Stephen F. Austin
UL-Monroe* (2)
Softball Take Two From UL-Monroe
3/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 2, 2003
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- After waiting a full month, the SFA softball team had to wait one more day for its home opener, but the wait was worth it as SFA swept both ends of a Southland Conference doubleheader from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, 5-1 and 4-3.
SFA (11-10, 3-2) was forced to postpone the doubleheader 24 hours due to wet field conditions at its home field and move the game to the field at Nacogdoches High School Sunday afternoon. The 'Jacks made the wait worthwhile, taking game one by a 5-1 margin behind the strong pitching of Devin Cobb. The Pasadena, Texas senior started and worked 5.1 innings giving up only one run on two hits while striking out two and walking a pair of batters. The Indians scratched first, scoring their only run in the top of the fourth inning after a walk, and back-to-back singles, drove in Casey Goodman.
The 'Jacks came right back in their half of the fourth with a pair of runs to rake the lead after Brooke Chandler singled to open the inning. She moved to second on a sacrifice by Crista Hargrove. Lee Lara was then hit by a pitch before Tara Hersey, a freshman from Santa Fe, Texas singled home Chandler to tie the score at 1-1. Lara scored one batter later when Cobb hit into a fielder's choice. SFA added insurance runs in the sixth inning to win it, 5-1.
Crissy Autry started game two but lasted only 1.2 innings before allowing a run on two hits and walking two batters. Nicole Carter came on in the top of the second with the bases full of Indians and walked the first batter she faced to force in a run, before striking out the DH Anna Hancock to end the threat.
SFA tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning after a one out double by Lee Lara. She moved to third on a ground out, then scored on an error by the UL-Monroe shortstop. SFA took the lead in the fifth inning after a pinch hit single by Allison Savedra to open the frame. With two outs, Brooke Chandler then doubled home Savedra and later scored on an RBI single by Hargrove.
ULM tied the score with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, but could not take the lead. SFA then won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Carrie Woydziak singled to open the inning. Jaime Brown then tried to sacrifice her to second base, but a bad throw got away from the Indian second baseman allowing Woydziak to come all the way around and score the winning run. Cobb picked up the win in game two as well, working 2.0 innings of scoreless relief.
Game three of the series is set for Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the high school field.
