SFA Opens Southland Play
2/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team will open Southland Conference play Tuesday when SFA begins a three-game series with Sam Houston State. The pivotal early-season series pits the Ladyjacks against the preseason favorite to win the SLC Championship. Tuesday's opener is set to start at 5 p.m. from Hoya Field. The series will wrap with a doubleheader Wednesday, scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
The Ladyjacks are coming off a strong performance in the Northwestern State NSU Invitational over the weekend. SFA went 5-1 in the tournament, notching two wins each against Northwestern State and Siena College and splitting a two-game set with Jackson State.
SFA swung the sticks well, batting .310 for the tournament with six home runs in three days. In all, the Ladyjacks outscored their opponents, 46-16. Ashley Struchtemeyer, Kendal Harper and Moriah Davis each batted .400 on the weekend to lead SFA at the plate, while Kari Hugie and Kim Daley thumped two home runs apiece to head up the weekend power surge.
The Ladyjack pitching staff was equally impressive, putting up a combined earned run average of 2.17. Freshman Monika Covington went 3-0 with a 1.79 ERA to lead the way. She recorded a team-best 17 strikeouts in tournament play and allowed just 10 base hits.
SFA is now 9-3 overall this season, already just 10 wins shy of tying last year's season total for wins. The Ladyjacks are 2-0 in home games.
The Bearkats are 6-4 on the season and coming off a 2-2 performance in the Texas A&M Invitational. Sam Houston collected wins over Temple and North Texas in the tournament. The Bearkats bat .291 as a team and have outscored their opponents, 44-19, overall, this season. Sam Houston's pitching staff is holding opponents to a .223 batting average and is led by Brandi Crnkovic's 4-2 record and 1.67 ERA.
-- SFA --
