Ladyjacks Look to Keep Momentum
3/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 14, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Streaking: The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team will try to extend its longest winning streak of the season with four home games this week, starting Thursday against Tulsa at 5 p.m. The Ladyjacks are coming off a spectacular start to the Southland Conference season. They swept Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with three straight shutouts, moving their winning streak to four games and planting themselves at the top of the SLC standings. Following Thursday's game, SFA will resume league action with a three-game series against Texas-Arlington.
Last Time Out: The Ladyjacks rallied in their Southland Conference opener sweeping a three-game road series at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi over the weekend. What's more, all three wins came by shutout, the first three shutouts of the year for SFA. Sophomore pitcher Kari Hugie started and finished the first and third games of the series. She held the Islanders to six hits in 14 innings pitched and allowed just one A&M-Corpus runner past second base. Freshman Ashley Wilburn tossed a shutout in the middle game of the series, when she scattered seven hits over seven innings. Kendal Harper went 4-for-7 (.571) with a double, RBI, and two runs scored to lead SFA at the plate. Heather Hebert was 4-for-9 (.444) with an RBI on the weekend, and Crystal Dahlquist recorded three hits, a double, RBI and three runs scored in the series.
The Golden Hurricane: Tulsa enters Thursday's meeting on a hot streak. The Golden Hurricane is 16-10 on the season and has won eight straight games. All eight wins in that streak have come either at home or at neutral sites. Tulsa is yet to win a road game this season. The Golden Hurricane specializes in the long ball, having blasted 16 home runs this season. Tulsa defeated SFA, 9-1, in their first meeting this season.
The Mavericks: Texas-Arlington is 16-10 and brings a four-game win streak to the week's games. UTA is fresh off of a three-game home sweep of Northwestern State and holds the fourth spot in the Southland Conference with a 6-3 league record. The Mavs are batting .304 with 23 home runs this season.
The Coaches: SFA is coached by Jenifer Wells. Wells is in her second season at SFA, where she holds a 27-44 (.380) record. In her five-year collegiate coaching career, Wells is 163-152 (.517). Tulsa is coached by John Bargfeldt. Texas-Arlington is coached by Debbie Hedrick.
Special Promotion: The Ladyjacks will host their inaugural "Anyone Can Play Day" following Saturday's doubleheader against Texas-Arlington. The event is an opportunity for special needs athletes to take the field with the SFA softball team.
• For complete notes, click the "Series Notes" link in the side bar of the Softball home page.
-- SFA --
