By I.C. Murrell
Courtesy The Port Arthur News
ic.murrell@panews.com
ORIGINAL STORY

Off the right bat, even.

Hitting cleanup, Hunt smashed a grand slam in the first inning of Lamar State's 11-3 victory to begin a Saturday home doubleheader. San Jac responded with an 8-4 win in the nightcap.

Hunt, a recent Port Neches-Groves graduate, went 2 for 4 and scored two runs in the win. She also struck out five and held the Coyotes to three earned runs on three hits.

The Seahawks (12-15, 3-7 in Region XIV South Zone) outhit the Coyotes 15-3 in the first game, with each player in the lineup hitting safely at least once. Brooke Smith, Olivia Rivera, Taylor Frederick, Elicia Gonzales and Lilly Renteria each hammered two hits, and Vanessa Espitia, Maddy Stone and Jessica Saenz had one each.

Samantha Marhrez homered in the fifth inning to end the shutout bid.

In the second game, the Coyotes took the lead for good with five runs in the sixth. Allison Bravo smashed a solo shot on a two-strike pitch, Ashley Tran knocked a three-run homer and Dalilah Garcia hit a one-run single.

Lamar State took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a three-run Gonzales shot.

Kassandra Vargas scattered nine hits through 5 1/3 innings and struck out two in taking the loss. Hunt gave up an earned run on three hits in the final 1 2/3.