HUNTSVILLE, Texas –
Kayla Keeling hit her sixth home run of the season in game two Friday night, but ultimately the ACU softball team came up one run short in the second of a double-dip with the Sam Houston State Bearkats. SHSU (22-19, 13-4 SLC) launched four home runs between the two games, winning game one, 10-0, and holding on game two, 5-4. The Wildcats (9-25, 2-15 SLC) tallied just six hits in the two games and will hope to ends its seven-game losing streak on Saturday.
PLEASE NOTE: Saturday's single game will begin at 12 p.m., and was originally scheduled to be shown on ESPN+. That is no longer the case. Due to bad weather in the area, the game will no longer have video.
Game 1: Sam Houston State 10, ACU 0 (5 Inn.)
Bearkat starter Lindsey McLeod limited the Wildcats to just two hits in the opener, and got help from her offense with a pair of big innings. Sam Houston State scored three runs in the first inning, and led 4-0 through three.
The fourth inning proved to be the big blow as SHSU scored six times to go up 10-0, and held ACU in the fifth to end the game via run-rule.
Samantha Bradley took the loss, tossing four innings.
Blair Clayton and
Kayla Keeling recorded the two hits.
Game 2: Sam Houston State 5, ACU 4
The home team built up a 5-0 lead through five innings against Wildcat starter
Calie Burris, but again it was the Bearkat pitching that was the difference. ACU tallied three hits through the first five innings against Regan Dunn, but finally broke into the scoring column in the sixth.
Katelyn Belch and
Linsey Tomlinson both walked with one out, and Clayton reached after being hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Keeling stepped up and launched a grand slam to get the 'Cats within a run. However, the comeback would not be enough.
ACU went down in order in the seventh, and Sam Houston State swept the day.
Keeling went 3-for-3 with the grand slam, and Belch recorded the one other hit for ACU.
