Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Colonels Avoid Sweep
4/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2007
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Even a snow flurry couldn't cool off the Nicholls State bats enough. The Colonels hit their fifth home run in three games Saturday, as they avoided a series sweep by knocking off Stephen F. Austin, 2-1. The game saw intermittent period of heavy snowfall from the second inning on, despite temperatures hovering around the 40-degree mark.
The Colonels outhit SFA narrowly, 9-8, but SFA stranded 10 runners in the game and couldn't find the plate after scoring once in the first inning. Benet Higgs led off with a single through the right side, and Michele Huffman chased her with a single to left. The Nicholls left fielder mishandled the ball, allowing Higgs to score from first, but Huffman was thrown out trying to advance to third.
Nicholls State picked up a pair of runs in the first and scratched again in the second to take a 3-1 lead. The Ladyjacks loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning, but two straight ground balls allowed the Colonels to cut the SFA runners down at the plate. The inning ended on a foul pop-up with the bases loaded. The Ladyjacks left runners in scoring position again in the third inning.
The Colonels set the final score in the fifth with a solo homer by Jacqueline Pacheco.
Magen Butler (1-1) started and lasted three innings. She gave up three runs -- two earned - on five hits and three walks in taking the loss. Kari Hugie worked four innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with a strikeout.
The Ladyjacks (16-23, 9-6) will return to action Tuesday, when they travel to Texas Southern for a doubleheader. The first game is set to start at 3 p.m.
-- SFA --
