Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Purple and Gold Challenge)
SFA Softball Takes Two at Purple and Gold Challenge
2/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2006
BATON ROUGE, La. - Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball made up for Saturday's two losses by taking two wins on Day 2 of the Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park on the Louisiana State campus. In early play, the Ladyjacks defeted Arkansas-Pine bluff, 11-4, before taking the `w' from Northwestern State, 5-2.
In Game 1 action, Arkansas-Pine Bluff took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but could not hold on as the Ladyjacks responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. After putting a triple into left field, senior Carrie Woydziak scored on a Lee Lara single. After stealing second, Lara, a senior from Navasota, Texas, scored on Julie Morse's single to left field and an error by APBU's left fielder, to put the Ladyjacks within one run, 3-2.
It was in the bottom of the third inning when the floodgates opened for the Ladyjacks. With one out, sophomore Jessica Tullos reached first base on a throwing error by UAPB's third baseman and was able to advance to second. Tullos advanced to third on a bunt single by freshman Sydney Davis. Freshman catcher, Kim Daley, then hit a sacrafice bunt to score Tullos to tie the score.
Davis then scored on a left field single by junior Heather Hebert. The Ladyjacks scored two more runs on consecutive RBI triples by freshman Crystal Garcia and Woydziak. Woydziak then scored on a wild pitch to put the Ladyjacks ahead, 7-3.
The Lady Lions would tack on a run in the fourth inning, but were unheard of throughout the rest of the game. However, it was a different story for the Ladyjacks who scored in the next two innings.
In the fourth inning, Tullos hit a double to left center and then scored on a Davis' single down the right field line. Daley, who struck out but reached first on a passed ball, advanced to third on Hebert's right side single and scored on a wild pitch. Garcia then came up and singled through the left side to score Hebert to put the Ladyjacks up by seven, 10-4.
After hitting a triple down the left field line, Lara scored on Morse's infield single to seal the win, 11-4.
In her collegiate debut, Garcia scored a run, drove home two runs and hit a triple in a 3-3 performance. Woydziak had two hits, both triples, scored two runs and had an RBI. Senior Nicole Carter pitched her second consecutive game, giving up four runs on 10 hits, and striking out 10 in seven innings of work. She moved her record to 1-1 on the season.
In Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader, SFA faced fellow Southland Conference member, Northwestern State in non-conference action. After a scoreless first inning, the Ladyjacks jumped ahead in the second when Davis scored on a fielding error by the Lady Demons' shortstop. Carter, who had been issued a walk, advanced to second on the same play. She then advanced to third on a fielder's choice and stole home to put the Ladyjacks ahead, 2-0.
SFA added a run in each of the next two innings to extend their lead, 4-0, before Northwestern State got on the board with two runs in the sixth inning. The Ladyjacks would add another run to their total to give them the eventual final score, 5-2.
Lara, Carter and senior Tara Hersey each had two hits and a run scored. Hebert went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases. Freshman Kari Hugie pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on three hits to earn her first collegiate win and even up her record at 1-1.
The wins evened up SFA's record to 2-2 on the year, while handing Northwestern State their first loss of the season, 2-1.
The Ladyjacks will participate in a tournament at Louisiana-Monroe next weekend and will face ULM in non-SLC action on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Monroe, La.
-SFA-
