The Sam Houston softball team had its hands full last weekend as it traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia to take on No. 22 Liberty in a crucial Conference USA series. Coming off a four-game winning streak, the Bearkats were looking to continue their momentum. Liberty proved to be a tough opponent, though Sam Houston was able to take one out of three games.
Game One – Early Hole Too Much to Overcome
In the series opener on Thursday, the Bearkats couldn’t recover from a tough start. Liberty jumped out to a 5-1 lead by the third inning, and despite a late rally, Sam Houston fell 9-4. Samantha Graeter gave the Bearkats a spark with a solo home run in the second inning, and the team took advantage of defensive miscues in the fourth to make it a 6-4 game. But Liberty pulled away with three runs in the sixth inning to seal the win. Tiffany Sanchez took the loss after two innings of work, but Makenzi Jenkins kept the team in it with four solid innings of relief.
Game Two – Bearkats Upset No. 22 Liberty
Friday was a different story, as Sam Houston bounced back to beat Liberty 3-1 and even the series. Allie Saville came through with a two-run home run in the fourth, giving the Bearkats a 2-1 lead. From there, pitcher Abigail Young was dominant in the circle, holding Liberty scoreless for the rest of the game and completing the win with three strikeouts. Samantha Graeter added an insurance run in the sixth on a wild pitch, and Jenny Robison led the offense with three hits. This victory was a huge one for the Bearkats, marking their first win over a ranked opponent since 2023.
Game Three – Bearkats’ Late Rally Comes Up Short
Saturday’s game saw the Bearkats fight hard but ultimately fall 7-4, losing the series two games to one. Liberty jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the second inning, and despite a solo home run from Morgan Holliday and a late rally in the seventh, Sam Houston couldn’t complete the comeback. The Bearkats loaded the bases with no outs in the final inning and scored three runs, but couldn’t push across more. Kendall Daniel took the loss after allowing four runs, but Abigail Young pitched well in relief, keeping the Flames off the board for three innings.
Up Next
After a tough series, the Bearkats are looking to bounce back as they travel to Beaumont to face Lamar in midweek action before heading to Jacksonville, Alabama, to take on Jax State. With both teams tied for third in Conference USA, this upcoming series will be crucial for postseason positioning.