Stephen F. Austin
Texas State
Ladyjacks Take Doubleheader From Texas State
4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Jessica Tullos will be the only senior honored when the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team holds its Senior Day ceremony in a couple of weeks. Apparently, she couldn't wait for the spotlight. Tullos went 3-for-6 with a home run, double and four RBI Saturday in SFA's series-opening double-header sweep of Texas State.
The wins moved second-place SFA to 30-17 overall and 16-6 in Southland Conference games. The Bobcats, who entered the series with a four-and-a-half-game lead on SFA in the league standings, fell to 29-15 on the season and 19-4 in league action.
The senior first baseman from Lufkin provided the margin of victory in SFA's 2-1 win in the opener, blasting a record-setting home run in the fourth inning that set the final score. She came through with a base knock, two more RBI and two runs scored in the Ladyjacks' Game 2 7-2 win.
In the first game, Texas State took advantage of a couple of Ladyjack errors to draw first blood with a run in the top of the fourth. SFA settled down and escaped further damage by playing solid defense. Shortstop Moriah Davis made a diving stab on a sharp hit up the middle by Texas State's Jetta Weinheimer. Weinheimer was credited with a hit and an RBI on the play, but Davis' effort kept the damage to one run. The Bobcats would load the bases with a bunt single, but SFA starter Monika Covington got a pop-out and a strikeout to escape the inning only down 1-0.
The Ladyjacks answered loudly in the bottom half of the inning. Junior designated player Kari Hugie drew a walk to lead things off. The next batter, Tullos, sent the first pitch she saw screaming into the trees beyond the left-field wall to put SFA ahead, 2-1. The home run extended Tullos' lead in the career record books with 22 long balls in four years. It was also her 10th homer of the 2008 season, moving her into sole possession of the all-time lead in single-season home runs.
Covington and the SFA defense cruised after Tullos went deep. The Bobcats put just one runner on base on the only hit allowed by Covington in the game's final three innings. With the win, Covington improved to 16-8 on the season. She extended her lead in the SLC strikeouts race with eight punchouts in the game.
Tullos added a double off the scoreboard in center field in the sixth inning. She accounted for two of SFA's four hits in the game. Junior center fielder Benet Higgs and freshman left fielder Monica Hirsch provided the other two.
In the second game, SFA put up seven runs on nine hits, including a two-hit, three-run sixth that sealed the win.
The Ladyjacks wasted no time getting on the board in the second game. Higgs led off with a single through the right side, then moved to second on a bunt single by sophomore outfielder Kendal Harper. Hugie then drove Higgs in with a base knock back through the box, and both Harper and Hugie moved up an extra base on the play. Tullos then drew a walk to load the bases. After Texas State cut both Harper and Hugie down at the plate on fielders' choices in the next two at-bats, Davis drew a two-out walk to force Tullos home, giving SFA a 2-0 lead.
Texas State used a hit and an SFA error to put up one run in the top of the second, but SFA got back on the board with two more runs in the third inning.
Hugie led off with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Candise Juarez took second and moved to third when the Texas State shortstop fielded a ball off the bat of Tullos and tried to tag Juarez between first and second. Juarez ran through the tag, sending the ball bouncing into the outfield. Tullos advanced to second on the play. The next batter, sophomore third baseman Briana Bishop roped a base hit through the middle, scoring Juarez. Freshman second baseman Ashley Struchtemeyer then singled to center field, bringing Tullos across.
The Bobcats used three hits to scratch once in the fifth, drawing to within 4-2.
But SFA closed the door with three runs in the sixth, taking advantage of a pair of Texas State errors. Davis led off with a single, then junior catcher Kim Daley and Hirsch reached base in back-to-back at-bats when the Bobcats mis-played their sacrifice bunt attempts. Sophomore outfielder Crystal Garcia then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Davis home. Two batters later, Tullos recorded her third hit of the day. This time it was a single but was no less damaging to the Texas State cause than her home run, as a pair of unearned runs set the final score.
Covington, who came on in relief of Lauren Luetge in the fifth inning, retired the Bobcats in order in the top of the seventh to polish off the doubleheader sweep. Luetge (11-3) took the win after going four-and-a-third with two runs - one earned - on three hits and a walk. She struck out three. Covington took her first career save with two-and-two-thirds innings of labor. She held Texas State scoreless on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Higgs was 2-for-2 in the second game with a double and one run scored. Hugie went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Tullos, Bishop, Struchtemeyer and Davis each recorded one hit.
The series will conclude with a single game Sunday afternoon. Sunday's series finale is set for a noon start at Hoya Field.
-- SFA --
