Sam Houston Takes On Roadrunners
4/12/2016 4:06:00 PM | Softball
Winners in seven of their last nine games, the Sam Houston softball team travels to San Antonio to take on the UTSA Roadrunners from Conference USA Wednesday evening.
The Bearkats with their young roster (nine freshmen, three transfers and only four seniors) got off to a 7-21 start this season against a challenging schedule that included nationally-ranked opponents. But the Sam women have battled back to win their last two Southland Conference series and double their victory total to 14.
“The team has stayed positive through the rough spots and they're battling every game,” Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. “There's a lot of talent on this team and we're beginning to see that come through at the plate, in the circle and defensively.”
The Bearkats and the Roadrunners square off at 4 p.m. in the day's opening game. The nightcap will follow 30 minutes after the competition of the first game.
UTSA has struggled this year as well. The Roadrunners stand 14-25 for the year and are 8-8 at home. Sam Houston brings a .284 batting average into the doubleheader Wednesday while UTSA is hitting 258.
The Roadrunners are led at the plate by outfielders Jade Smith with a .330 average and Kendall Burton who sports a .308 batting mean. Lizzy Fox and Chelsea Parker have combined for 11 of UTSA's 14 victories in the circle.
Sam Houston's offense is led by a trio of talented hitters. Second baseman Dani Allen (.381) and third baseman Breanna Homer (.373) both have posted 14 multiple-hit games this season while catcher Katie Doerre (.376) and shortstop Tiffany Castillo (.279) have totaled seven apiece. Designated player Ashley Goetz (.305) also provides power at the plate.
Homer brings a five-game hitting streak into Wednesday's contest and Doerre has hit safely in the Bearkats' last four games. Homer and Castillo both have produced nine-game hitting streaks this season and Allen had an eight-game streak.
Lindsey McLeod and Taylor Atkinson have stepped forward as Sam Houston's big guns in the circle. The pair have accounted for 13 of the team's 14 victories. McLeod leads the team with 76 strike outs.
Sam Houston returns to Southland Conference action Friday and Saturday when the Kats play host to Houston Baptist in a three-game series. The pair will meet in a 3 p.m. doubleheader for Friday and finish the series with a 3 p.m. single game Saturday.
