A First Time For Everything
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
For the first time in Sam Houston’s 97 years of football, the Bearkats will play a 12-game regular season schedule in 2013.
Sam Houston and Houston Baptist have announced that the Bearkats and Huskies will open the 2013 football season with a 6 p.m. contest Saturday August 31 at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville.
The game gives Sam Houston seven home contests at Bowers plus the 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry game with Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
The contest will give HBU a seven game schedule for the Huskies’ inaugural season.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to play our season opener in front of our home fans,” Bearkat head football coach Willie Fritz said. “The support our team receives from our students and the Huntsville community has been a big factor in the program’s success. Houston Baptist will be joining the Southland in football next year and we’re looking forward to getting the rivalry started.”
Season tickets for 2013 Bearkat football home games (including both the seven contests at Bowers and the “Piney Woods” battle at Reliant) have been on sale for a month.
The opener with HBU will be added to the season ticket package as a “bonus game.”
Bleacher reserved packages are available for $110 per season ticket.
Fans interested in getting their names on the waiting list for Bearkat Champion chair back packages ($290 each) should contact the Sam Houston athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
The ticket office is located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium.
“With seven Saturdays at Bowers, the SFA battle at Reliant and the Texas A&M game at College Station, nine of our 12 regular season games are right here in the Greater Houston and Huntsville area,” Sam Houston director of athletics Bobby Williams said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for fans to get behind the Bearkats and proudly wear their orange in the stands. We’re thrilled to have such a great schedule this year.”
The two-time Southland Conference champion Bearkats return 40 lettermen including 12 starters from last year’s 11-4 squad that reached the NCAA national championship game in Frisco for the second year in a row.
Sam Houston’s 25-5 record in 2011 and 2012 and consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision No. 2 final national rankings represent the most successful consecutive seasons in the university’s history.
Houston Baptist is fielding its inaugural football team in 2013.
“We are looking forward to opening our inaugural season against Sam Houston State, a future Southland Conference opponent,” HBU director of athletics Steve Moniaci said. “This is not only an opportunity for our student-athletes and coaches to compete against one of the top FCS programs in the country, but also gives our students, alumni and fans an early glimpse of what we hope will become a tremendous rivalry in the future.”
“This gives our team the chance to compete against one of the very top FCS programs in the country and will be a great event for football in the greater Houston area,” HBU head coach Vic Shealy said. “We appreciate the opportunity to play against a team that is highly-respected nationally, with the success Willie Fritz and his program have had in recent years.”
The complete Sam Houston State 2013 football schedule:
August 31 (Sat.) — 6 p.m. — Houston Baptist
Sept. 7 (Sat.) – TBA – at Texas A&M
Sept. 14 (Sat.) – 6 p.m. – Texas Southern
Sept. 21 (Sat.) – 6 p.m. – Incarnate Word
Sept. 28 (Sat.) – 3 p.m. – Eastern Washington (Parents’ Weekend)
Oct. 12 (Sat.) – 2 p.m. – Lamar (Homecoming)
Oct. 19 (Sat.) – TBA – at McNeese State
Oct. 26 (Sat.) – 2 p.m. – Northwestern State
Nov. 2 (Sat.) – 3 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium
Nov. 9 (Sat.) – 2 p.m. – Nicholls State
Nov. 16 (Sat.) – TBA – at Southeastern Louisiana
Nov. 23 (Sat.) – TBA – at Central Arkansas
Thomas And Martin Earns “Rare” Three Peat
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston’s Britni Martin and Sequeena Thomas has become the first three-time Academic All-Southland Conference women’s basketball selections in the Bearkats’ 26 years in the league.
Martin and Thomas, who led the Kat women to the their first Southland Conference championship and a WNIT post-season appearance in 2013, are first team selections on the academic all-league honor squad announced Wednesday.
Martin is a graduate student with a 3.62 grade point average in education.
The Conroe product is a three-time first team All-Southland performer and was the team’s leading scorer this year with a 15.9 average.
