Bearkats Bounced Back With A Win In Extra Innings
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Hattiesburg, Miss – After a tough loss to Texas A&M on Wednesday, Sam Houston bounced back in a big way tonight against Jacksonville State.
A two-run single by shortstop Cecilla Castillo with no outs in the 11th inning brought in the winning runs as the Bearkats defeated Jacksonville State 5-3 in the first game of the Southern Mississippi Softball Classic Friday.
Shelby Lancaster earned the win in the pitching circle, spreading 13 hits over 11 innings.
She faced 43 batters as she became only the ninth Bearkat softball player to pitch 11 or more innings in one game.
Tori Benavidez singled in the first inning, reached third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hillary Adams to give Sam Houston its initial run in the first inning.
Down 2-1 in the fourth inning, Castillo doubled then scored on a single by Alyssa Gregg to even the game. Sam Houston took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth as Alyssa Coggins singled then scored on an error.
After Jacksonville tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth the two teams battled through four scoreless innings before the Kats scored the game winner.
The Southern Mississippi tournament continues through Sunday.
Bearkat Bowling “Strikes” Again
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
The No. 8 ranked Sam Houston State women’s bowling team added another trophy to its collection of 2012-13 tournament titles Saturday as the Bearkats took the title at the Southern Invitational.
Rolling 5-0 through the quad baker match competition Saturday, Sam Houston highlighted the day with victory over No. 1 ranked Central Missouri.
The event was held at the International Training & Research Center of Team USA.
The Bearkats ended the two-day event with nine victories in 10 matches to up their season record to 72-21.
Saturday, Sam Houston defeated Tulane 857-705, Central Missouri 774-733, Southern 771-605, Texas Southern 837-790 and Florida A&M 919-770.
“Our ladies did a great job of taking care of business today,” Sam Houston head coach Brad Hagen said. “Nothing was easy, even after the big win over Central Missouri. Texas Southern was up by 45 pins through two games but we came firing back. We were down 46 pins in the last match as well but rallied for the win.”
“We still have a lot of matches to take care of but this was a perfect way to kick off February for us with a bang.”
The Sam Houston women’s bowling team rolled to a 4-1 start in team match play Friday on the first day of the Southern Invitational in Arlington.
The Bearkats began the day with a 1049-728 win over host Southern University. Sam Houston followed up with victories over Tulane 974-910, Texas Southern 1005-816 and Florida A&M 1055-866.
In the final match of the day, No. 1 ranked Central Missouri edged past the Kats by only seven pins in a 999-992 duel.
Bearkats Aiming For Encore In 2013 Season
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
When the Sam Houston State Bearkats began the season at 1-13 last year, many believed that they were on their way to having another dreadful year.
But the Bearkats won their final 26 out of 29 games to finish in second place in the Southland Conference behind regular season champion Texas State Bobcats and made the SLC Tournament.
After opening the tournament with a loss, the Bearkats won their next three games to reach the finals, where they eventually lost to the Bobcats.
Now with the Bobcats gone due to joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the Bearkats has been picked to win the 2013 Southland Conference softball title in the annual preseason poll of the league’s head coaches.
The Bearkats received seven first-place votes from the coaches and 78 total points.
Key returners for the Bearkats feature include first baseman Kim Damian, a senior from Angleton, Texas; third baseman Shelbi Tucker, a senior from Montgomery, Texas; catcher Hillary Adams, a sophomore from Elgin, Texas; and outfielder Tori Benavidez, a senior from Midlothian, Texas.
McNeese State, the team that Sam Houston defeated in last year’s Southland tournament semifinals, has been tabbed second by the coaches.
The Cowgirls return 11 letterwinners, including seven starters and two pitchers.
Central Arkansas stands third in the coaches’ poll, followed by A&M-Corpus Christi, Stephen F. Austin, Northwestern State and Nicholls State.
Houston Baptist, which is an affiliate member for softball this season before becoming a member of the Southland in all sports next year, was picked to finish tied for eighth along with Southeastern Louisiana in the coaches’ poll.
Lamar, which is reviving its softball program this season after playing from 1983-87, was picked to finish 10th in both polls.
Southland teams open the season Feb. 7 with conference play beginning March 9.
The conference tournament will be hosted by Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La., May 9-11 at the Lady Demon Diamond Complex.
The championship game will be streamed live exclusively on ESPN3.
Sam Houston State’s first softball action will come Feb. 7-9 at the Baylor Bear Classic in Waco
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