HUNTSVILLE, TX -- Sam Houston State opens the 2012 softball season this weeekend as the Bearkats travel to the University of Houston Classic, a three-day event being held at the Cougar Softball Complex.
The Classic will be a stern opening test for the SHSU women as two of the three teams the Bearkats will play are nationally ranked.
Sam Houston opens Friday at 1 p.m. against No. 16 Oklahoma State. Saturday, the Kats play unranked North Texas at 9 a.m. SHSU winds up the event with a pair of matchups with No. 22 Houston. The Cougars and the Bearkats face off first at 3 p.m. Saturday and end the tournament with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.
The Bearkat softball team is focused on one goal this season and that is fighting their way back into post-season play in the Southland Conference tournament May 10-12 in San Antonio. Sam Houston has not made a tournament appearance since 2009.
"There are several areas where we need to improve in order to get back into contention in the Southland," Sam Houston head coach Bob Brock said. "We've been addressing those areas in preseason work. The team is anxious to get started and looking forward to the opportunity to test themselves against quality competition."
Brock begins the 2012 season only 19 victories away from becoming the 22nd NCAA Division I softball skipper to post 1,000 career coaching wins. The head coach, beginning his 11th season in charge of the SHSU program, ranks 12th in total victories among active NCAA Division I coaches with a career mark of 981 wins, 586 losses and one tie.
The 2012 Bearkats return 14 lettermen and have added six freshmen and one transfer. Three-fourths of the infield returns with Sarah Allison behind the plate, Kim Damian at first base, Alyssa Coggins at second and Shelbi Tucker at third.
Junior outfielder Tori Benavidez is the team's lone representative on the 2012 preseason All-Southland Conference team. She hit .319 last year including nine multiple hit games. Outfielders Erin Burford and Calli Wood are back for their senior seasons.
Senior right-handed pitcher Tomi Garrison, who worked more than half of last year's innings, looks to receive more help in the circle. Two freshmen,
Meme Quinn from Tomball and Haley Boros from Bay City bring quality high school resumes to NCAA Division I ball at Sam Houston.
Sophomores Cecilia Castillo and Shelby Lancaster are returning letter-winners in the pitching circle.
Seniors Brittany Gutierrez and Courtney Schoenemann bring experience and depth to the Bearkat infield while Ashley Isbell, Amy Pelton and Kaleb Everitt return in the outfield.
Erin Martin, a transfer from the University of Houston, joins the program as an infielder. Freshmen Hillary Adams and Alyssa Gregg look to contribute as infielders and Kyanna Richardson and Jessica Slater are expected to help in the outfield.
Sam Houston will play its first nine softball games on the road, traveling to Texas A&M next Wednesday and then competing in the North Texas Invitational in Denton Feb. 17-19.
The Bearkats will open at home with a doubleheader against Prairie View A&M at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
