Kats to host UTSA in home opener
2/21/2017 10:34:00 AM | Softball
Games 7-8
Wednesday, Feb. 22 • 3 p.m./5 p.m. • Huntsville • Bearkat Softball Complex (400)
Sam Houston State (2-4) vs UTSA (2-5)
Live Stats • @BearkatsSB on Twitter
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats will kick off their home slate on Wednesday when they host UTSA in a doubleheader at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
First pitch for Game 1 of the twinbill is set for 3 p.m., while Game 2 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Both games can be followed via live stats at GoBearkats.com, while fans can also get updates by following @BearkatsSB on Twitter.
The Kats are 26-10 all-time in home openers, including 15-5 under head coach Bob Brock.
Sam Houston went 2-3 in its opening weekend of play at the ULM Mardi Gras before dropping a narrow 2-0 decision at No. 17 Texas A&M a week ago. Tori Koerselman currently leads the squad with a .421 average at the plate, while freshman Megan Crosby's four RBI paces the team through six games. As a team, the Kats are hitting .273 with 11 extra-base hits.
In the circle, Tayler Atkinson leads the team with a 3.57 ERA and 15.2 innings of work after a solid effort at Texas A&M that saw her shut the nationally-ranked Aggies out for 5.2 frames before surrendering a pair of runs in a 2-0 defeat.
Meanwhile, UTSA has had a tough start to its season, dropping five of its first seven games after going 1-3 at the Getterman Classic in Waco over the weekend. The Roadrunners lost two of three in the season opener to New Mexico State, but dropped a pair to No. 23 Baylor last weekend and one to Grand Canyon. UTSA picked up its second win of the year on Friday with a 6-0 shutout of Lamar.
Despite the 2-5 mark to open the year, Lindsey Stewart has had a stellar start to her 2017 campaign, hitting safely in 14 of 26 at-bats (.538); however, no other Roadrunner has hit safely more than five times. Rylee Rodriguez and Randee Crawford each have cranked a pair of home runs for UTSA, who is hitting .272 as a team overall.
Nicole Merrill and Lizzy Fox have handled the bulk of the pitching, combining for 45.0 of the 46.1 innings pitched so far. Each has picked up a win, with Merrill posting a 3.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work.
SERIES vs UTSA
UTSA leads the all-time series with the Bearkats by a 41-38 margin, with the majority of those games coming when the Roadrunners were members of the Southland Conference. The Roadrunners own a 4-1 series advantage since leaving the SLC following the 2012 season, including wins in both meetings last season.
