Stephen F. Austin
UAB (2)
'Jacks Swept By UAB Tuesday
4/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2003
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- SFA dropped both ends of a non-conference softball doubleheader Tuesday to the University of Alabama-Birmingham, by scores of 1-0 and 3-2. With the losses, the 'Jacks fall to 25-27 on the year, the first time the 'Jacks have slipped below the .500 mark since Feb. 15.
Game one was a pitcher's duel as neither team could push across a run in regulation. Crissy Autry started and worked six innings for SFA, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out seven. She gave way to freshman Nicole Carter with one on in the seventh inning. Carter worked out of trouble getting two ground ball outs to end the seventh.
Tara Hersey led off the seventh inning with a walk, and was moved to second on a sacrifice off the bat of Brooke Chandler. Lee Lara then pinch hit for Sarah Stone and drew a one out walk. Carter then hit a sinking line drive to third for the second out and Sarah Stone, who had re-entered the game in place of Lara was doubled off second base.
UAB scored a run in the top of the ninth inning with a two out single from Kristen Stanfill. SFA could not answer in its half of the ninth and dropped the first game, 1-0.
The 'Jacks struck first in game two with a run in the bottom of the third inning to snap a 32 inning scoreless streak, and take a 1-0 lead.
Sarah Stone reached on a throwing error by the catcher to open the frame, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice from Kristen Exline. Exline was then thrown out at second base trying to steal. Jaime Brown then singled followed by a Ragen Rutherford single. Crista Hargrove then hit a ground ball to short that was mishandled allowing Brown to score when the catcher couldn't handle the throw to the plate.
UAB scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning on four hits off Crissy Autry and Devin Cobb. Cobb came on in relief of Autry with two on and one out. She gave up three hits in the inning, allowing three runs to score. Two were charged to Autry with the third run belonging to Cobb.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, SFA managed to push across a run after Tara Hersey singled with two outs. Le Lara was then hit by a pitch moving the runners up. Pinch runner Abbie Bell then moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher and scored on an error by the third baseman. The game ended on a line drive to short off the bat of Cobb.
Due to travel requirements, the game was called after six innings of play.
The 'Jacks go on the road this Friday to take on Northwestern State in Southland Conference action.
