Stephen F. Austin
UTSA
Ladyjacks Blast UTSA
3/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2010
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin pitching staff teamed up on a three-hit gem, and Kayla Gutowski put an exclamation point on the Ladyjacks' series victory with a seventh-inning grand slam as SFA took an 8-2 decision in Sunday's rubber match at UTSA.
The win improves SFA (9-7) to 5-1 in Southland Conference play, moving the Ladyjacks into a first-place tie with Texas State. SFA has now won six of its last seven games and nine of its last 11.
SFA pounded out 10 hits in Sunday's win and led from start to finish.
The Ladyjacks got on the board with two runs in the first inning. Kendal Harper led off with a bunt single, then stole second and third before scoring on an RBI single by Gutowski. Briana Bishop, who had drawn a walk, moved to third on the hit, then came home on a wild pitch.
SFA added a run on an RBI single by Harper in the second. Amber Price scored after reaching on a one-out double.
UTSA put up an unearned run on an infield throwing error in the third, but SFA was back in the scoring column in the top of the sixth. The Ladyjacks took advantage of another wild pitch, this time with Gutowski coming across. She had reached on a fielder's choice then moved to second on a single by Ashley Struchtemeyer and took third when Karissa Jones drew a walk to load the bases.
The Roadrunners made it a 4-2 game in the bottom half with a home run, but Gutowski put the game all but out of reach with her bomb in the top of the seventh. Harper led off with a single, then stole her third base of the game before being put out on a fielder's choice off the bat of Michele Huffman. Brittany Caruthers and Bishop drew walks to load the bases, then Gutowski launched a 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall.
Junior Monika Covington (3-4) started and pitched 5.2 innings to take the win, her third in as many starts. She was charged with one earned run on three hits and six walks with nine strikeouts.
Lauren Luetge closed out the game to earn her first save of the season. She didn't allow a hit and walked just one while striking out two.
The Ladyjacks will host two non-conference doubleheaders this week before entertaining Northwestern State this weekend in their first home series of the Southland slate. SFA will take on Houston Baptist Wednesday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. The Ladyjacks then play two against Monmouth on Thursday, again starting at 2. The Northwestern State series is scheduled to kick off with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
-- SFA --