Martin ended her career as the university’s all-time leader in free throw percentage (.797) and three point field goals (311) and stands No. 2 all-time in Kat scoring (1,834) and assists (122).
She is both a Dean’s List and President’s List student who earned her Bachelor’s degree and is completing work on her Master’s.
Thomas is a mass communication major with a 3.14 GPA.
The senior from Allentown, Penn., was named the conference’s defender of the year.
She earned first team All-Southland and all-tournament honors at the league’s post-season event in Katy.
A member of the All-Southland defensive team, Thomas ranked No. 1 in the league and No. 6 in NCAA Division I women’s basketball in rebounding.
She is the only Sam Houston player to total both more than 1,000 points and rebounds.
The Academic All-Southland team is selected annually by a vote of the league’s head coaches, sports information contacts and academic advisors.
Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution and participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s competition to qualify for the all-academic squad.
Bearkat Football “Feels” At Home With 2013 Schedule
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Highlighted by a rematch of last December’s NCAA Division I Championships semifinal with Eastern Washington, Sam Houston State has announced its 2013 football schedule.
Bearkat director of athletics Bobby Williams and head football coach Willie Fritz made the announcement of the 2013 schedule that includes three non-conference and three Southland home contests at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium, the “Battle of the Piney Woods” rivalry game at Reliant Stadium and a trip to College Station to face Cotton Bowl champion Texas A&M.
Williams and Fritz also indicated that efforts still are being made to add a 12th regular season game.
“Everyone involved in Bearkat athletics is thrilled about our exciting football schedule for 2013,” Williams said. “With six games in Huntsville and two more just one hour away in Houston and College Station, Sam Houston fans will have plenty of opportunities to come cheer for their nationally ranked Bearkats.”
The “crown jewel” of the home slate is a September 28 date matching the teams that stood No. 2 and No. 4 in last season’s final Football Championship Subdivision national rankings.
No. 2 Sam Houston defeated No. 4 Eastern Washington 45-42 in a contest that was an instant classic.
The Bearkats raced out to a 35-0 halftime lead only to see the Eagles roar back to score 42 second half points.
A 42-yard field goal by Miquel Antonio with 5:33 to play proved to be the difference that earned Sam Houston its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division I national championship game in Frisco.
Eastern Washington travels to Huntsville for a Sept. 28 date with a Sam Houston squad that is 5-0 against the Big Sky in the past two years.
EWU tied for the Big Sky Conference co-championship in 2012.
Sept. 28’s contest with EWU also will be the highlight of 2013 Sam Houston Parents / Family Weekend in Huntsville.
“As in the past, our athletic administration and football staff have worked diligently together to make this schedule possible,” Williams said. “We’ve had some amazing crowds for Bearkat football both here in Huntsville at Bowers and at Reliant Stadium in Houston. With the success of the past two seasons, we’re looking for even bigger things in 2013.”
Southwestern Athletic Conference member Texas Southern and future Southland Conference member, Incarnate Word of San Antonio are Sam Houston’s first two non-conference home foes on Sept. 14 and 21, respectively.
Sam Houston State will start its campaign for a third consecutive Southland Conference football championship by hosting Lamar Oct. 12.
Other Southland Bowers Stadium dates are Northwestern State Oct. 26 and Nicholls State Nov. 9.
The contest with the Lamar Cardinals Oct. 12 has been designated as Sam Houston’s 2013 Homecoming game.
“Six home games and the trip to Reliant Stadium make this a great schedule for us,” Fritz said. “The enthusiastic crowds we’ve had at Bowers Stadium and Reliant during the two championship seasons have been a big key to our success.
“We had to work hard to fill out the non-conference schedule after Alabama State did not honor their contract and never notified us,” Fritz added. “But the effort paid off and we’re looking forward to see even more orange in the stands both at home and on the road.”
Sam Houston will play three Southland Conference road games in 2013, traveling to McNeese State Oct. 19, Southeastern Louisiana Nov. 16 and Central Arkansas Nov. 23.
