Every team wants to enter the postseason on a high note, but for Sam Houston softball, the path to the Conference USA Championship is paved with grit, not glory. Despite stumbling into the tournament on a seven-game losing streak, the Bearkats are embracing a clean slate as they prepare for their play-in showdown against New Mexico State.

It’s been a tough stretch since April 18, when Sam Houston last tasted victory by clinching a series win over Louisiana Tech. But as head coach Garrett Valis puts it, "You never wanna be on the streak we are heading to the conference tournament, but the players said it best, ‘The season starts over for everyone.’ The mentality you have has to be the first game of the year. You are only on a losing streak until you win the next one."

The Bearkats can take confidence from their recent history with the Aggies. Sam Houston dropped the first game of their regular-season series in Huntsville but rallied to take the next two, proving they know how to adjust and compete against this opponent.

Injuries have been the story of the season for Sam Houston’s pitching staff, which was expected to be the team’s backbone. Junior Abigail Young, a preseason All-CUSA selection after a stellar 2025 campaign (1.90 ERA over 110.1 innings), was sidelined from early February until late March. Since returning, she’s struggled to recapture her form, posting a 5.73 ERA over 36.2 innings. Fellow junior Amy Abke has also battled injuries, managing just 48 innings and making only three appearances since early March.

That’s where the unsung heroes have stepped up. Freshman Tiffany Sanchez has shouldered a massive workload, making 20 starts and 26 appearances. Her team-low 2.80 ERA and nine complete games in 110 innings have been a lifeline. She’s been paired with redshirt junior Kendall Daniel, who has also appeared in 26 games. Together, they’ve thrown 199.2 innings—56% of the team’s total this season.

"Asking Tiffany to continue to trust her ability and work ethic. She’s put herself in position to have success with how well she worked in the offseason," Valis said. "There are times where she wants things to be better than they are, and we encourage her by saying what you do is enough. I think she will be great."

With the pitching staff finding its footing, the offense now holds the key. In a win-or-go-home opener against New Mexico State, every at-bat matters. The Bearkats know that one good game can erase a month of frustration—and in tournament play, that’s all that counts.