HUNSTVILLE — The wait is finally over. The ice has been broken.
Tricia Yarotsky blasted a walk-off, three-run home run as Sam Houston finally got going at the plate to earn its first-ever win in Conference USA with an 8-5 victory over Liberty on Sunday at Bearkat Softball Complex.
The Bearkats (12-19, 1-8 CUSA) ended a six-game losing skid with the win and avoided a series sweep at the hands of the Flames (17-14, 7-2).
Liberty came from behind to take a 5-4 lead, but Sam Houston tied it in the bottom of the seventh on an
Ellie Grill double and a pair of Liberty miscues.
The Kats finally put an end to the game in the bottom of the seventh. Grill singled up the middle and
Elia Hebel drew a walk to bring Yarotsky to the plate. One swing and Yarotsky was the hero on Sunday.
Sam Houston broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second when
Julia Herzinger opened the frame with a double to left center field. Liberty looked like it would escape unscathed, but
Allie Saville made the Flames play with an RBI single to make it 1-0.
Liberty was able to tie the game in the third thanks to a pair of singles and error.
It did not take long for the Bearkats to answer when
Kinsey Hobbs ripped a double down the right field line to begin the bottom of the third. With two outs, Sam Houston came through again with an RBI single by Hebel.
Haleigh Carter and Saville both got Sam Houston cooking at the plate again in the fourth with back-to-back singles. A fielder's choice and a throwing error pushed the lead to 3-1, and
Ellie Grill drove in a run with a groundout for another.
The Flames scratched across a run in the fifth then got a three-run home run with two outs and two strikes in the seventh take the lead.
The Bearkats were not going to be denied.
Ellie Grill led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and came across to score on two passed balls by the catcher to tie it at 5.
Hebel followed with a single and moved into scoring position on another mistake by Liberty, a wild pitch.
Tricia Yarotsky put runners at the corner with a single, and Herzinger walked on four straight pitches to load the bases.
The Flames got a double play and a ground out to squash Sam Houston's rally, at least until the ninth inning.
