NATCHITOCHES, La. — Sam Houston broke open a close game with three runs in the sixth inning to come away with a 6-1 victory over Northwestern State in the finale of a three-game Southland Conference series at Lady Demon Diamond Sunday.
 
The Bearkats (14-26, 11-10 SLC) were able to avoid the sweep with the win after dropping both games of a doubleheader Saturday in which they led heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
Senior Brooke Malia hit the game-winning home run in the fourth, and freshman Kylie Hobbs had a pair of RBI hits to lead SHSU at the plate.
 
After the Lady Demons (19-16, 13-8) took the lead in the bottom of the first without recording a hit, Sam Houston tied it at 1 in the top of the third.
 
Junior Sheridan Fisher walked with one out, and freshman Ellie Grill followed with another free pass. Senior Megan McDonald loaded the bases with a single to left field, and Hobbs delivered an RBI infield single to second.
 
Malia broke the tie with an opposite field solo home run to right field in the top of the fourth to put the Bearkats up 2-1, and Hobbs added another RBI single in the fifth to score Grill who led off with a base hit up the middle.
 
Sam Houston tacked on three more runs in the sixth to pull away.
 
Freshman Hannah Scheaffer reached on a one-out single, and pinch runner Caitlyn Goodeaux stole second base. Fisher laced an RBI single into right, and McDonald and Grill later came around to score on an error to make it 6-1.
 
Freshman Christine Billmeier came on in relief of starter Taylor Bachmeyer in the first inning. She tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn her first victory on the season, and freshman Mika Vento pitched the final four innings to pick up her second save.