Stephen F. Austin
UTSA
SFA Splits With Roadrunners
3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 12, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team split its series-opening doubleheader with UTSA Saturday, dropping a 3-2 decision in the opener then hanging on for a 4-3 verdict in Game 2.
The split moves SFA to 6-19 on the year with a 2-6 record in Southland Conference play. UTSA pushed its record to 6-14 overall and 4-4 in the league.
The Ladyjacks got within a run of tying the score when Krista Hallmark hit a two-out homer off the top of the fence in left field, but UTSA held out on the strength of three unearned runs from the first inning.
The Roadrunners struck first when Carrie Monroe reached on an error to lead off the game. She eventually scored from third on a wild pitch after a walk and a single loaded the bases with one out. After SFA starter Monika Covington got the next batter on strikes, Emily Humpal got an infield single. Two runs scored on the play when Elizabeth Arana's throw from short got away from first baseman Lauren Luetge.
After that, Covington cruised, allowing just two base hits and striking out 10 in the last six innings without issuing a walk. But SFA didn't find the scoreboard until the fourth inning. The Ladyjacks loaded the bases on three straight walks, then Charlotte Singleton was hit by a pitch to score Luetge from third, making it a 3-1 game. That got Danye Holmes out of the bullpen to replace Humpal, and she escaped further damage with a strikeout and a line drive to end the inning.
SFA went down in order in the fifth and sixth innings and was down to its final out in the seventh when Hallmark delivered with her first homer of the year to make it a one-run game. Holmes then got Bethany Brown to pop up on the infield to end the game.
Hallmark and Cadie Weaver had the only two hits in the game for SFA.
Covington (1-12) worked all seven innings without giving up an earned run. She held the Roadrunners to four hits and a walk and put up a season-high 13 strikeouts.
In the second game, SFA picked up two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings, then weathered a UTSA rally in the sixth to hold on for a 4-3 victory.
Freshman Carlie Thomas got the start and danced around trouble in the second and third innings to keep UTSA off the board. SFA gave her a 2-0 lead in the fourth. After a leadoff walk by Amber Price, Luetge got a single down the left-field line. Elizabeth Arana then moved the runners in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Weaver followed with a sac fly to center, scoring Price and moving Luetge to third. Luetge would score on a wild pitch.
After scoreless fifth for UTSA, the Ladyjacks padded their lead with two more runs in the bottom half. Singleton took a pitch off the foot to lead off and was lifted for pinch runner Nicole Wooten. She stole second on a strikeout, then took third on a base knock through the left side by Hallmark. Hallmark took second on the throw.
Brown then drew a walk to load the bases with one out, prompting a UTSA pitching change. Morgan Luksa came in to replace starter Haylee Staton. Price welcomed her to the circle with a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Wooten and Hallmark to give SFA a 4-0 advantage.
The Roadrunners struck back in the sixth. Kristin Kappler chased a single and a walk with an RBI double to the gap in right-center, leaving runners at second and third with no outs. Thomas got the next batter, Holmes, to pop up on the infield, then Nikki Goff ripped a two-run single to left center to cut the lead to one. That got Covington out of the bullpen to face pinch-hitter Humpal. She retired her and the next batter on strikes to preserve the 4-3 lead.
Covington then closed out the Roadrunners in the seventh on three straight ground balls against the top of the UTSA order to pick up her third save of the year.
Thomas (5-6) got the win after working 5.1 innings with three earned runs on four hits and five walks. She struck out five.
Brown, Price, Luetge, Jessica Arana and Hallmark each hit safely once in the win.
The Ladyjacks will try to pick up the series win in the rubber match on Sunday. The contest is scheduled to begin at noon from SFA Field.
- SFA -
