Strong hitting performances by Shelbi Tucker, Tiffany Castillo and Tori Benavidez powered Sam Houston to a softball doubleheader sweep of the Purdue Boilermakers Tuesday.
Sam Houston(12-14) defeated Purdue (11-14) 5-2 and 2-1.
Tucker and Castillo both went 3-for-6, Tucker producing a walk-off two-run homer in the nightcap. Benavidez, who posted a solo homer in the second game, was 3-for-7.
Purdue jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening game’s first inning. Back-to-back RBI singles by designated player Hillary Adams and second baseman Alyssa Coggins in the bottom of the fourth inning put the Bearkats up 2-1.
Third baseman Shelbi Tucker doubled, was sacrificed to third and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. The Boilermakers got the run back as second baseman.
Catcher Ashley Isbell’s RBI double and Tiffany Castillo’s run-scoring single upped the Kats’ lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Shelby Lancaster (7-4) was the winning pitcher for Sam Houston, spreading six hits over seven innings and striking out three batters.
The Boilmakers started the second game just like the first, picking up a run in the top of the first, this time on an error and a sacrifice fly. Leftfielder Andie Varsho blasted a solo home run to left center to up the margin to 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning.
Center fielder Tori Benavidez answered with a solo homer down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Tucker’s home run off the scoreboard was the game winner.
Meme Quinn was the game winner in the pitching circle in the nightcap.