The Sam Houston State University softball team defeated the Southeastern Louisiana University Lions 9-1 in a conference series on Friday but fell 7-5 to the Lions on Saturday.
On Saturday the Bearkats lost their five game win streak after they fell to the Lions due to errors.
In the top of the first, senior catcher Katie Doerre and senior shortstop Tiffany Castillo both caught run with singles to hold the Lions. In the bottom of the first, freshman centerfielder Ashley Goetz hit a pop fly to center field and freshman first baseman Codi Carpenter hit a ground ball to shortstop to earn the Bearkats a 4-0 lead.
SLU hit a double to centerfield in the top of the second inning, which started a downward spiral for the Bearkats that ended with the Lions having six runs, five of which were unearned after three errors from SHSU.
“The conference schedule is still very young in the year and anything can happen,” Assistant Coach Garrett Valis said. “We plan to improve each day and compete in each game we play in.”
The Bearkats saw themselves one point behind SLU in the bottom of the third when Doerre hit a triple and made it to home plate after Castillo hit a ground ball. With one out and consecutive doubles from SLU, the Lions up by two runs in the top of the sixth.
The game ended with seven hits from the Bearkats and freshman pitcher Lindsey McLeoud had six strikeouts in her five innings as a relief pitcher.
The Bearkats ended the first-inning of Friday’s game with a 8-0 lead after two-run singles were brought in by Goetz, designated hitter, and senior left fielder Jennie Kieval RBI’s from Carpenter and senior second baseman Dani Allen and an error from SLU.
“We know that if we have more good days than bad, then we will put ourselves in a position to attend and compete in the conference tournament,” Assistant Coach Garrett Valis said.
SLU scored their only point of the game in the top of the fifth inning when freshman shortstop Jaquelyn Ramon scored on a walk.
In the ninth inning Allen hit a walk-off double to bring sophomore outfielder Samantha Belongia to home plate. Belongia put herself in position to score after she hit a single and stole second base.
Junior pitcher Tayler Atkinson earned her fifth win in the circle this season. Atkinson only allowed four hits in five innings and stuck out two batters.
In the nightcap game Goetz hit a double to center field that put her in the position to score and after Carpenter hit an RBI single, the Bearkats took the lead in the second inning.
The Lions managed to tie the game 1-1 in the top of the third but junior third baseman Breanna Homer hit a triple down right field, her second of the season, to send freshman center fielder Bailey Watson to home plate, which secured the Bearkats’ lead.
McLeod earned her sixth victory in the circle this season. McLeod struck out five batters and allowed only three hits in the nightcap. The freshman’s biggest strikeout of the game was with runners on both second and third with two outs. SLU brought up a .360 batter and with a 3-2 count, McLeod struck out the first baseman.
The Bearkats went five for six last week and currently stand 12-22 for the season and 4-8 in conference play.
On Friday and Saturday the Bearkats will play a three game conference series against Texas A&M Corpus Christi at Corpus Christi.