Young softball team plays home opener
2/14/2011 3:05:00 PM | Softball
A young Bearkat squad with eight freshmen and four sophomores on the 19-player roster produced a .313 batting average while winning three of its five games in Louisiana last weekend.
Sam Houston defeated Arkansas 9-6 in eight innings as sophomore outfielder blasted a walk-off three-run homer in the first extra inning. The Bearkats also posted victories over Rhode Island and Prairie View A&M.
The SHSU softball team was impressive even in its losses, taking Arkansas to nine innings in a 6-5 loss in the season opener and falling 4-1 to tournament champion, host and No. 17-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette in the event's final contest.
"We played well and I was really impressed by the way our players hit the ball," Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. "It was a very positive start to the 2011 season."
Two Bearkats were named all-tournament. Sophomore third baseman Shelbi Tucker went 7-for-14 at the plate with two RBIs to earn her spot on the all-star team. Senior shortstop Hailey Wiginton produced a .316 batting average in the tournament with four RBIs.
Tayler Gray, a member of the Bearkat volleyball team last fall, showed talent as a two-sport athlete. Gray hit .400 for the tournament with a home run and two RBIs.
Freshmen Alyssa Coggins. Courtney Flanary and Amy Pelton combined for 10 hits.
Junior Tomi Garrison was impressive in the pitching circle. Garrison played in four of the five games, producing a 2-1 record and striking out 15 batters. Junior Courtney Schoenemann and freshmen Shelby Lancaster and Cecilia Castillo also saw action with Lancaster picking up her first college victory in the Prairie View A&M game.
Sam Houston will play host to Houston Baptist in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at the Bearkat Softball Complex on Wednesday then head west for another tournament this weekend at New Mexico State.
