Softball returns to Hammond, La., for SLU series
3/26/2015 3:32:00 PM | Softball
For the third year in a row, Sam Houston State will be traveling to Hammond, La., to take on Southeastern Louisiana in the Bearkats' annual Southland softball series with the Lions.
Action begins Friday with a 4 p.m. doubleheader. The two conclude the series with an 11 a.m. single game Saturday.
Head coach Bob Brock and the Bearkats certainly are familiar with Southeastern Louisiana's home field at North Oak Park. The Kats have played nine games there since March, 2013. The Lions took two-of-three in both series in 2013 and 2014 and Hammond was the site of last spring's Southland Conference softball tournament.
"We won't get lost traveling to the ball park, that's for sure," SHSU head coach Bob Brock said. "This is an important series for us. We've played well at times but have had trouble putting complete games together. Southeastern Louisiana is off to a great start and will be a tough opponent."
The series also marks the fourth consecutive weekend the Bearkats have been matched up with one of the teams at the top of the league standings. The Lions are off to a 7-1 start in conference play. Sam Houston is 1-7 after opening conference action against two of the teams tied for first place with unblemished records, McNeese State (9-0) and Northwestern State (8-0).
Southeastern brings a six-game league winning streak into the contest, the Lions best start to Southland Conference play since 2001. One of the reasons SLU has opened conference action on fire is a consistent offense, as the Lions enter the series with a .300 team batting average.
Outfielder Katie Lacour leads the Southland with a .485 batting average and 49 hits, while also ranking among the league leaders with a team-high 28 runs scored. Infielder Sydney Booker (.341) and outfielder Kinsey Nichols (.326) are the other top hitters for the team
Booker has been the team's top power hitter, leading the team and ranking among the Southland Conference leaders with seven home runs, 35 runs batted in, seven doubles and five triples.
SLU will be facing a Bearkat team that has a .267 team batting average. Junior infielder Peyton Webb has a team-high .364 batting average, while senior infielder Sarah Allison leads the team with six home runs and 21 RBI.
In the circle, senior Meme Quinn (3-4, 5.98 ERA), senior Haley Baros (1-6, 4.97 ERA), sophomore Taylor Atkinson (1-6, 7.96 ERA) and freshman Jordan Franks (3-3, 4.64 ERA) have all seen significant work for a SHSU pitching staff that has a 6.33 team earned run average.
