Stephen F. Austin
North Texas
Bishop Blasts Walk-Off Winner
2/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2010
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Senior Briana Bishop added to her career record home run total Wednesday with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh in Game 2 to give Stephen F. Austin a split in its home-opening doubleheader against North Texas with a 5-2 verdict. The win is the first of the season for the Ladyjacks and capped off a day that began with them officially dedicating the new SFA Softball Field.
With the split, SFA improves to 1-5 on the season. North Texas takes a 1-1 record back to Denton after earning a 7-0 win in the opener.
Bishop's bomb provided the first scoring for SFA since the Ladyjacks' two-run first inning. Sophomore Jessica Arana and freshman Brittany Caruthers had both reached base ahead of Bishop to set the table. They were replaced by pinch runners Michele Huffman and Kendal Harper before Bishop blasted a 3-2 pitch way beyond the left-field wall for the 27th home run of her career.
The Ladyjacks took advantage of a North Texas error in the first inning to go ahead, 2-0. After Amber Price was hit by a pitch to lead off, Arana tried to sacrifice her to second with a bunt. But Mean Green pitcher Ashley Lail's throw to first was wide, allowing Price to take third and Arana to move to second on the play.
Price would score SFA's first run of the day two at-bats later, when Bishop singled up the middle. Arana moved to third, then beat the throw from first base when sophomore Ashley Struchtemeyer reached on a fielder's choice, giving SFA a 2-0 advantage.
UNT tied the game in the fifth with a pair of unearned runs of its own, but SFA looked poised to answer in the bottom half. Price and Arana rapped back-to-back singles and had runners on the corners with one out. But Price was tagged out between third and home on a botched squeeze play, and the Ladyjacks left two runners stranded with an inning-ending strikeout.
SFA loaded the bases with one out on three walks in the bottom of the sixth but grounded into a double play to end that threat.
But freshman starter Angela White held the Mean Green scoreless in the top of the seventh to set up Bishop's game-winner. White (1-2) picked up her first career win after scattering seven hits over seven innings with six strikeouts. She was not charged with an earned run in the performance.
Bishop's 2-for-4, four-RBI showing in Game 2 led the Ladyjacks at the plate. Caruthers was also 2-for-4. Price, Arana and Karissa Jones each hit safely once, with Jones collecting a double.
The first game was all UNT, as the Mean Green got to SFA starter Monika Covington for 10 hits, six of which went for extra bases.
UNT got on the board with a manufactured run in the third. Megan Rupp started things off with a one-out bunt single, then stole second. She scored on a double by Mariza Martinez.
The Mean Green padded its lead with a Lisa Johnson solo homer and an RBI single by Amber Miller in the fourth.
Then UNT put up four runs in the fifth to seal the win. Martinez led off with a double and scored on a base knock by Mallory Cantler. A walk and a fielder's choice put two on with two out for Renae Bromley, who delivered a three-run homer.
Covington (0-3) was charged with six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.
At the plate, SFA was held to three hits - one each by Harper, Bishop and Arana, who doubled.
The Ladyjacks will return to action this weekend for four games in the Southern Miss. Mizuno Classic.
-- SFA --
