Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana-Monroe
Ladyjacks Topple ULM
4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2008
MONROE, La. - Senior Jessica Tullos hit a record-breaking home run Tuesday to cap off the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team's 6-4 victory at Louisiana-Monroe. The win improves SFA's season record to 28-17.
Tullos' shot in the seventh inning chased a lead-off homer by junior Kari Hugie and gave SFA a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. The Warhawks answered with a two-out run-scoring double in their half, but Hugie came on in relief of freshman Lauren Luetge and recorded the last out.
The home run by Tullos gives her 21 for her career, breaking the record set by former SFA first baseman Tara Hersey in 2005. The bomb was Tullos' ninth of the 2008 season tying her with Hersey's 2005 mark for the most single-season home runs in SFA history.
ULM opened up a 3-0 lead with a trio of runs on three hits in the second inning.
SFA answered with a run in the third by taking advantage of some Warhawk mistakes. Junior Kim Daley led off with a walk, then moved to second on a sac bunt by Crystal Garcia and took third on a passed ball. Sophomore Kendal Harper then drew a two-out walk, and stole second. Daley came home on the play when the ULM catcher's throw sailed wide.
Luetge held ULM scoreless through the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Meanwhile, SFA took the lead with a three-run fifth. Monica Hirsch got a one-out single, then stole second and moved to third when Harper's ground ball to second was mis-played.
After a bunt attempt was popped up on the infield, Tullos got her first hit of the day, a single to score Hirsch and move Harper to second. Harper and Tullos moved up a station when sophomore Briana Bishop got on with a fielding error. The next batter, freshman Ashley Struchtemeyer, tied the score when she drew a walk to bring Harper home. Junior Moriah Davis then earned a free pass to score pinch-runner Michele Huffman and put SFA ahead, 4-3.
Luetge got two strikeouts and a ground ball to set the Warhawks down in order in the bottom half, and Hugie and Tullos followed with their back-to-back homers to give SFA all the insurance it would need.
Luetge (10-3) sprinkled five hits and four earned runs over six innings with four strikeouts to earn the victory.
The Ladyjacks will return to action this weekend, when they host Southland Conference-leading Texas State in a three-game series. The action kicks off with a doubleheader on Saturday, set to start at 1 p.m. from SFA's Hoya Field.
-- SFA --
