HUNTSVILLE – A two-run, pinch-hit single by Hannah Marino with one out in the sixth inning served as the game-winning hit in Sam Houston State's 4-2 victory over Abilene Christian Saturday at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
The Wildcats are now 28-18 on the season and 16-5 vs. the Southland Conference after losing just its second series of the spring, while the Bearkats improved to 20-22 and 11-10 after winning the last two games vs. ACU by a combined three runs. ACU won Friday's first game, 3-0, before falling, 3-2 and 4-2.
Peyton Hedrick scored a game-tying run in the top of the sixth inning on
Holly Neese's single through the left side, but reliever Tayler Atkinson was able to strand the Wildcats' second baseman after getting the next two batters to ground out.
ACU starter
Sidney Holman then started the Bearkats' half of the sixth with a walk to Ashley Goetz, and was lifted in favor of reliever
Hannah Null. The next batter – Casey Kauder – reached on a fielder's choice bunt and Emily Bounds followed with another sacrifice that moved the runners into scoring position, setting the stage for Marino's double down the left-field line.
Alli Spivey would reach base in the Wildcats' last at-bat on a infield single – ACU's seventh hit of the day – but Atkinson would get
Taylor Brown on a comebacker to the circle for the final out.
Lindsay McLeod started for the Bearkats and gave up one run on five hits in 5.0 innings of work. The Wildcats put two runners on against her in the third with one out, and scored the game's first run on a RBI ground ball by
Peyton Hedrick that scored Spivey.
Sam Houston had an immediate response in its next at-bat as Megan McDonald's leadoff single in the third was followed by Tiffany Thompson's second home run of the season and fifth of the season.
Holman's loss was only her second of the spring in conference play, dropping her record to 11-2. She is 18-5 overall.
The Wildcats return to action next Friday at home for the start of a three-game series vs. Central Arkansas. ACU will play its final six regular-season games at home vs. UCA and Stephen F. Austin (May 5-6).
