Bearkats Falls Short In Decisive Game
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
A 5-4 loss to Northwestern State in a “winner-take-all” final Saturday in Natchitoches ended an amazing run by the No. 3 seeded Bearkats in the 2013 Southland Conference softball tournament.
After falling to 1-0 to Northwestern State in a game interrupted by a 15-hour rain delay Thursday and Friday, Sam Houston four consecutive victories, outscoring Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana, Central Arkansas and Northwestern State 30-9.
But the Demons bounced back from a 5-0 shutout in the first title game to win a shoot out that came down to the last out to earn the Southland’s NCAA playoff berth as the No. 2 seed.
“After 16 hours of softball, it came down to one run,” SHSU head coach Bob Brock. “I’m proud of how hard our kids fought today. I’m especially proud of the leadership our four seniors gave this year. The fact that all four earned all-tournament honors shows just how valuable they have been.”
Sam Houston appeared to be in the driver’s seat after a two-run homer by Kim Damian and an RBI single by Shelbi Tucker in the sixth inning gave the Bearkats a 4-3 lead.
But a two-run single by Cali Burke brought in the winning runs in the top of the seventh.
With runners at second and third and two outs, the Demons retired the Bearkats to earn the win.
Sam Houston ends the season with a 37-24 mark.
The Demons advance to the playoffs with a 40-13 record.
Designated Hillary Adams put the first run on the board with an RBI single to left field in the top of the first inning.
The hit scored second baseman Alyssa Coggins who singled and reached second on a wild pitch.
Brittany Virgoe evened the score at 1-1 with a solo home run over the left field bleachers, her eighth home run of the year and the first run for the Demons in nine innings Saturday.
Both teams left runners stranded on third base in the third inning.
Natalie Landry put the Demons ahead 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run homer to left center.
Shelby Lancaster (15-8) was the losing pitcher for Sam Houston.
Following the tournament, six Bearkats were selected as all-tournament. They were Benavidez, Coggins, Damian, Tucker and Isbell.
Bearkats’ Win Forced Decisive Game In SLC Tournament
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Totaling 12 hits off All-Southland pitcher Kylie Roos, Sam Houston forced a “winner-take-all” championship game on the last day of the Southland softball tournament with a 5-0 win over Northwestern State.
The Bearkats became the first team in seven seasons to come out of the elimination bracket to force an “as necessary” game in championship competition.
The No. 2 seeded Demons were playing in only their third game in the event after receiving a first round bye and winning two games to reach the title contest.
Sam Houston on the other hand fought its way through the elimination bracket.
Sophomore Haley Baros, a third team All-Southland selection, held the Demons scoreless for only the fifth time this season to up her season record to 11-8.
Sam Houston scored first as third baseman Shelbi Tucker singled with one out in the top of the second inning.
Catcher Ashley Isbell doubled to center field where the Demon defender bobbled the ball, allowing Tucker to score from first base.
Shortstop Tiffany Castillo’s RBI single scored Hillary Adams in the third inning.
First baseman Kim Damian made it 3-0 with a bases loaded hard hit ball to the pitcher to score Jessica Slater.
Coggins had an RBI single in the sixth and Tiffany Castillo scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh.
Sam Houston upped its season record to 37-23 while the Demons dropped to 39-13.
Benavidez Highlights Bearkats Dominance In All-Southland Selection
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston senior outfielder Tori Benavidez has earned honors as both the 2013 Southland Conference Softball “Player of the Year” and “Hitter of the Year.”
In addition, Benavidez is one of nine Bearkats who have been named All-Southland Conference.
Benavidez, designated player Hillary Adams and third baseman Shelbi Tucker are first team selections.
First baseman Kim Damian was named to the second team. Shortstop Tiffany Castillo, second baseman Alyssa Coggins, catcher Ashley Isbell and outfielder Jessica Slater are third team honorees.
Outfielder Cecilia Castillo was named honorable mention.
The annual softball all-league honor squad is selected by vote of the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.
Benavidez becomes the 11th player in Southland history to be named player and hitter of the year in the same year.
She is the second Bearkat to be named player of the year.
Jennifer Delcambre took the honor in 1993.
A native of Midlothian, Benavidez led the league in Southland play in hits (41), runs scored (29), stolen bases (12), plate appearances (109) and at bats (99), was second in batting average (.414), third in triples (three), fifth in total bases (56), sixth in on-base percentage (.463), ninth in runs batted in (18) and 13th in slugging percentage (.566).
She is the fifth Bearkat to be named hitter of the year and first to be named player of the year in the same season.
Adams posted a .346 batting average this spring and has tied the Sam Houston school mark for most home runs in one season (11).
Tucker hit .271 for the Bearkats this year and is one of the top defensive players in the league.
Damian and Tucker stand first and second in career home runs at Sam Houston.
Damian hit .299 with six doubles and nine home runs this season.
Tiffany Castillo was the Kats’ second leading hitter in 2013 with a .381 average, seven doubles and nine homers.
Slater hit .335 with three doubles and two triples.
Coggins batted .325 with 50 total hits.
Isbell hit .284 and was one of the league’s top catchers.
Sam Houston State led all teams with nine all-conference selections.
Northwestern State had six selections while regular-season championship McNeese State had five.
Central Arkansas and Houston Baptist each received four all-conference selections followed by Southeastern Louisiana with three.
Nicholls State placed two players on the all-conference teams while Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi had one all-conference selection apiece.
The 2013 Southland Conference Softball Tournament is slated to get underway Thursday at the Lady Demons Softball Complex in Natchitoches, La., with game one starting at 11 a.m.
McNeese State won its third regular-season title and is the No. 1 seed.
The tournament fields a six-team double elimination format with the winner punching its ticket to the NCAA tournament.