Stephen F. Austin
Se Louisiana
Ladyjacks Split with Southeastern
3/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2007
HAMMOND, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team exploded for 11 runs in the second game of its doubleheader at Southeastern Louisiana Saturday to earn a split with the Lions. After dropping the opener, 3-1, on a pair of sixth-inning runs, the Ladyjacks made a sure thing of Game 2, taking an 11-1 victory over Southeastern Louisiana to move to 12-19 overall and 5-3 in Southland Conference play.
It took two sixth-inning runs for the Lady Lions to collect the win in Game 1. The Ladyjacks didn't give Southeastern the option in the nightcap. SFA scored five runs in the first inning, four more in the fourth and a pair of runs in the fifth to take the 10-run-rule-shortened victory.
After being held to one run in the first game, the Ladyjacks broke Game 2 open with five runs on four hits in the first inning. Benet Higgs led off with a walk, and Crystal Dahlquist reached base while moving Higgs to second with a bunt. The next batter, Briana Bishop, singled to left-center, scoring Higgs for the game's first run. Dahlquist and Bishop moved to third and second, respectively, when the ball was mishandled by the Southeastern center fielder.
Two at-bats later, Jessica Tullos smoked a two-run single to left field, scoring Dahlquist and Bishop to make it a 3-0 game. Chelsea Carr reached on a fielder's choice, then was thrown out for the second out of the inning as Butler scored. Tullos advanced to third and later scored on a wild pitch to put SFA ahead, 5-0.
Southeastern answered with one run in the bottom half, but SFA starter Ashley Wilburn tightened down and held the Lions scoreless the rest of the way. Wilburn scattered five hits over five innings and finished with four strikeouts and three walks.
SFA stretched its advantage with four runs on three hits in the fourth inning. Briana Bishop loaded the bases with a single, then Magen Butler singled down the left field line to score Higgs. Tullos then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, and Bishop scored when the next batter, Harper, reached base on an error. Carr then singled up the middle scoring Butler.
In the next inning, Heather Hebert scored on a wild pitch, and Higgs scored on a sacrifice fly by Bishop to set the final score.
Southeastern touched SFA starter Kari Hugie for a run in the fourth and two runs in the sixth to take the 3-1 win in the opening game of the series.
The Ladyjacks will wrap up the series with the rubber game Sunday at noon in Hammond, La.
- SFA -
