Sam Houston State racked up its second consecutive Southland Conference doubleheader victory Sunday, defeating Northwestern State 9-1 and 4-3 at Bearkat Softball Complex.

The victories up the Bearkats’ record to 12-15 for the year and 6-2 in Southland Conference play. The Demons drop to 12-23 and 2-8.

After surrendering a run in top of the first inning, Sam Houston took control as first baseman Kim Damian blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the opening inning. The home run scored center fielder Tori Benavidez and second baseman Alyssa Coggins who both singled.

The Bearkats added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run single by catcher Hillary Adams, an RBI single by left fielder Calli Wood and a Demon illegal pitch with runners on second and third base.

Pinch hitter Brittany Gutierrez and Coggins hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the sixth for the game-ending run-rule tallies.
First game winning pitcher Tomi Garrison (6-7) spread seven hits over six innings while striking out seven of the 24 Demon batters she faced. She did not give up a base on balls.
Demon shortstop Tara McKenney went 3-for-3 in the first game, scoring Northwestern State’s run on a single by Kyle Roos.
A first inning run-scoring double by left fielder Samantha Roberts and RBI singles in the third by second baseman Cali Burke and catcher Cheyenne DeLaGarza gave Northwestern State an early 3-1 lead in the second game.
Centerfielder Tori Benavidez brought in the Bearkats’ first run in the third inning with a double. A two-out wild pitch with runners on second and third scored shortstop Sarah Allison who singled and third baseman Shelbi Tucker who walked to tie the contest 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Allison led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and scored on a two-out RBI single by catcher Ashley Isbell.
Meme Quinn (2-2) got the victory in the circle in relief. Sara Aasness (0-1) was the losing pitcher.