Stephen F. Austin
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
SFA Sweeps A&M-Corpus Christi
3/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 12, 2007
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - When the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team took on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi this weekend, it marked a pair of season-firsts for the Ladyjacks -- their first Southland Conference games of the year and their first three-game series of the season. Before the weekend was over though, the SFA would add a couple of exclamation points to the list of firsts. The Ladyjacks breezed through the three-game set from the Islanders without allowing a run, marking their first sweep of the season and first three shutout wins of the year as they stretched their winning streak to a season-long four straight games.
SFA is now 7-16 on the season and 3-0 in Southland Conference play. The Ladyjacks have now won seven straight SLC games, dating back to a four-game run to close out the 2006 season.
Sophomore pitcher Kari Hugie helped SFA get out on the right foot. She worked the Islanders for a two-hit complete-game shutout in Game 1, despite getting only one run from her side of the diamond. Only five Islanders reached base -- none advanced past second -- and Hugie faced just five batters over the minimum. She recorded two strikeouts in collecting her second win of the season.
SFA needed the strong outing by Hugie, as the Ladyjacks struggled to get anything going at the plate. SFA had just one hit, coming off the bat of Kendal Harper in the sixth, but the Ladyjacks made the most of it. Harper reached base on a two-out single, then stole second and came all the way around to score what proved to be the wining run on an error by the A&M-Corpus catcher.
In Game 2, the pitching and defense were equally effective, but this time the Ladyjack lineup gave starter Ashley Wilburn plenty of run support. SFA rapped out 10 hits in the 6-0 victory, led by Heather Hebert, who went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. The Ladyjacks scored two runs each in the second, third and sixth innings, while Wilburn (4-9) scattered seven hits and recorded three punchouts.
Benet Higgs and Crystal Dahlquist put up two hits apiece in the second game, with Higgs driving in a run and stealing a base along the way. Jessica Tullos and Harper each singled once, and Chelsea Carr tripled and scored in one of her three at-bats.
In the closer Sunday afternoon, Hugie picked up right where she left off. This time, though, the Ladyjacks gave her plenty of breathing room. After the two teams played to a scoreless tie through three innings, SFA scratched in the fourth, then scored three runs in the sixth.
Higgs singled up the middle then stole second to lead off the three-run sixth. Dahlquist then brought her home with an RBI double to center field. Two batters later, Briana Bichop doubled through the right side. Both she and Dahlquist came around to score when the ball was misplayed by the Islander right fielder.
The 4-0 lead would be more than enough for Hugie, who was cruising. She spread four Islander hits across the seven innings, never allowing more than one in an inning. Just one A&M-Corpus runner advanced past second. Hugie (3-6) allowed only one walk and struck out two.
SFA will return to action Thursday, when the Ladyjacks host Tulsa in their home opener. The game against the Golden Hurricane is set to begin at 5 p.m. The Ladyjacks will then resume Southland Conference play this weekend when they host Texas-Arlington.
- SFA -
