HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston will welcome three other teams to the Bearkat Softball Complex to compete in the Bearkat Classic, Friday through Sunday.
The Kats will be hosting Stephen F. Austin, UNLV and Wichita State with play set to kick off at 10:30 AM on Friday. The slate will include four games apiece on Friday and Saturday, with two games on Sunday to close out the weekend. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (936) 294-1729,
online or at the gate.
Sam Houston begins its season against the Shockers at 3:30 p.m., a team receiving votes in the NFCA and ESPN/USA Today Top 25 to enter the season. It is the second time in three seasons Wichita State has taken part in the Bearkat Classic. Day One concludes with the Kats hosting UNLV at 6 p.m., a Rebels team returnign 16 players from a 23-win team a year ago.
On Saturday, SHSU will face UNLV at 1 p.m. and Wichita State at 6. The tournament concludes on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game against Piney Woods rival Stephen F. Austin who will be in its first year under head coach Jeff Jackson.
Meanwhile, the Bearkats are entering their sixth season under head coach
Garrett Valis and return 16 letterwinners of their own, including fifth-year seniors
Hannah Scheaffer and
Ellie Grill. Scheaffer was named a Preseason All-Conference USA selection behind the plate and was tied with Grill in 2023 with a team-best .285 average. In fact, the Kats return each of their top eight hitters from its 2023.
In the circle the Kats bring back a pair of righties in
Daryn Grams and
Mika Vento who combined for over 150 innings a year ago. Grams was an important piece to the pitching staff in 2023, making 30 appearances with a 3.71 ERA and 47 strikeouts, while holding hitters to a team-best .264 average. Vento, meanwhile, enters 2024 with 83 career appearances and over 300 innings to her credit. That pair will be joined by a pair of talented freshmen in
Amy Abke and
Abigail Young.
Tournament Central
2024 Bearkat Classic Schedule
Friday - February 9
SFA vs. Wichita State, 10:30 a.m.
UNLV vs. SFA, 1 p.m.
Wichita State vs. Sam Houston, 3:30 p.m.
UNLV vs. Sam Houston, 6 p.m.
Saturday - February 10
SFA vs. UNLV, 10:30 p.m.
UNLV vs. Sam Houston, 1 p.m.
SFA vs Wichita State, 3:30 p.m.
Wichita State vs. Sam Houston, 6 p.m.
Sunday - February 11
UNLV vs. Wichita State, 10:30 p.m.
SFA vs. Sam Houston, 1 p.m.
