SHSU faces tough foes in Mobile, Alabama
2/19/2015 12:58:00 PM | Softball
Sam Houston State softball head coach Bob Brock is not one to avoid playing challenging opponents.
Wednesday, the Bearkats took on No. 2 ranked Oregon at the Aggie Softball Complex in College Station. A day later, Brock's squad is boarding a bus to head to Mobile to face four more tough foes in the University of South Alabama Softball Classic.
This weekend's field includes defending Mid-America conference champion Ball State, Southern Conference regular season runner-up and 2014 tournament titlist Chattanooga and Sun Belt Conference runner-up South Alabama. The fifth team is Jacksonville University from the Atlantic Sun.
Ball State went 33-4 last year while Chattanooga compiled a 34-21 mark and South Alabama rolled up a 42-14 slate.
“You get better playing better teams,” Brock said. “Our goal is to get ready for the Southland Conference. Our players are doing a good job of taking things one game at a time.”
Sam Houston got off to a slow start in their first tournament in San Marcos but have bounced back strong to win four of their last six contests. The two losses were a 4-3 loss in extra innings to unbeaten Ohio State and a loss to Oregon Wednesday.
The Kats were ahead 4-1 through two innings against the Ducks before Oregon run-ruled the Kats 14-4.
“Oregon just has a great team,” Brock said. “We're working on getting better every game.”
Third baseman Peyton Webb, first baseman Angelica Gonzales, shortstop Sarah Allison and outfielder Jennie Kieval all are hitting above .300.
Led by Webb and Allison with four apiece, Sam Houston has already hit 15 home runs this year.
Designated player Hilary Adams parked a solo shot down the right field line Wednesday versus the Ducks for her first homer of the year. The blast marked the senior's 32nd career home run and her 114th RBI. She is Sam Houston's all-time leader in both categories.
Allison is one homer away from tying Kim Damian for second in the SHSU softball career annals. Allison has 26 career homers to her credit. Tiffany Castillo stands fourth in career home runs with 21.
The South Alabama tournament schedule calls for Sam Houston to play Jacksonville and Ball State at 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively, Friday. Saturday the Kats take on Chattanooga at 3:45 p.m. followed by a game with host South Alabama at 6 p.m. The team completes play in Mobile on Sunday with a 11:15 a.m. rematch with Jacksonville.
The event is the third and final regular season tournament for the softball team this spring.
Sam Houston's first home game of the 2015 season will be a doubleheader with Mary Hardin-Baylor on Tuesday, March 3, at 3 p.m. at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
