SFA Splits with Roadrunners
4/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 21, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Junior first baseman Jessie Tullos' three-run homer sparked the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team to a 6-5 win in Game 1 of its series against Texas-San Antonio, but the long ball worked against the Ladyjacks in the second game, as UTSA cruised to a run-rule shortened 11-2 victory, splitting the Saturday doubleheader at Hoya Field.
The split leaves SFA at 19-28 on the season and 12-11 in Southland Conference play.
Tullos hit her fourth bomb of the season in the third inning of the opener, giving SFA its first lead of the day at 4-3. The opposite-field shot to right field scored Crystal Garcia and Briana Bishop, who had walked and doubled, respectively, in front of Tullos. The three-run blast wiped out the 3-0 lead that UTSA grabbed in the first inning.
SFA added a run in the fourth inning. Center fielder Benet Higgs reached on an error with two outs, then stole second and third. Garcia plated her by beating out an infield single to give the Ladyjacks a 5-3 advantage.
The Roadrunners responded with a pair of runs to tie the score in the fifth, but SFA would not let up at the plate. Pitcher Kari Hugie led off the sixth with a double to right-center. Malina Meng came in to run for Hugie and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Chelsea Carr. When the next batter, Kendal Harper, chopped a ground ball to the second baseman, Meng barreled home and beat the throw with a headfirst slide to put SFA on top for good.
After putting the first two batters on, Hugie retired the meat of the UTSA lineup on a ground ball and a nice double play that started at third with Bishop and was turned in the middle by second baseman Heather Hebert. For the game, Hugie (9-11) allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout.
Game 2 found the Roadrunners up to their usual tricks, however. The Southland's top slugging team ripped its second, third and fourth home runs of the day, as UTSA scored at least a run in each of the five innings played.
After the Roadrunners jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the second inning, the Ladyjacks added a run each in the second and third, but could do no more damage. SFA's second-inning run came when pitcher Debra Boles singled home Crystal Dahlquist with two outs. In the third inning, Harper led off with a triple to right-center, then came home on Garcia's base knock to center field.
Boles (0-3) started and lasted four innings in taking the loss. She gave up eight earned runs on 13 hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Magen Butler pitched one inning of relief. She gave up three unearned runs on three hits.
The Ladyjacks will be back in action Sunday for the series finale against UTSA. The game is set for a noon start at Hoya Field.
-- SFA --
