Stephen F. Austin
UTSA
SFA Rally Falls Just Short
3/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - UTSA banged out 10 base hits to overcome a two-run first inning by Stephen F. Austin Sunday for a 4-3 win in the rubber match of their Southland Conference series at SFA Field. The Ladyjacks came within a single score of tying the game with a run on three hits in the bottom of the seventh.
SFA falls to 6-20 on the year and 2-7 in Southland play with its sixth league loss by two runs or fewer. The Roadrunners move to 7-14 overall and 5-4 in conference games.
UTSA broke a 2-2 tie with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. A single, bunt and a fielder's choice had runners at first and second with one out when Caitlyn Ivy got a base knock up the middle. Ashley Kappler scored from second on the play, and Molly Fichtner took third on a fielding error. Kristin Kappler drew a walk to load the bases before SFA reliever Monika Covington got the second out of the inning on strikes. But she hit Danye Holmes with the 1-0 offering to push across another run and give UTSA a 4-2 lead.
SFA got within a run of tying it in the bottom half. Lacy Liles led off with a single to right center. After a line-out from Krista Hallmark, Bethany Brown doubled down the line in left to give SFA two runners in scoring position. The next batter, Amber Price, popped out in foul territory behind third base. Lauren Luetge then lined a single off the first baseman's mitt, scoring Liles from third. But Elizabeth Arana hit a fly ball to right to end the game.
Covington (1-13) was collared for the loss after three innings in relief. It was the seventh time this season for her to come out on the wrong side of a one-run decision. She finished with two earned runs on three hits and a pair of walks with three strikeouts.
SFA put up two runs in the first inning. Elizabeth Arana singled in a run with two out and one out. Arana and Luetge moved to second and third, respectively, on the throw to the plate. Cadie Weaver then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Luetge to give SFA a 2-0 cushion.
UTSA got to Ladyjack starter Angela White for a run in the top of the second. The Roadrunners loaded the bases with no outs on a single and two walks. Samantha Beeson then hit a sac fly to left. But White got the next batter on strikes and got Carrie Monroe to line out to second to escape further damage.
The Roadrunners would tie the score with a run in the fourth. With one out and runners at first and third, Beeson stole second. Second baseman Hallmark moved in front of the bag to cut off the throw from home, but she mishandled it, allowing pinch-runner Morgan Luksa to score from third.
After the first inning, SFA's only base hit until the seventh was a Jessica Arana single in the sixth.
The Ladyjacks finished with five hits for the game.
White worked four innings in the no-decision. She was charged with two earned runs on seven hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.
SFA will be back in action Saturday, when the Ladyjacks open a three-game series at Northwestern State. The series will begin with a doubleheader, scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
- SFA -
