Stephen F. Austin
Baylor
Baylor Too Much for SFA
2/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 27, 2007
WACO, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team proved it wasn't intimidated to be playing a ranked opponent for the third time this year. SFA took the early lead in each of its two games against Baylor Tuesday night, but the road-weary Ladyjacks couldn't keep pace. The Bears showed why they're the No. 16 team in the country, capturing a 7-1 win over SFA in the first game then notching a 6-2 victory in the nightcap.
The Ladyjacks, who have yet to play a home game, fell to 3-12 on the season, as they saw their losing streak extend to 10 straight games. Baylor improved to 17-4 with the doubleheader sweep. The Ladyjacks have taken the first lead against the Bears all three times they've played this year, including the teams' first meeting at the Baylor Getterman Classic.
SFA got on the board in the first inning of Game 1. Jessica Tullos drew a two-out walk and advanced to second then third on a pair of wild pitches. When the Baylor pitcher found the plate, Sydney Davis smacked a double to left-center, bringing Tullos home. Davis was then stranded by a pop-out.
The Ladyjack lead was short-lived, as Baylor turned two hits and an SFA error into three runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Bears would tack on two runs each in the third and fourth innings, while the only other offense SFA could muster was a single by Crystal Dahlquist in the sixth inning.
Kari Hugie started and pitched all six innings for SFA. She was charged with seven earned runs on 12 hits and two walks. Hugie struck out two.
SFA got on the board first in Game 2, as well. Pinch runners Candice Juarez and Crystal Garcia both scored on a two-out single to left field by Kendal Harper in the second inning. Garcia was on the base paths for Briana Bishop, who led off the inning with a walk. Juarez did the running for Tullos, who singled for her second base knock of the evening.
But, just like in Game 1, the SFA bats fell silent, while Baylor found its stroke. The Bears tied the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, then took a 5-2 lead with a three-run third. Baylor set the final score with a single run in the fifth.
SFA put a couple of hits together in the third. Michele Huffman led off with an infield single, and Davis followed with another, two at-bats later. But the Ladyjacks could move neither of them around and left two runners on at the end of the inning.
Ashley Wilburn took the loss for SFA. She worked six innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits and a pair of walks. Wilburn posted one strikeout.
The Ladyjacks will next take the field on Friday, when they open play in the Ole Miss Tournament.
-- SFA --
