HUNTSVILLE -- Junior right-hander Brandi Crnkovic threw a three-hit shut out and Tanya Hooser doubled in the winning RBI in the bottom of the sixth inning as Sam Houston State blanked North Texas 2-0 in the first game of a Sunday non-conference softball doubleheader at Bearkat Softball Stadium.
A two-run double to center field by Sarah Parich scored the winning runs as Sam Houston took the nightcap 3-2 to lift the Bearkats' season mark to 4-1. North Texas drops to 3-5.
Crnkovic struck out four Eagle batters as she picked up her second shutout of the 2008 season in the first game, upping her record in the circle to 2-1.
After five scoreless innings, Whitney Wilson started the sixth with a single to third base. Wilson stole second, then moved to third on a single by Mandy Huckabee. Hooser doubled to score Wilson. With two outs, Kendra Spivey singled to left field to score Hooser.
The Bearkats totaled 10 hits in the first game with Hooser and Spivey each picking up two.
Kristina Fowler (1-3) took the loss for the Eagles.
Morgan Mikulin picked up her second victory of the 2008 season, striking out three batters and spreading eight hits over six innings. Crnkovic pitched the seventh inning to earn the save.
Sam Houston opened the scoring in the first inning. Amy Brown and Parich each singled. Brown stole third base and scored on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Lauren Burns.
North Texas scored a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to go up 2-1. Hooser and Kendra Spivey started the sixth inning with back-to-back singles and Parich blasted her double for the victory.
Sam Houston State goes on the road for the next five weeks. The Bearkats will play at the University of Houston on Wednesday
