SFA Opens Softball Season In Waco
2/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 8, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Season Opener: The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team will get a large dose of action on opening weekend, as the Ladyjacks are scheduled to play five games in four days at the Baylor Getterman Classic, an invitational tournament in Waco, Texas. SFA will begin the 2007 season on Friday, when the Ladyjacks take on Southern Miss. The game is set for a 9:30 a.m. start from Getterman Stadium. SFA will take a quick breather then meet Kentucky in the next game at 11:45. The Ladyjacks will resume action Saturday at 11:45 a.m., against host team Baylor. SFA will get a long break Saturday afternoon before taking on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 6:30 p.m. The Ladyjacks are scheduled to wrap up tournament action Sunday with an 11 a.m. rematch against Southern Miss.
In Season Openers: SFA is 4-3 in season openers, dating back to the 2000 season. The Ladyjacks won three straight opening-day games from 2001 to 2003. SFA's last season-opening victory came in 2005 -- a 12-5 decision over North Carolina-Greenville in tournament play. The Ladyjacks opened the 2006 slate with a 3-1 loss to South Dakota State in the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge.
Looking Back: The Ladyjacks are coming off a 20-28 campaign in 2006. That showing was a four-win improvement over the 2005 season, when SFA went 16-30. The Ladyjacks opened the season with three straight tournament appearances in 2006. SFA was 4-4 in tournament play last season. Southern Miss went 29-38 last season; Kentucky posted a 21-36 record; Baylor was 38-22, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi went 10-35.
Last Time Against the Field: None of the other four teams in the Getterman Classic were on the Ladyjacks' slate in 2006. SFA's last meeting with any of the weekend's four opponents came in 2005. The Ladyjacks lost a home doubleheader against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (1-0, 7-5) in April of that season. SFA also suffered a doubleheader sweep against Baylor, earlier in the same month. The Bears topped SFA, 7-5 and 7-6, in a pair of road games. The Ladyjacks' last meeting with Kentucky was a 4-2 win in the 2001 season. The last time SFA squared off with Southern Miss, the Ladyjacks came away with a 2-1 victory on neutral ground in 2000.
The Coaches: SFA is coached by Jenifer Wells. Wells is in her second season at SFA, where she holds a 20-28 (.417) record. In her five-year collegiate coaching career, Wells is 156-136 (.534). Southern Miss is coached by Gay McNutt (193-182). Kentucky is under the direction of Eileen Schmidt (41-7). Glenn Moore has compiled a 252-122 mark at Baylor, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is coached by first-year head coach Dawn Wuthrich.
• For more information, click the "Series Notes" link in the side bar of the SFA Softball home page.
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