Kats Ready for Southland first round showdown
5/8/2013 11:25:00 AM | Softball
Southland Conference Tournament Central
Sam Houston will be looking for some payback Thursday when the Bearkats open play in the Southland Conference post-season tournament against Southeastern Louisiana.
Back on the first weekend of Southland regular season action on March 9, Sam Houston traveled to Hammond, La., as the 2013 preseason favorite but dropped a doubleheader to the Lions 4-2 and 3-1.
“It was early in the season and the team bounced back to make a run at the title, but that's a doubleheader loss that stung,” Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. “The girls are excited about having the opportunity to play Southeastern again.”
The 2013 Southland softball championships are being played at the Demon Softball Complex on the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.
The tournament is a double elimination event with the winner of the championship game earning the league's automatic NCAA tournament berth.
Sam Houston is making its 11th tournament appearance. The Bearkats won the tournament in 1988 and 2007 and also reached the finals in 2005 and last year.
Regular season champion McNeese State and runner-up Northwestern State receive first round byes Thursday as the No. 1 and 2 seeds. No. 4 seed Central Arkansas meets No. 5 Lamar in the opening matchup of the day at 11 a.m. Sam Houston and the Lions face off at 1:30 p.m.
A Bearkat win Thursday would put Sam Houston up against host Northwestern State in the second round at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night.
“We're excited about our draw,” Brock said. “Winning that opening game and keeping out of the loser's bracket is important. Anything can happen at the tournament.”
History proves Brock's statement. In the 25-year history of the Southland softball tournament, the No. 1 seed has won 12 times. The No. 6 seed has taken the title four times. Three of the four years Sam Houston reached the finals the Bearkats were the No. 2 seed.
Sam Houston's big weapon is the long ball. The Bearkats lead the Southland in home runs with 55 in 54 games, a school season record.
Nine Bearkats were named to the All-Southland Conference squad including first team selections centerfielder Tori Benavidez, third baseman Shelbi Tucker and designated player Hillary Adams.
The winner of the 2013 tournament receives an automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show airs Sunday, May 12 at 9 p.m. CDT on ESPNU.
The entire 2013 Southland Softball Tournament will be available on Southland Digital Network, with the exemption of the championship round, which will be available exclusively on ESPN3.
The Southland Digital Network is available at southland.org, as well as the official SLC mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. ESPN3 programming can be found on WatchESPN.com, plus the WatchESPN app for iPhone, iPad, Android and XBOX Live systems.
Complete information about the tournament, event schedule and links to live statistics and video streaming may be found on the Southland Conference Tournament Central page
2013 Southland Conference Softball Tournament Schedule
Thursday, May 9
G1: No. 4 Central Arkansas vs. No. 5 Lamar, 11 a.m.
G2: No. 3 Sam Houston vs. No. 6 Southeastern Louisiana, 1:30 p.m.
G3: Winner Game 1 vs. No. 1 McNeese State, 4 p.m.
G4: Winner Game 2 vs. No. 2 Northwestern State , 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 10
G5: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, 11 a.m.
G6: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4, 1:30 p.m.
G7: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4 p.m.
G8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11
G9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 10:30 a.m.
G10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 2:05 p.m.
G11: If necessary*
*A second game will be played between the teams in Game 10 to determine the champion if it is the first loss for the losing team. Game 11 start time is TBA.
