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Sam Houston State softball evened their conference record to 6-6, taking the three game weekend series against Stephen F. Austin with 8-1 and 12-1 victories this past weekend.
Centerfielder Tori Benavidez earned her second Southland Conference hitter of the week accounting for five hits, a homerun, six RBIs and seven runs scored to boost the Bearkats to clench their second conference series on the season.
During the double-header, Bearkat starting pitcher Shelby Lancaster went four innings allowing six hits and three earned runs but received support from relief freshmen pitcher Amber Neal. Neal quieted SFA’s bats allowing just a walk against six batters faced.
Despite Neal’s performance on the rubber, SHSU struggled to piece together enough insurance runs to fall 5-3 in game one.
SHSU catcher Hilary Adams led the Bearkats offensively throughout the afternoon connecting 6-8 and two RBIs.
A Tiffany Castillo grand slam in the night cap of Friday’s double header rejuvenated the Bearkats to an 8-1 victory in game two. Pitcher Meme Quinn pitched a complete game against the Lady Jacks, whiffing nine batters and allowed three hits.
Benavidez rallied early for the Bearkats with a three-run homerun in the top of the second for SHSU to add four insurance runs in the top of the fourth to claim the series with a 8-1 win in Saturday’s series closer.
Pitcher Haley Baros pitched a complete game with four strikeouts and allowing only three hits.
SHSU will return to Huntsville to face 6-6 SLC rival Dallas Baptist with games Saturday and Sunday. The first pitch will be tossed at 1 p.m.