Stephen F. Austin
Mcneese State
SFA Splits With McNeese
3/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2008
LAKE CHARLES, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team resumed Southland Conference action Wednesday by splitting a road doubleheader with McNeese State. The Cowgirls won the opener, 2-1, then SFA broke out the bats for an 8-1 win in the nightcap.
McNeese State put up a run in the first inning on two hits. SFA (16-12) answered with a run in the fourth. Ashley Struchtemeyer got a two-out double to center field then scored on a single by Kari Hugie to tie the score.
That's how the count remained until the seventh, when the Cowgirls got a two-out home run to win the game.
SFA finished with four hits. Kendal Harper and Briana Bishop each added a base knock to Struchtemeyer and Hugie's hits, with Bishop's being a double.
Freshman Monika Covington (9-5) went six-and-two-thirds innings. She allowed two earned runs on five hits and walk with one strikeout.
The Ladyjacks wasted no time getting on the board in the second game. Harper was hit by a pitch with one out in the first to get things started. She then stole second. Jessica Tullos drew a two-out walk two at-bats later, then Bishop blasted a three-run homer to left field.
SFA padded its lead with two runs in the fourth. Bishop reached on a fielder's choice then stole second to get into scoring position. She didn't have to hurry home, though, since Struchtemeyer homered to left-center in the next at-bat.
The Ladyjacks picked up more insurance in the sixth, this time using some small ball. Tullos drew a walk, and Candise Juarez pinch-ran for her. Juarez moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bishop, then moved to third on a fly out by Struchtemeyer. Two at-bats later, Daley singled down the left-field line to score Juarez.
McNeese answered with a run in the bottom half, but SFA put the game away with two in the seventh. Benet Higgs led off with a double down the right-field line. Malina Meng came in to pinch-run then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harper. Moriah Davis mashed the third Ladyjack home run of the game, belting it out to straight-away center to set the final score.
SFA starter Lauren Luetge (5-3) scattered seven hits and a walk over seven innings. She posted seven strikeouts with one earned run.
The Ladyjacks will finish off their series with McNeese State Thursday with a 2 p.m. game.
-- SFA --
