Seniors lead Kats into McNeese series
4/26/2013 12:39:00 AM | Softball
Four seniors will be appearing in their final home softball series as the Bearkats face their biggest Southland Conference matchup of the spring.
First place McNeese State visits the Softball Complex Saturday and Sunday with the outcome of the 2013 title race on the line.
The Cowgirls are 35-11 for the year and own a 16-3 league record. Sam Houston stands in third place with a 14-7 conference mark. Northwestern State, the Kats' opponent in their final regular season series of the year next week in Natchitoches, is in second place.
First baseman Kim Damian, center fielder Tori Benavidez, catcher Ashley Isbell and third baseman Shelbi Tucker have provided the senior leadership for this year's Bearkat team. All four have been major players in the program's success the past two seasons.
Damian earned first team All-Southland honors and was voted as the league's “Hitter of the Year” as a junior in 2011. In her 165 games as a Bearkat, the Angleton High School product has totaled 152 hits, 92 RBIs, 27 doubles, three triples and 23 home runs.
An outstanding fielder as well, Damian's 867 career put outs stand third in the Sam Houston record books.
Benavidez is the leading hitter for this year's squad. Twice this season she has been voted as the league's “Hitter of the Week.”
The center fielder brings a .352 career batting average into the weekend that stands as the second highest in school history.
Isbell has been the starting catcher for the Bearkats this fall. Last year she earned both regular season all-conference honors and was selected to the all-tournament team after Sam Houston reached the post-season finals.
She has totaled more than 400 put outs behind the plate during her Kat career.
Tucker is a four-year starter at third base. She ranks fourth in all-time assists at Sam Houston and earned All-Southland Conference honors as a junior.
Last week Tucker was recognized as the league's hitter of the week. She has 133 total hits, 20 doubles and 20 home runs to her credit during the past four seasons.
The top six finishers in the Southland's regular season standing advance to the Southland Conference tournament in Natchitoches, La., that begins May 9.
