Stephen F. Austin
Centenary College
Ladyjacks Top Centenary
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2010
SHREVEPORT, La. - Stephen F. Austin scored a run in each of the first four innings, then put the game away with three runs in the fifth to take a 7-2 win at Centenary Wednesday night.
The victory is SFA's 11th in the last 13 games and improves the Ladyjacks to 14-8. Centenary falls to 8-15 with the loss.
All three Ladyjack pitchers threw in the game, combining to scatter six hits over seven innings, and Bethany Brown and Ashley Struchtemeyer each homered, leading a nine-hit performance by SFA.
Kendal Harper got SFA out to a strong start with her one-out triple to left-center in the top of the first. She would score on a wild pitch.
Centenary got back-to-back, two-out doubles to put up a run in the bottom half.
The Ladyjacks reclaimed the lead with a solo home run by Struchtemeyer in the top of the second. The blast - her second of the season - went out over the left-field wall.
The Ladies responded in kind in the bottom half with a one-out bomb that chased starter Lauren Luetge from the game in favor of Angela White.
SFA went ahead for good in the third inning, when Brown homered to left.
White (8-3) held Centenary scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings to pick up the win, and Monika Covington came on for the final two frames, closing the game out without allowing a hit.
The Ladyjacks padded their lead in the fourth, when Struchtemeyer scored from first on a double to center by Brittany Caruthers. Struchtemeyer had singled up the middle with two out to get things started.
SFA set the final margin with three runs in the fifth inning. Brown drew a one-out walk then stole second before moving to third when Harper reached on an error by the first baseman. Harper then stole second to give the `Jacks two runners in scoring position.
Jessica Arana drew a walk on a wild pitch for ball four that allowed Brown to score and Harper to take third. Krista Hallmark ran for Arana and promptly swiped second to again give SFA two runners in scoring position. Briana Bishop brought both runners home with a double to left-center.
Struchtemeyer and Caruthers each went 2-for-3, and Harper was 2-for-4. Brown, Bishop and Kayla Gutowski each hit safely once.
The Ladyjacks will resume action this weekend with a three-game Southland Conference series at McNeese State. The set will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
-- SFA --
