The Sam Houston softball team traveled to Nacogdoches on Tuesday night for a showdown with its Battle of Piney Woods rival, defeating Stephen F. Austin 7-6.
Veronica Harrison set a school record for the most home runs in a single season with 14 home runs, breaking the mark set by former record-holder Heather Robinson, who had held the record since 1994.
With the win, the Bearkats improved their record to 25-18 (9-6 Conference USA), ended a three-game losing streak against the Lumberjacks (22-19, 6-9 Southland Conference).
The Lumberjacks started off strong with five runs in the bottom of first, but the Bearkats evened the score with five runs of their own in the top of the third. The Bearkats scored their first run by Sophia Lundstrom getting a double to right center field, which let Ripley Welker score. Emma Rekieta then singled up the middle, which let Lundstrom score from second base. Veronica Harrison homered to deep left field to make it 5-4, then Kyla Heine doubled to left center, scoring Peyton Helmly to tie the game.
The Lumberjacks scored a run in the bottom half of the inning. SHSU’s Sophia Lundstrom singled up the middle to lead Kyla Heine to score, tying up the game again in the sixth. Kyla Heine then singled to shallow right field. in the seventh, breaking the tie to help the Bearkats get the win.
The Bearkats will return home to play against the Missouri State Bears on Friday; ESPN+ will carry the broadcast.