“Returning to Conway for the second year in a row to play Central Arkansas was a scheduling decision made by the Southland Conference,” Williams said. “Our appeal to change that decision was denied.”
The Bearkats stand 25-5 during the past two seasons with records of 14-1 and 11-4 during their Southland championship seasons in 2011 and 2012.
In the 50 years of Southland Conference football, only three programs (Arkansas State in 1968-70, Louisiana Tech in 1972-74 and McNeese State in 2001-03) have won three Southland football titles in a row.
The 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston Nov. 2.
The past three years, the annual rivalry battle has drawn crowds of more than 25,000 fans to the home of the Houston Texans.
Sam Houston State will be announcing season ticket packages shortly as renewal information will go out to Bearkat season ticket holders.
For more information about tickets, go to www.gobearkats.com or call the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at (936) 294-1729.
To see the schedule, click here
Arkansas State Steals First Game Of Series From Bearkats
By Cheval John
Pinch-hitter Ryan Robert’s go-ahead, game-winning two-run single in the top of the ninth inning gave Arkansas State Seawolves a 5-3 victory over Sam Houston State Bearkats in the first of the three-game series on Friday night.
Though both teams left 10 men on base, the Bearkat pitching staff walked 9 Arkansas State batters in that put them in a difficult position to win.
“When you walk nine guys, you always going to get beat,” coach David Pierce said. “The bullpen didn’t do a very good job tonight.”
Seawolves reliever Chandler Hawkins pitched two innings in relief and got the win.
But starter John Koch was in command of his pitches and went after the strike zone with his change up and fast ball that kept Arkansas State (7-2) in the game.
“He (Koch) just pounded the zone. … He’s very competitive, managed the game well.” Pierce said.
The Seawolves struck first in the top of the third inning after third baseman Claude Johnson issued a bases-loaded walk to score Stuart Levy from third to make it 1-0.
Carter Burgess’s two out, two-run double to left field in the bottom of the third inning gave the Bearkats a 2-1 lead.
Luke Plucheck drew a walked with two outs.
Atwood followed with a walk to put runners on first and second and both later scored on Burgess’ double.
Arkansas State had opportunities to tie the game in the top of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and every time, the Bearkats found a way to get out of those jams.
The Bearkats (4-5) got that critical third run when Ryan Farney scored from second on an error by Johnson to increase their lead to 3-1.
It seemed as if SHSU was out of the woods, but the Seawolves found a way to get back in the game in the top of the eighth when pinch-hitter Ryan Roberts hit a two out, two-run single to right field to tie the game at 3.
Zach George led off the ninth inning with an infield single. The play was as close as it gets as he just barely beat the throw., but in the process went down with an injury.
Austin Baker pinch ran and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dustin Jones. He advanced to third on a wild pitch by Jason Simms, who suffered the loss for the Kats.
Logan Uxa and Johnson was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs.
Then Robertson hit the go-ahead, two run single to right field that brought in Baker and Uxa for the 5-3 lead.
Things got interested in the bottom of the ninth when Atwood issued a walk with one out after coming back from 0-2 on the count.
Though Burgess struck out for the second out, Ryan O’Hearn kept the inning alive by issuing a walk to bring the potential game-winning run in Spence Rahm.
Rahm hit a sharp grounder that would have went into the left field, but Johnson made a diving stop to his left and threw Rahm out by a margin to end the game.
“He (Rahm) had a good swing down the line, but Johnson made a good play,” Atwood said.
Bearkat starter Caleb Smith went 6 1/3 innings and got the no-decision with 9 strike outs and one earned run given up.
The Bearkats (4-5) have been close in every contest this season.
Even with a tough loss, they are aiming to regroup and get better for tomorrow’s game.
“We had a lot of close games,” center fielder Colt Atwood, who went 2 for 2 with three walks said, “We’ve been in every game that’s for sure. We haven’t been blown out but we got to get back to work.”