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Coming into their second series of the season, the Sam Houston State softball team avoided a sweep by Lamar, defeating the Cardinals 6-4 Sunday afternoon.
The Bearkats looked promising squaring off against Lamar, winning six of their last seven games.
The Cardinals halted the Bearkats’ momentum, sweeping SHSU 9-4 and 5-4 Saturday with help from the long ball.
Lamar first baseman Amber McDowell connected twice for two homeruns against SHSU pitcher Shelby Lancaster in the third and sixth inning of game one. McDowell connected big again in game two in the seventh inning to send SHSU into extra innings.
Throughout the series the Cardinals accounted for six home runs and a triple with support from catcher Beverly Corry.
SHSU’s leads were short-lived as Lamar’s offensive countered any Bearkat rally. In game one, Lamar snapped SHSU’s 4-3 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth (two unearned) then gained insurance with a home run in the sixth inning.
In game two, Cecilia Castillo put SHSU on the board first with a solo homerun in the top of the first. Castillo crossed home plate in the fifth inning on an unearned run. Senior outfielder Kim Damien evened the score accompanied by Ashlee Isbell to give SHSU a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Lamar responded with their sixth home run to force extra innings to claim the day sweep in the eighth inning 5-4.
SHSU avoided the series sweep Sunday with a 6-4 victory with the aid of the long ball from Shelbi Tucker and Castillo.
Castillo ignited the Bearkats early in the first with a double and crossed the plate from an RBI single from Hilary Adams. Tucker extended SHSU’s lead 2-0 with a solo homerun in the top of the second and received insurance in the fifth from an RBI single from Adams for a 4-1 lead. Castillo connected for her second homerun of the day for two runs in the top of the seventh.
Meme Quinn (4-4) picked up the win with support from Haley Baros who acquired the save.
SHSU will travel to Houston for a midweek game against conference rival Texas Southern Tuesday at 4 p.m.
The Bearkats will square off against school and conference rival Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches Friday and Saturday for their third conference series. Games begin at 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
