Houston Hilton Plaza Classic next up for Bearkats
3/2/2017 2:39:00 PM | Softball
Games 16-20
Friday, March 3 – Sunday, March 5 • Houston • Cougar Softball Stadium (1,200)
Tournament Central • @BearkatsSB on Twitter
Houston Hilton Plaza Classic Schedule
Friday, March 3
Sam Houston vs Wisconsin -- 2 p.m.
Sam Houston vs Houston -- 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 4
Sam Houston vs Princeton -- 11:30 a.m.
Sam Houston vs ULM -- 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 5
Sam Houston vs Houston -- 12 p.m.
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats will put their five-game win streak on the line beginning Friday when they kick off the final non-conference weekend of the season with five games scheduled as part of the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic at the Cougar Softball Field.
The Bearkats (7-8) will see four quality teams over the weekend with all games being played on the campus of the University of Houston. Sam Houston will open the event on Friday at 2 p.m. against Wisiconsin before squaring off in the Day 1 finale against the host Cougars.
Saturday will consist of meetings with Princeton and a rematch from earlier this season against ULM before the Kats conclude the weekend on Sunday with second game against Houston, scheduled at noon.
Each game can be followed via Live Stats or by following @BearkatsSB on Twitter.
Tiffany Thompson has been on fire for the Bearkats and has taken over the team lead in RBI with 13 for the season. She has at least two RBI in each of her last five games, driving in 12 over that span. Tori Koerselman continues to lead the team in hitting with a .413 average, while Megan Crosby's three homers and .651 slugging percentage are both team bests.
Tayler Atkinson has been a workhorse in the circle and carries a 2.14 ERA into the weekend while Lindsey McLeod is holding hitters to just a .198 average. Freshman Casey Kauder has also been strong of late, striking out nine in 8.0 innings with only one run allowed over her last two appearances
The Cougars have played a daunting schedule so far and hold a 7-11 record entering the Classic, most recently picking up a 1-0 win at Texas A&M on Wednesday. May Thomas has been a top-of-the-order catalyst for Houston, hitting .472 through 15 games, while Arielle James has hit .429. Meanwhile, Shelby Miller has provided the power with seven homers, 22 RBI and a .712 slugging percentage through 18 games.
They sport an offense with three players hitting better than .300, led by Chloe Miller's .465 average; however, the Badger pitching staff carries just a 1.40 ERA. Kristen Stevens is currently 4-0 with a 0.ERA in five appearances, while Kaitlyn Menz is 7-2 with a 1.11 ERA in nine starts.
ULM has enjoyed a strong start to its season, posting an 11-5 mark to date and winning six of its last seven games. Sydney McKay paces the Warhawks with a .468 average in 16 starts, slugging .574 while going 16-for-17 in steal attempts. In the circle, Melanie Coyne has carried the bulk of the load, pitching half of ULM's 102.0 innings and boasting a 2.36 ERA with 49 strikeouts.
Wisconsin sports a 12-2 record going into the weekend and is receiving votes in the latest national poll. The Badgers won their first seven games of the season and took four of five last weekend at the Sheraton Invitational, falling only to Boston College.
Despite the majority of the country having started nearly a month ago, the weekend will be the season opener for Princeton. The Tigers are coming off a season that saw them go 23-28 in 2016, winning the Ivy League and advancing to the NCAA Tournament where they dropped their first two games at the Harrisonburg Regional.
SERIES vs WISCONSIN
Friday will mark just the second time the Bearkats have ever faced the Badgers in softball, and the first time since the 2000 season. That year Wisconsin picked up a 5-0 win over the Bearkats early in the season in Monroe, La.
SERIES vs HOUSTON
The Cougars are a familiar non-conference opponent for Sam Houston, having faced them 27 times entering this weekend. Houston holds a 23-4 advantage in the all-time series which only began in 2001. The Kats have won twice in the last six games against Houston with both coming in Huntsville. Sam Houston will be looking for its first road win over the Cougars since 2001.
SERIES vs PRINCETON
Saturday will mark just the second game ever between Sam Houston and Princeton. The only other game came as part of the National Invitational Tournament in 1993 when the Bearkats picked up a 3-0 win over the Tigers in Macomb, Ill.
SERIES vs ULM
A former member of the Southland Conference, ULM is a familiar opponent for the Kats with 78 all-time meetings between the schools. Sam Houston currently owns a 48-30 edge after the Warhawks took the initial meeting between the schools on Opening Day in Monroe.
