Benavidez’s Earns SLC “Hitter of The Week” After Captivating Performance
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston’s Tori Benavidez has been named as Southland Conference softball “Hitter of the Week”, the league office announced Monday.
Benavidez helped lead Sam Houston State to a 4-1 record on the week, which included a doubleheader sweep of Purdue and a series win against Central Arkansas.
Against the Boilermakers, the senior from Midlothian, Texas (Midlothian H.S.), went 3-for-7 at the plate and knocked a solo home run in the second game which the Bearkats won 3-2.
In the series against Central Arkansas, Benavidez recorded two hits in each game, going 6-for-11 in the three games.
In Sam Houston’s 9-8 win against the Bears, Benavidez recorded two hits, including a triple and accounted for five runs with three RBIs and two runs scored.
On the week, Benavidez hit .500 with an .889 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage.
For the season, Benavidez is hitting .420 with a double, three triples, two home runs and nine RBIs.
She ranks second in the Southland Conference in hitting this season.
Next action for the Bearkat softball team is a 5 p.m. matchup with the University of Houston Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Following the contest with the Cougars, Sam Houston will head to Beaumont for a weekend three-game series against Lamar.
Bearkats MBB And WBB Aims For Strong Finish
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
With two weeks to go in the regular season, every game is important as both the Bearkat men’s and women’s basketball teams battle to position themselves for the Southland Conference tournament.
Sam Houston hosts Nicholls State Thursday at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum with the women tipping at 5:30 p.m. and the men following at approximately 8:45 p.m.
The Bearkat men (14-13, 7-7) rank fifth in the Southland race, one game behind Southeastern Louisiana.
Each of the top four seeds receive a first round bye in the Southland Tournament to be held at the Ferrell Center in Katy March 13-16.
Nicholls (7-18, 6-8) is a game behind the Kats in the standings.
The Colonels defeated Sam Houston 70-67 in overtime in their first meeting in Thibodaux, La., on Jan. 26.
Sam Houston has been getting solid scoring performances from James Thomas who has put up double figure performances in each of the last four games including 26 points at Central Arkansas.
While the Sam Houston women are one-half game behind league leader Oral Roberts in the standings, the Bearkat women hold their Southland fate in their own hands.
If the Bearkats can win their final four games, the women can do no worse than tie for the 2013 Southland Conference women’s regular season title and assure themselves of at least a top two seed.
Seniors Britni Martin, Sequeena Thomas and Chanice Smith account for 28.9 of Sam Houston’s 60.9 points per game.
Sam Houston defeated the Nicholls women in Thibodaux 70-63 earlier this year.
The Bearkats lead the all-time series with Nicholls 30 victories to 18 and have won the last four meetings in a row.
Fans may order tickets to the doubleheader on-line at www.gobearkats.com or call the ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
The women’s game will be broadcast live on 104.5 FM The Hits.
The mens’ game will air on KSAM 101.7 FM.
Coach Fritz Finally Gets What He Deserves
by Cheval John
Another award has been bestowed on head coach Willie Fritz.
Fritz was named the 2012 “Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year” in the FCS level earlier today after leading the Sam Houston State Bearkats to an 11-4 record and a second consecutive NCAA Division I Championship Game in Frisco, TX.
Fritz has received $70,000 that will go to the charities of his choice ($50,000) and scholarships for the Sam Houston State University Alumni Association because of his committment on the field and off.
Here is the article that was written last year about why he deserved to win the award.
Bearkats Falls Short In Quest For First FCS Title
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
FRISCO – Penalties and turnovers by Sam Houston State played a big role as North Dakota State earned their second consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship with a 39-13 victory over the Bearkats at FC Dallas Stadium Saturday.
The Bixon coverted the miscues in to 441 total yards as game “most valuable player” quarterback Brock Jenson totaled 159 yards total offense including 115 yards rushing and three rushing TDs.
Running back Sam Ojuri rushed 14 times for 92 yards and two more scores.
No penalty hurt more than a holding call that wiped out an apparent 37-yard third quarter run into the end zone by Timothy Flanders. The play would have given the Kats a 17-10 lead early in the third quarter.
On the next play Carlton Littlejohn intercepted a pass at the 40-yard line.
The turnover set up a 10-play 60-yard drive as Jenson scored from the one to put North Dakota State up 17-10 with 8:30 left in the period.
The Bison rolled to 29 second half points.
Sam Houston ended the day with seven penalties for 70 yards including three that gave the Bison first downs.
North Dakota State picked off four Sam Houston passes. Three of the turnovers set up scores.
The loss in the Bearkats’ second consecutive NCAA football finals appearance ended Sam Houston’s season with an 11-4 mark.
The No. 1 seed in the 2012 playoffs, North Dakota finished with a 14-1 record. With the win, the Bison join Georgia Southern (1985 & 86 and 1989 & 90), Youngstown State (1993 & 94) and Appalachian State (2005, 06 & 07) to repeat as FCS national champions.
Bearkat quarterback Brian Bell completed 19 of 33 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Timothy Flanders led SHSU on the ground with 18 carries for 46 yards.
Linebacker Darius Taylor led the Kat defense with 11 tackles including five solo stops.
In a first quarter dominated by the defenses, both teams had field goal opportunities.
Sam Houston’s Miguel Antonio was wide right on a 32-yard attempt, then the Bison’s Adam Keller was successful on a 22-yard kick to North Dakota State up 3-0.
The score with 3:49 left in the first period was set up by a 57-yard run by John Crockett to the SHSU 23.
Antonio nailed his second field goal attempt just 42 seconds into the second quarter to tie the contest 3-3.
A 26-yard Bell pass to Sincere to the Bison 49 was the big play on the 11-play, 55-yard scoring drive.
Marcus Williams 17-yard interception return set up a five-play, 72-yard touchdown drive to put North Dakota State up 10-3 with 3:09 to play before halftime.
Three big plays sparked the drive as Jenson rushed 21 yards to the Bearkat 44, Ryan Smith ran 24 to the SHSU 20 and Jenson scored from the 20.
On Jenson’s run into Sam Houston territory, the Kats lost their leading tackler, Darnell Taylor to a leg injury.
Bell’s arm powered the Bearkats to a quick nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
The junior quarterback completed six passes for 60 yards on the two minute and 36 second series.
K. J. Williams caught the final pass for a one-yard score with 33 ticks remaining in the period.
Sincere’s 30-yard diving reception at the one was the key play on the scoring march.
After Adam Keller was short on a 50-yard field goal on the half’s final play to leave the score tied 10-10 at intermission.
Driving after Jenson’s go-ahead touchdown in the third period, a Bell fourth down pass at the North Dakota 43-yard line fell incomplete,and the Bison drove 65 yards in six plays for another score.
Sam Ojuri scored from the one and a two-point conversion pass was successful as NDSU went up 25-10.
The Kat offense responded with an 11-play, 50 yard drive for a 32-yard Antonio field goal as SHSU cut the Bison margin to 25-13 with 13:20 to play in the fourth quarter.
Jenson added another one-yard touchdown after a six-play 65-yard drive as North Dakota State extended its lead with 32-13 with 10:13 to play.
Ojuri scored on an 11-yard score with six minutes left.