COMMERCE — A later start than expected did not damper Sam Houston's mission to sweep a doubleheader at East Texas A&M on Tuesday in midweek action at Cain Family Softball Complex.
In fact, the Bearkats (9-12) got the bats going in the nightcap to punctuate the day with 12-4 victory. After inclement weather delayed the start of opener, Sam Houston rallied for a 3-1 win to set the tone for the evening.
Sam Houston 3, East Texas A&M 1
Brodie Quinlan continued her torrid start to the season with a two-run home run, her fourth of the year, in the top of the fifth inning to lift the Bearkats past the Lions in game one.
East Texas A&M took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo home run off starting pitcher
Abigail Young. That was the only mistake Young made in seven strong innings as she struck out 10 Lions on the way to improving to 2-3 on the season.
The Bearkats added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI double by
Jenny Robison.
Sam Houston 12, East Texas A&M 4
The Bearkats exploded four eight runs in the final three innings to secure a sweep of the Lions.
Once again Sam Houston got behind early, but an RBI single by
Kristyn Whitlock and another run on a fielder's choice by
Haleigh Carter tied the game in the second. The Bearkats took the lead in the third when a run scored on an obstruction call, and
Kendall Daniel laced an RBI single through the right side.
The Lions tied it only to see
Elia Hebel put Sam Houston on top for good in the fifth with her first home run of the season, a solo shot to right center. Whitlock added a two-run triple in the sixth as the Bearkats ran away with the victory.
Amy Abke tossed 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in relief to earn her third win of the season. She also finished with 10 strikeouts.
Sam Houston opens Conference USA play this weekend when Western Kentucky comes to Bearkat Softball Complex for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
