Softball Complex Begins 10th Season In March
1/29/2015 11:10:00 AM | Softball
Widely considered one of the finest softball facilities in the Southland Conference, the Bearkat Softball Complex will celebrate its 10th season in 2015.
Built in conjunction with Don Sanders Stadium for baseball, the opening of the $5.5 million facility that includes spacious dressing areas, indoor hitting cages, and coaches' offices, has coincided with outstanding success in the Bearkats' two diamond sports.
Both facilities opened with victories on February 11, 2006. Softball started with an 11-3 victory over Louisiana Tech.
SHSU softball head coach Bob Brock was beginning his fifth season at Sam Houston that day and can recall what a benefit it was for his teams to be playing in a “big-time” stadium.
“The players were just beside themselves about the stadium,” Brock said. “We could call where we played a stadium, not just a field any more. It has given us a real home-field advantage with every opportunity as far as crowd noise goes. The stadium certainly has been a selling point for the program.”
Since that first victory, the complex has seen the Kats post a combined 125 victories and only 72 record in nine seasons.
The Bearkat Softball Complex was the site of the 2007 Southland Conference post-season tournament, which saw SHSU go 4-1 to win the title and advance to the NCAA Regionals in College Station.
Many of the top hitters and pitchers in Sam Houston softball history have called the Bearkat Softball Complex their home field.
Twenty-eight SHSU women who have earned All-Southland Conference softball honors played in the facility during the past nine seasons.
Four of the program's six all-time top hitters in Sam Houston softball history have called the Bearkat Softball Complex their home field including Lauren Boone (.366 career average), Tori Benavidez (.358), Hailey Wiginton (.348), Tiffany Castillo (.339).
Outstanding pitchers who have dominated in the circle at the complex include Morgan Mikulin (60 career victories), Brandi Crnkovic (49), Shelby Lancaster (41) and Tomi Garrison 35).
Crnkovic provided one of the most outstanding individual performances at the complex in May 2007 when she helped lead the Kats to a Southland Conference tournament title and the program's first NCAA Division I post-season appearance.
The right-hander from Caldwell pitched 23 innings of shut-out softball in four games over a three-day period to earn tournament “Most Valuable Player” honors. The Kats defeated McNeese State, Texas-San Antonio, Texas-Arlington and Texas State to win the league's post-season crown.
Crnkovic also holds the Bearkat Softball Complex record for most innings pitched and most strike outs in one game. She struck out 13 against Jackson State and Prairie View, both in 2007. Crnkovic worked all 14 innings in the longest game ever at the complex - a three-hour, 22-minute contest against Texas A&M in 2009.
One of the Bearkats' most thrilling victories also came in an extra inning game at the Softball Complex on March 24, 2014.
Down 3-0 going into the bottom of the 10th inning against No. 12 ranked Baylor, the Kats loaded the bases, tied the game on a walk and scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
The contest saw both teams hold each other scoreless for the regular seven innings and two more extra innings. Finally, Baylor scored three times in the top of the 10th.
The Bearkats rallied with three singles and scored their first run on a walk to designated player Hillary Adams. Right fielder Cecilia Castillo singled to score a second run and her sister Tiffany walked with the bases loaded to bring in the tying run. A wild pitch allowed pinch runner Jennie Kievel to cross home plate for the game winning tally.
Sam Houston single game team records in the complex include 15 runs in a victory over Texas Southern in 2010 and 18 hits versus Texas State in 2013.
Cecilia Castillo and Tomi Garrison hold the individual record for most Bearkat hits in one game at the complex with four apiece. Garrison had four hits against McNeese in 2010 and Castillo in a contest against Texas State in 2013.
Four players have had multiple home run games for SHSU in the facility. Putting two balls over the fence in one contest were Casie Everitt (A&M Corpus Christi 2007), Lauren Burns (SFA 2007), Kim Damian (Texas State 2013) and Benavidez (Texas Southern 2013).
Sam Houston opens the 2015 schedule in February with tournaments in San Marcos, Arlington and Mobile, Alabama.
The Bearkats first game of their 10th season at the softball complex will be Tuesday, March 3 when Sam Houston plays host to Mary Hardin-Baylor in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
Season tickets and seats for individual games are available now online at www.gobearkats.com.
