HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats dropped both games during the opening day of the Bearkat Softball classic as they fell to Seton Hall and Wichita State.
The Kats lost a heartbreaker comeback to Seton Hall in their first game Saturday before dropping a defensive battle to Wichita State in the nightcap.
GAME 1 – Box Score
Seton Hall 10, Sam Houston 6
The Seton Hall Pirates used a huge seven-run sixth inning to complete the comeback win over the Bearkats 10-6.
Casey Kauder took the loss for Sam Houston, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Madison Strunk came in for relief in the fourth inning and earned the win after tossing four scoreless innings for the Kats to pick up her first win of the season.
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 1st
Sheridan Fisher got it started quickly for the Bearkats as she reached on a single and then advanced to second after Brooke Malia got on base thanks to a Seton Hall error. Codi Carpenter then got on base thanks to another error by the Pirates to give the Kats the early 1-0 advantage. But the Kats weren't done just yet as Megan Crosby stepped up to the plate to deliver a triple to give the Kats the 3-0 lead after the first half-inning.
Top 2nd
Megan McDonald got the inning started on the right foot with a leadoff single for the Bearkats, after Kayte Martinez reached on a fielder's choice Tiffany Thompson reached on a Seton Hall error to push Martinez across home.
Top 3rd
The Kats continued their hot start to the Bearkat Softball Classic as they added two more runs after Andrie drew a two-out walk to put runners on first and second for the Kats. McDonald delivered with a two-out single to drive in the Bearkats fifth run. Martinez followed with a single to drive in Andrie.
Bottom 4th
Seton Hall got their first run on the board by virtue of the long ball when Jane Barracato took the third pitch she saw yard for her first homerun of the year. The Pirates continued to showcase their bats in the inning and loaded the bases after two straight singles and a one-out walk. Payton Beaver then drove in the second Pirate run of the game with a single to right field. Kauder would come in to relieve Lindsey McLeod and get the Kats out of the jam after a strikeout and an infield pop-up.
Bottom 5th
The Pirates loaded the bases but managed just a Jaden Tate sacrifice fly.
Bottom 6th
The Pirates reached base off of three straight outfield singles. Destiny Peck then drove in her first run of the year off an infield single to cut the Sam Houston lead to two runs. The Pirates weren't done quite yet as Emily Supercynski dropped a ball just inside the right field line to drive in two more to give the Pirates their first lead of the game. The Pirates capitalized on two crucial Bearkat errors to score three unearned runs to increase their lead to 10-6 going into the final inning.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Crosby led the Bearkat lineup with two runs batted in off her third career triple on a 1-for-4 night. Martinez, Thompson and Carpenter each had two hits for the Bearkats as well.
GAME 2 – Box Score
Wichita State 3, Sam Houston State 0
A costly Bearkat error in the fifth proved to be the knockout blow as the Kats dropped a pitcher's duel to end the first day of the Bearkat Softball Classic.
Bailey Lange was outstanding for the Shockers as she picked up her second win of the season in shut-out fashion striking out 6 Kats while only allowing 2 hits.
Darby Fitzpatrick had a solid outing in the circle as well for the Kats as she allowed only one earned run in six innings of work as she picked up her second loss of the season.
SCORING SUMMARY
Top 5th
Bailey Nickerson got the fifth frame started for the Shockers as she hit a leadoff single to left. The Shockers got the first run on the board after a Bearkat error at second. The Shockers then loaded the bases and got their second run off a Madison Perrigan sacrifice fly.
Top 7th
The Shockers added one more in the final inning after Ryleigh Buck opened the frame with an infield single and Laurie Derrico followed right behind her with a double to deep left. Caitlin Bingham would eventually bring Buck home on a sacrifice fly to deep center to bring the Shocker lead to 3-0.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME Malia and Thompson were the only Kats who managed hits against Wichita State's Bailey Lange with Malia getting the only extra base hit of the night with a double down the left field line in the fourth inning. Fitzpatrick gave the Kats a solid performance as she only allowed one earned run in six innings of work.
UP NEXT The Bearkats will continue the Bearkat Softball Classic on Saturday with two more games, starting at 4:45 p.m. when they take on Northern Colorado before concluding the day with a 7 p.m. nightcap against Washington.
