SLC Tourney opens Tuesday for Kats
5/7/2018 8:06:00 PM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State softball team wrapped up the regular season on Sunday afternoon, but will have to refocus for a postseason run that kicks off on Tuesday morning in the opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament.
The Bearkats will be the No. 8 seed in the event, held this season in Lake Charles, La., and will open up against No. 5 Central Arkansas at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Cowgirl Diamond.
The new eight-team format means that each of the first two games of the day – SHSU vs UCA and ACU vs Northwestern State – will be single elimination. Winners of the opening-round games will advance into a six-team, double-elimination format.
With a win, Sam Houston would have another quick turnaround, facing off against No. 4 Southeastern Louisiana at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Kats earned their way into the field with a sweep of Houston Baptist on the regular season's final weekend, but will be looking to flip the script on their first-round foe. UCA swept the Bearkats in Conway early in the league season, coming back to win each of the first two games of the series in walk-off fashion.
The two teams also met a year ago in the postseason's opening round when the Bearkats picked up a walk-off win of their own over the Bears on their home field in 2017.
The Kats will be looking for their first SLC Tournament win and berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2007. They last advanced as far as the tournament finals in 2013.
