Stephen F. Austin
Eastern Illinois
Ladyjacks Top Eastern Illinois
2/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 27, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Elizabeth Arana went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI as the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team got a 4-2 win over Eastern Illinois Sunday. The win halts a five-game losing streak from SFA and caps off the Ladyjacks' play in the UAB Magic City Classic.
SFA moves to 3-13 on the year.
The Ladyjacks grabbed an early lead, and got a strong six-inning performance from starting pitcher Carlie Thomas, who took a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning before giving way to Monika Covington in the seventh to close things out.
SFA scored in the first when Amber Price led off with a double to left. She stole third then scored on an error when Eastern Illinois tried to throw her out at home on a ground ball by Arana.
The Ladyjacks padded their lead in the third. Lauren Luetge and Cadie Weaver led off with consecutive singles, then Arana got a base knock up the middle, scoring Luetge from second. Lacy Liles then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Weaver home.
Arana then gave Thomas a 4-0 cushion with a solo homer to left in the fifth inning.
The Panthers used a hit and an error to put a run up in the sixth, but Thomas was able to get two straight pop-ups to strand a pair of runners and get out of the inning.
Morgan Biel led off the Eastern Illinois seventh with a home run. Thomas walked the next batter, getting Covington in the game. She retired the first three batters she faced to pick up the save.
Thomas (3-4) was charged with one earned run on three hits and five walks through six innings. She struck out six. Covington finished with one strikeout in three at-bats.
Price, Luetge and Weaver all hit safely once and scored a run each.
SFA will return home this week to open Southland Conference play against Sam Houston State. The Ladyjacks will play a doubleheader against the Bearkats Tuesday, starting at 1 p.m. The series concludes Wednesday with a single game, scheduled to begin at 2.
-- SFA --
