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.
Bearkat Volleyball Advances To Semifinals In SLC Tournament
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Led by Deveney Wells-Gibson with 16 kills, Sam Houston defeated Nicholls State to advance to the semifinals of the Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament.
The tournament is being hosted by Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas.
No. 2 Sam Houston defeated No. 6 Nicholls State 25-22 25-12 25-19.
The Kats will face the winner of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Oral Roberts matchup.
The Southland Player of the Year, Wells-Gibson put up a dominant performance against the Colonels with her 27th double figure kill performance of the year.
Friday’s first set had 14 ties and 10 lead changes before the Kats finished it off 25-22.
In the second set, Sam Houston led from the beginning after jumping out to an early 5-0 lead.
Nicholls found itself within four at 11-7, but the Bearkats finished the set on a 14-5 run to win the second set, 25-12.
The third set was much like the first as both teams tied 14 teams and exchanged the lead five times, but Sam Houston finished the match on a 9-3 run to win the set 25-19 and finish off the sweep. Wells-Gibson led the charge with six kills in the final set.
Kaylee Hawkins, who was named honorable mention All-Southland, added 12 kills for the Bearkats.
Second team All-Southland member, Kim Black had six kills and four blocks for the Kats.
Tayler Gray, who was the second team All-Southland setter, had 37 assists.
For Nicholls, Jennifer Brandt and Sarah Terry each led the team with six kills.
Sam Houston advances to play the winner of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Oral Roberts, which begins at 1:30 p.m. today.
The semifinal match will commence at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the Farris Center and will be streamed on the Southland Digital Network.
Wells-Gibson Earns SLC’s “Player of The Week”
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston State’s Deveney Wells-Gibson has been named as Southland Conference volleyball “offensive player of the week” after leading the Kats to home victories over McNeese State and Lamar to help SHSU clinch its first regular season league title since 1994.
Wells-Gibson averaged 4.78 kills per set and totaled 49 points for the week.
The San Antonio, Texas (Churchill H.S.), native chipped in with 29 digs and produced double figure kills in each match.
The sophomore outside hitter is second in the conference with 4.06 kills per set while the Bearkats clinched a share of the regular season title Saturday.
Sam Houston State will be making its sixth consecutive Southland Conference post-season tournament appearance and its 18th trip to the event overall.
The Bearkats won the Southland post-season tournament in 1993 and 1996 and finished as runner-up in 1987.
Sam Houston is the No. 2 seed at this year’s event hosted by Central Arkansas in Conway.
The Kats begin action against No. 7 seed Nicholls at 11 a.m. Friday.
The semifinals will be played Saturday with the championship finals on Sunday.
The tournament winner represents the Southland Conference in the NCAA national volleyball championships.