HUNTSVILLE — The Sam Houston softball team will open the season with a competitive slate of games, according to the 2021 schedule head coach Garrett Valis has announced.
 
The Bearkats head to Austin to take part in the Texas Tournament against teams from the Pac-12, Big 12 and Mountain West to begin the season.
 
SHSU will face Colorado State at 1 p.m. on Feb. 12 and Arizona at 1 p.m. The Kats face the Rams again on Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m. and the Wildcats at 1 p.m. before closing the tournament Feb. 14 against Texas at 10 a.m.
 
Sam Houston plays its home opener when it hosts the Bearkat Classic Feb. 19-21. The Kats will face Oklahoma Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe at 6:30. SHSU faces ULM Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. and UTSA at 4. The tournament concludes with games against UTSA and ULM Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.
 
The Bearkats will host a doubleheader against Houston on Feb. 24 at 3:30 p.m., and will welcome Texas A&M to Huntsville on March 3 at 6:30 p.m.
 
Sam Houston will take part in the Oklahoma Tournament March 5-7 and will head to San Marcos to face Texas State on March 10 at 6 p.m.
 
Other home nonconference games will be against Baylor on March 23 at 6:30 p.m., UTA on March 31 at 6:30 p.m., Louisiana on April 6 at 6:30 p.m. and future WAC foe Tarleton on April 28 at 6:30 p.m. The Kats play at Texas A&M on April 14 at 6 p.m. and Baylor on April 21 at 6 p.m.
 
The Kats will open the Southland Conference portion of the schedule on the road at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. on March 12. The series concludes March 13 with a noon contest.
 
Sam Houston has a three-game series with McNeese for the conference home opener. The Kats will play the Cowgirls March 19 in a single game at 6:30 p.m. and close with a doubleheader on March 20 at noon.
 
The next SLC series will be at Central Arkansas with a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. on March 26 and a single game March 27 at 1 p.m. Houston Baptist visits the Bearkat Softball Complex on April 2 with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. and a single contest April 3 at noon.
 
The Bearkats head to Abilene Christian for a doubleheader April 9 at 5 p.m. and the finale April 10 at noon. Sam Houston plays host to Southeastern Louisiana with a doubleheader on April 16 at 4 p.m. and close the series April 17 at noon.
 
Natchitoches, Louisiana is SHSU's next destination for an SLC series with a doubleheader on April 23 and a single game at 1 p.m. on April 24. Rival Stephen F. Austin comes to Huntsville for a 6:30 p.m. contest on April 30 and a doubleheader at noon on May 1.
 
Sam Houston closes the regular season by hosting Incarnate Word. The two teams will play a doubleheader May 7 at 4 p.m. and wrap up the series at noon on May 8.
 
The Southland Conference Tournament will take place May 11-15 in Hammond, Louisiana.
 
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