Sam Houston's amazing Southland tournament run
5/13/2013 2:32:00 PM | Softball
When the disappointment of coming within one out of winning the 2013 Southland Conference tournament championship wears off, Bearkat coaches, players and fans will look back on last weekend's performance and realize what amazing things the team accomplished.
In the 21-year history of the tournament, Sam Houston stands as only the fifth team to roll through the elimination bracket and force an “if necessary” game in the championship final.
The No. 3 seeded Bearkats opened tournament action Thursday with a 9-6 victory over Southeastern Louisiana. No. 2 seed Northwestern State blanked the Kats 1-0 in the second round (in a game delayed more than 15 hours by rain).
Facing elimination with another loss, Sam Houston responded by beating Lamar 8-4, Southeastern Louisiana 5-1, Central Arkansas 12-4 and forcing the “if necessary” game Saturday with a 5-0 shutout of the Demons.
Northwestern State rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning in the finals with a 5-4 win.
During the 11-game, three-day event, seven of the contests involved the Bearkats. The Kats played 11 innings on Thursday, 17 on Friday and 21 on Saturday. All together, the squad played 13 hours and 58 minutes of softball.
Sam Houston's five wins in those seven contests represent the most by any team in one tournament since post-season play for Southland softball started in 1988.
The Bearkats out-scored their opponents 43-21 in the tournament, hit .357 as a team, totaled 15 doubes, one triple and four home runs and stole 13 bases. In the three games against the Demons, Sam Houston out-scored the tournament champions 9-6. The pitching staff combined to strike out 31 of the 205 batters they faced.
When six Bearkats were named to the 2013 Southland All-Tournament team, that also tied a league record. The achievements of the six all-tournament players are just as impressive as the team's.
All four Bearkat seniors earned all-tournament recognition.
Kim Damian hit .409 for the weekend, totaling nine hits including a double and two home runs. She led the team with 11 RBIs. The Angleton first baseman produced 58 put outs without an error.
Shelbi Tucker posted a .400 batting average with eight hits including a double and an RBI. The Montgomery product was credited with five put outs and 21 assists at third base.
Tori Benavidez hit .391 with nine total hits including three doubles, a triple and 3 RBIs. The Midlothian product made perhaps the defensive play of the tournament leaping high in center field to rob a batter of a home run.
Ashley Isbell battled through collisions and a busted nose to hit .368 in the tournament with seven hits including four doubles. The catcher from Katy played error free ball with 32 put outs and two assists.
Juniors Alyssa Coggins and Shelby Lancaster round out the Bearkat all-tournament selections.
Coggins led Sam Houston at the plate with a .542 average that included 13 total hits. The Sealy product also posted a .997 fielding average with only one error in 44 chances.
Lancaster was the winning pitcher for Sam Houston in three of the five victories. The Tomball right-hander pitched 21 out of the 49 innings, striking out 11 batters and walking only five.
“To have all four seniors receive all-tournament honors just shows what great leaders they have been for this year,” SHSU head coach Bob Brock said. “Our two juniors, Alyssa and Shelby showed they are ready to take up roles as senior leaders next year.”
Damian and Isbell received all-tournament recognition for the second year in a row to become the first Bearkats to earn the honor twice.
