Stephen F. Austin
Jackson State
SFA Knocks Off Jackson State
2/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2008
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team won its opening game Friday in the Northwestern State NSU Invitational.
SFA opened tournament action with a 10-2 verdict over Jackson State. The Ladyjacks scored in five of the six innings, and freshman pitcher Monika Covington held the Tigers to just three hits. SFA was scheduled to take on Siena Friday night, but a report on the game was not available at press time.
SFA opened strong as Covington sat the Tigers down in order in each of the first two innings, and the Ladyjacks rewarded her effort with four runs worth of early insurance.
Benet Higgs led off the first with a triple to center field, then Kendal Harper walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. The next batter, Briana Bishop, drew a walk to load the bases, then Jessica Tullos blasted a single through the right side, scoring Higgs and Harper. Bishop and Tullos each moved up a base on a passed ball, then Bishop scored on a wild pitch, making it a 3-0 game.
SFA padded its lead with another run in the second. Monica Hirsch reached base on an infield single with one out then advanced to second on a ground-out. She took third on a wild pitch, then scored on an error by the Jackson State second baseman.
The Tigers answered with a two-run home run in the top of the third but could manage just one more hit in the game and did not score again.
The Ladyjacks added a run in the fifth by taking advantage of a pair of Jackson State errors. Kim Daley reached on a miscue with one out, then pinch runner Candise Juarez swiped second. Kari Hugie reached on another error, moving Juarez to third. She then stole home to put SFA ahead, 6-2.
Hugie delivered the knockout blow in the sixth inning, when she hit a grand slam to left field to secure the run-rule-shortened victory. Tullos reached base on a fielder's choice to start things out, then Daley was hit by a pitch. Pinch hitter Moriah Davis then hit a two-out single to load the bases for Hugie, and she did the rest.
Covington allowed two earned runs on three hits and no walks with eight strikeouts, as she improved to 3-1 on the season. Eight different Ladyjacks hit safely in the game.
SFA will continue play in the NSU Invitational Saturday. The Ladyjacks take on Northwestern State at 2 p.m. and are scheduled for a rematch with Jackson State at 4.
-- SFA --
