HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston struck early and never trailed en route to a 4-2 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
 
The Bearkats won the three-game Southland Conference series two to one to improve to 13-23 overall and 10-8 in league play. The Lady Lions fell to 24-16 and 13-5.
 
Sam Houston broke a scoreless tie with a run in the second inning. Senior Brooke Malia doubled to center field, and her pinch runner Caitlyn Goodeaux advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Courtney White and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by freshman Hannah Scheaffer.
 
Malia's hit tied the school record for career doubles at 37. Hailey Wiginton also hit 37 doubles from 2008-11.
 
The Bearkats increased their lead in the third.
 
Junior Sheridan Fisher singled through the right side to begin the frame and moved to second on a bunt hit by senior Kayte Martinez. Fisher came home to score when senior Megan McDonald dropped down a bunt, and SLU catcher Madisen Blackford committed a throwing error trying to get Fisher out at third.
 
The Lady Lions cut the lead to 2-1 with a RBI single in the fourth by Madison Watson.
 
The Kats added two insurance runs in the fifth when McDonald singled up the middle and freshman Kylie Hobbs was hit by a pitch with two outs. Malia walked, and White came through with a clutch two-run single up the middle on a 3-2 count.
 
Southeastern Louisiana scored on a throwing error in the seventh.
 
Freshman Mika Vento tossed a complete game, giving up one earned run on six hits with five strikeouts to improve to 7-5. Heather Zumo took the loss for the Lady Lions to fall to 14-3 on the season.
 
The Bearkats will play Baylor in Waco on Wednesday at 6 p.m.