Hardy Takes Southland Conference Individual Crown
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Shelby Hardy shot the best 54-hole total in Sam Houston women’s golf history to take home the Southland individual championship at Frisco Lakes Golf Club in Frisco, Texas.
The senior from San Saba capped off her record-setting career with a Southland and school record three-round score of 212.
Hardy was the only golfer in the field to break par both of the first two days.
Hardy’s first round 68 tied the Bearkat record for low round at the conference tournament.
This is her third tournament win this season which ties a school record and upped her career total to six tournament titles, also a Bearkat record.
“I’m just really proud to say I finished my career with this win. These four years have gone by so fast and it feels great to go out with the win,” said Bearkat senior Shelby Hardy. “I was just trying to stick with every shot like it was my last and focus on the task ahead of me. I was pumped after my first round 68 but tried to remain focused throughout. It was tough but I got it done and I’m so happy and exhausted.”
Hardy is the Kats third individual medalist in the program’s history after Raman Saran took home the title in 2004 and Stefani Page won it in 2007.
Sam Houston finished tied with Oral Roberts for second place in the overall standings with a three round total of 898.
Lamar won the event by seven strokes (891). Central Arkansas had a four stroke lead heading into the final round and finished fourth.
“I’m so proud of our four seniors that gave it their all for their final tournament of their careers,” said Bearkat head coach Brandt Kieschnick. “I told Shelby that this is one of one of my proudest days as a Bearkat. She played like a professional and every shot was like her last. She had her head down for 54 holes and played one of the best tournaments I’ve ever seen from a college player.”
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was fifth (905), McNeese State was sixth (909) and Stephen F. Austin finished seventh (941).
Senior Meghan Musk rallied from a first round 82 to finish 12th (82-74-70-226).
Musk shot the low round on the final day of the tournament and was the only golfer to break par. Freshman Nicole Budnik was tied for 20th (76-76-68-230), Jessica Borth was tied for 25th (79-80-77-236), and Jenna Stene was 34th (76-83-81-240).
Hardy won by six strokes over A&M-Corpus Christi’s Vanessa Johnson and and McNeese State’s Lina Lagergren.
Lamar’s Katelyn McDougal was fourth (221).
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.
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.
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
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