Kats head to Ruston for weekend tilts
2/23/2017 12:24:00 PM | Softball
Games 9-13
Friday, Feb. 24 – Feb. 26 • Ruston, La. • Lady Techster Softball Complex (550)
Tournament Central • @BearkatsSB on Twitter
Louisiana Tech Classic Schedule
Friday, Feb. 24
Sam Houston vs Northern Iowa – 12:30 p.m.
Sam Houston vs Louisiana Tech – 3 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Sam Houston vs Grambling – 10 a.m.
Sam Houston vs Northern Iowa – 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 26
Sam Houston vs Grambling – 10 a.m.
HUNTSVILLE – After dropping a pair of games to UTSA in their home opener, the Sam Houston State Bearkats will try to get back into the win column this weekend when they hit the road for five games as part of the Louisiana Tech Classic.
The Kats (2-6) will get a pair of looks at Northern Iowa and Grambling, in addition to a Friday meeting with the host Louisiana Tech. All games will be played at the newly-renovated Lady Techster Softball Complex.
All games can be followed via Live Stats or by following @BearkatsSB on Twitter. A live stream for Sam Houston's game vs Louisiana Tech will also be available at LaTechSports.com.
Fans making the trip to Ruston can purchase all-tournament passes at the gate for $20 for adults and $10 for youth 17-years old and below. Single-day passes will also be available, starting at $10 for adults and $5 for youth.
The Kats are hitting .263 through eight games, paced by senior infielder Tori Koerselman's .440 average and six runs scored. Freshman Kaitlyn Dawson has provided a power surge of late with three extra-base hits in her last three games, including a three-run homer against UTSA on Wednesdsay. She is one of three Bearkats to have gone deep this season.
In the circle, Tayler Atkinson leads the way with a solid start to her senior season, posting a 2.85 ERA through six appearances and 19.2 innings of work. She has held opponents to a .253 average and has only allowed two earned runs in her last 10.0 innings on the rubber.
Louisiana Tech comes into the weekend sporting an 8-4 mark, including a perfect 6-0 record at home after a 5-1 win over Southeastern La. on Wednesday. They opened up the season with five straight wins at home on opening weekend before a 2-4 stretch that was made up of games against LSU, Indiana, Texas and South Carolina.
UNI is 5-3 through the early portion of the season, going 1-2 last weekend at the DeMarini Classic in Las Vegas. They are hitting just .242 through eight games, but have made up for it in the circle with a 2.12 ERA. Bailey Lange has been the go-to hand for the Panthers with a 1.35 ERA, 27 strikeouts and just six walks in 26.2 innings of work. She has been backed up by Alyssa Buchanan who sports a 2.20 ERA and 2-0 record in 16.1 innings over five appearances, fanning 15 in that span.
Meanwhile, Grambling has started off the season with a 3-9 mark and is still in search of its first Division I victory after sweeping a doubleheader from Centenary on Tuesday.
SERIES vs NORTHERN IOWA
Sam Houston enters the weekend owning a 4-1 edge in the all-time series against UNI, not having played the Panthers since 2004. The last three meetings between the teams have come on neutral fields with UNI's lone win in the series coming in 2003. The Kats are 2-0 against UNI in Huntsville, winning a two-game set in 1988.
SERIES vs LOUISIANA TECH
A former Southland Conference member, the Lady Techsters own a 14-11 all-time record over the Bearkats. The teams, however, have not played since the 2006 season when the Kats swept a pair of games. Sam Houston will enter the weekend having won five of the last six games over Louisiana Tech dating back to 2003 and have not lost in Ruston since the 2001 season.
SERIES vs GRAMBLING
The Bearkats had never faced Grambling on the softball diamond until 2016, but will see them for the second and third times this season over the weekend. Sam Houston defeated the Tigers 15-0 in five innings on Day 2 of the ULM Mardi Gras Classic during the season's opening weekend in Monroe, La.
