Stephen F. Austin
McNeese St
Ladyjacks Victimized By Long Ball
3/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2005
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Cowgirls of McNeese State used three three-run home runs Saturday to overpower the SFA Ladyjacks (9-19, 3-12) 14-6 and complete the sweep of a three game Southland Conference series at the Coy Simms Softball Complex. McNeese State (15-24, 6-9) banged out 15 hits to score 14 runs off three SFA pitchers.
The Cowgirls played small ball in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on three hits off starter Traci Moore. A double off the bat of Jana Jones scored the game's first run to give McNeese State a lead it never relinquished.
The Cowgirls added a four run third inning highlighted by a three-run homer by catcher Jenny Clay. An error by SFA kept the inning alive for McNeese, allowing the runs to score. All four runs were unearned.
McNeese State added another run in the top of the fourth before the Ladyjacks got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. Singles by Sidney Rutherford and Lee Lara put runners on for the Ladyjacks before Tara Hersey delivered a ringing double to score the runs and cut the lead to 6-2.
McNeese State answered with three runs in the top of the sixth off Nicole Carter (3-6), but SFA came right back with three runs in their half of the inning. Ragen Rutherford opened the inning with a sharp single to left, then Carrie Woydziak reached on an error by the shortstop to put two on with nobody out. Jessica Tullos plated the first run with a single. Julie Morse then pinch hit and hit a sacrifice fly to center to score the second run of the inning. Tullos later scored on a throwing error by the shortstop on a ground ball hit by Crystal Dahlquist.
The Cowgirls blew the game open in the top of the seventh inning with five runs off freshman Kaitlin Morrison. The big blow was delivered by Courtney Parks as she homered to left with two on for the Cowgirls third three-run shot of the game.
Nicole Carter took the loss for SFA, working 2.0 innings of relief and giving up three runs on four hits. Moore started and lasted only three and a third innings giving up six runs on seven hits. Morrison pitched and inning and two-thirds and gave up five runs on four hits and walked three.
SFA returns to action Wednesday, March 30 at 4:00 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader against Louisiana Tech. ™
