Stephen F. Austin
Houston Baptist
SFA Tops Houston Baptist, 3-1
4/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Kendal Harper went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored as the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team knocked off Houston Baptist, 3-1, Wednesday in a non-conference showdown. The game was originally scheduled to be the first in a doubleheader, but Game 2 was called due to a malfunction with the stadium lights at Hoya Field.
The Ladyjacks outhit Houston Baptist, 10-4, but left 13 runners stranded. SFA left at least two runners on base in every inning, including a bases-loaded situation in the first.
After starter Kari Hugie retired the Huskies in order in the top of the first, SFA loaded the bases with one out. Harper bunted for a single, moving freshman Monica Hirsch - who had led off with a walk - to third. Then senior Jessica Tullos drew a walk to fill up the sacks, but the Ladyjacks couldn't get a run across.
SFA got on the board in the second inning. Sophomore Crystal Garcia, then took second on an infield single by Hirsch. Harper then ripped a double to plate Garcia and give the Ladyjacks a 1-0 lead.
HBU tied the score on a passed ball that set up an RBI single in the top of the fourth, but SFA answered in the bottom half.
Garcia led off with an infield single then moved to second on a ground-out by Harper. Hugie moved her to third with a base knock through the right side, then Garcia scored on a single to center by Tullos.
The Ladyjacks picked up an insurance run in the sixth. Harper led off with a bunt single, then Hugie sacrificed her over to second. Harper took third on a Tullos ground ball to the right side, then sophomore Briana Bishop singled to right, scoring Harper.
Hugie sat the Huskies down in order in the seventh to seal the win. She improved to 3-5 after scattering four hit and an unearned run over seven innings with one strikeout and a walk.
SFA will return to Southland Conference play this weekend, when the Ladyjacks travel to San Antonio, Texas, to take on UTSA in a crucial three-game series. SFA enters the weekend as the SLC's second-place team with a 16-7 mark in league games. The Roadrunners are just a half-game back of SFA in the standings with a 16-8 conference record. The series is set to open Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
-- SFA --
