Stephen F. Austin
North Texas
Ladyjacks Split With North Texas
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2009
DENTON, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball used an eight-run inning in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader at North Texas to earn a split with the Mean Green.
The two-game split moves SFA to 8-12 on the season, while North Texas
In Game 1, SFA starter Lauren Luetge held the Mean Green scoreless on five hits through five innings, but UNT broke through with three runs on two doubles in the sixth and went on to take a 3-1 win.
Luetge (2-5) was replaced with Monika Covington during UNT's game-winning rally but was charged with all three runs. She didn't issue a walk in five innings and recorded two strikeouts. Covington allowed one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
SFA had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Senior Kim Daley led off with a single to center. Following a walk by freshman Jessica Arana, pinch-runner Michele Huffman stole third. Arana took second on the play, giving the Ladyjacks two runners in scoring position with no outs. Two at-bats later, freshman Amber Price reached base on a dropped third strike. Huffman scored on the play, but Arana was thrown out at the plate, leaving Price on second with two outs. UNT got out of the inning on a strikeout.
SFA finished with four hits in the game. Monica Hirsch, Kayla Gutowski, Ashley Struchtemeyer had one hit apiece to join Daley.
In the second game, the Ladyjacks jumped out to a big lead early and went on to a 9-5 victory.
SFA gave itself a big cushion with eight runs in the second inning. The Ladyjacks got on the scoreboard when Daley scored from first, thanks to an errant throw on a fielder's choice off Arana's bat.
Two at-bats later, SFA benefited from another UNT error when Price reached base with two outs, extending the inning. She and Arana each moved up a station on a passed ball, then both scored on a double to right-center by Kendal Harper.
Harper took third on a wild pitch, and Hirsch drew a walk to put runners at the corner. She stole second, then moved to third as Harper scored on an infield single by Crystal Garcia.
After a Gutowski walk, junior Briana Bishop blasted a three-run homer to left-center, giving the Ladyjacks an 8-0 lead. All eight runs were unearned.
The Mean Green answered with a run in the bottom half then added two each in the third and fifth innings to make it a 9-5 game.
The Ladyjacks had padded their lead with a run in the top of the fourth, this time without the benefit of any UNT miscues. Hirsch led off with an infield single, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Garcia. Hirsch took third on a passed ball then came home on a single to left-center by Gutowski. Bishop would add a single later in the inning.
SFA finished with 10 hits, led by Hirsch's 3-for-3 effort. The sophomore outfielder also scored two runs. Bishop and Arana were each 2-for-2.
Senior Kari Hugie started in the circle for SFA and worked two-and-two-thirds innings. She was charged with three earned runs on five hits with one strikeout. Covington (6-6) took the win, working four-and-two-thirds innings in relief. She was touched for two earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.
The Ladyjacks will return to action this weekend when they begin play in the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational. The tournament, which includes Kent State, Louisiana Tech, Utah and Texas A&M, begins Friday morning and runs through Sunday.
-- SFA --
