HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston and Southeastern Louisiana traded run-rule victories to split a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday at Bearkat Softball Complex.
 
The Lady Lions (24-15, 13-4 SLC) used a seven-run fourth inning to hand the Bearkats (12-23, 9-8 SLC) a 13-0 loss in five innings in the series opener.
 
Sam Houston responded with a gem from freshman Mika Vento in the circle and a solid effort at the plate by freshman Kylie Hobbs, who hit the walk-off single in the sixth, to take game two 8-0.
 
The two teams will play the series finale Sunday at noon.
 
Game 1
Southeastern Louisiana 13, Sam Houston 0 (5 inn.)
Southeastern Louisiana used to big innings to top Sam Houston 13-0 in game one of a three-game Southland Conference series Saturday.
 
Aeriyl Mass had a three-run single in the second, and Madisen Blackford added an RBI single to give the Lady Lions a 5-0 lead.
 
Madison Watson walked with the bases load to bring in the first score in the seven-run fourth inning, Karlee Kraft brought in two more with a single. Cameron Goodman cleared the bases with a three-run double to push the lead to 12-0.
 
Heather Zumo kept the Bearkats off balance at the plate, allowing just three hits in five shutout innings to earn the win and improve to 14-2 on the season. Sophomore Regan Dunn (5-7) gave up seven runs, five earned, in three innings to take the loss.

Sophomore Kyndal Kutac, senior Brooke Malia and freshman Taylor Bachmeyer accounted for Sam Houston's three hits.
 
Game 2
Sam Houston 8, Southeastern Louisiana 0 (6 inn.)
After getting shutout in game one, Sam Houston roared back to even the series with Southeastern Louisiana with a run-rule 8-0 victory in six innings.
 
Freshman Mika Vento was lights out in the circle. She allowed only four hits in six innings with four strikeouts to improve to 6-5 on the season.
 
The Bearkats' bats came alive in game two. They scored eight runs on 11 hits and chased SLU starter Sophie Hannabas (2-4) from the game after she allowed four runs in 2/3 innings.
 
Freshman Kylie Hobbs, who went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, drove seniors Megan McDonald and Kayte Martinez with a two-run double to right-center field to get the scoring going. Senior Brooke Malia ripped a two-run home run to make it 4-0.
 
Sam Houston added a run in the third when Hobbs reached on a throwing error which allowed sophomore Kyndal Kutac to score.
 
Sophomore Regan Dunn and freshman Hannah Scheaffer each added RBI singles in the fifth, and Hobbs walked it off in the sixth when she laced popped an RBI single into left field to score Martinez.
 
Martinez went 2 for 2, Malia was 2 for 3, and junior Sheridan Fisher, Kutac and freshman Courtney White each had a hit in the victory.