Kats open Southland play at McNeese State
3/5/2015 12:00:00 PM | Softball
Sam Houston opens its 2015 Southland Conference softball campaign against two-time defending champion McNeese State Friday and Saturday in Lake Charles, La.
The series begins Friday with a 6 p.m. single game and concludes Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
The Bearkats enter the series with a two-game winning streak after sweeping a pair from Mary Hardin-Baylor 8-0 and 10-1 in the home opening day doubleheader at the Softball Complex Wednesday. Sam Houston stands 7-11 in pre-conference play.
McNeese has rolled to a 13-6 record in the last month. That mark includes victories over Texas Tech, Houston, Southern Mississippi and Missouri State.
The Cowgirls are the preseason favorite to repeat as Southland champions. McNeese returns six starters and three pitchers from last year including four all-conference selections and the 2014 Southland Pitcher of the Year.
Junior Jamie Allfred earned the honor in the circle after leading the Southland in shutouts with seven in 2014. Overall on the season, Allred was 27-8 with three of her wins coming against nationally ranked opponents (No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 21 UAB) last spring.
First team designated player/pitcher Emily Vincent heads the list of other top returning Cowgirls. Vincent owns a 6-1 record and 0.94 in the circle this season.
Lauren Langner leads McNeese at the plate with a hefty .426 batting average. Hailey Drew is hitting .400 for the Cowgirls.
Sam Houston will challenge the McNeese pitching staff with a line-up that has shown the ability to produce extra base hits this season.
The Bearkats have totaled 27 doubles and 20 home runs in their 18 games this year. Three of the top five home run hitters in Sam Houston softball history play for the 2015 squad.
Designated player Hillary Adams is the Bearkats' all-time leader with 33 home runs in her career. Shortstop Sarah Allison ranks second all-time with 28 homers. She leads the team with six this season. Catcher Tiffany Castillo is fourth all-time in SHSU women's annals with 21 home runs.
Earlier this season, Allison set a Sam Houston single game record with seven RBIs versus Northern Illinois. Second baseman Dani Allen broke the school mark for most hits in a game, going 6-for-6 in a tournament tilt with Jacksonville.
In the circle, Haley Baros, Jordan Franks, Meme Quinn and Tayler Atkinson all have chalked up victories for the Bearkats.
Following the McNeese State series, the Kats will travel to College Station for a non-conference game with Texas A&M on Wednesday March 11 before playing host to Nicholls in the SHSU women's next Southland series in Huntsville on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14.
