. But SFA rallied for an incredible 11 runs on eight hits (including a home run and a triple) and a Bearkat error in the top of the seventh.
After picking up the second out of the top of the seventh on an force at second base, the Kats saw the Jacks send six batters to the plate who combined to score six runs.
Sam Houston loaded the bases in the bottom of the final inning and cut the margin by one run, but could not make up the difference.
“We just couldn't get that final out,” Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. “You don't want to give uup an 11-run inning, but everything SFA hit in that final inning seemed to go someplace we weren't. But I'm proud of the effort our kids put in. With all the delays and the heat and humidity, they gave it everything they had.”
Castillo's grand slam home run marked the 27th homer of the senior's career to tie her for third place in the Sam Houston record books with Kim Damian.
Second baseman Dani Allen went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs. First baseman Codi Carpenter and center fielder Bailey Watson each posted a two hits. Third baseman Breanna Homer, catcher Katie Doerre, Carpenter, left fielder Ashley Kopps and pinch hitters Hannah Marino and Jennie Kieval all produced an RBI as well.
Lindsey McLeod, who started and later came back in relief in the seventh inning, took the loss. Jordan Franks and Taylor Atkinson also saw action in relief.
Sam Houston ends the year 22-32. Stephen F. Austin advances with a 26-29 season record.
