Stephen F. Austin
Mcneese State
Cowgirls Wrap Up Sweep
4/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - McNeese State banged out 11 hits, including three home runs, in a 9-0 six-inning win over Stephen F. Austin Sunday to wrap up a weekend sweep against the Ladyjacks.
The loss drops SFA to 8-25 on the season and 4-11 in Southland Conference play at the midpoint of the conference schedule. McNeese State improves to 18-20 overall with a 10-8 mark in league action.
After a scoreless first, the Cowgirls put up multi-run innings in the second, third and fourth frames to take command, then sealed the run-rule-shortened win with a two-run homer by Katie Shumaker in the top of the sixth.
SFA, meanwhile, didn't record a hit or a baserunner in the first three innings, as the Cowgirls built a 7-0 lead. McNeese starting pitcher Kayla Shepherd (11-11) would finish with a two-hit shutout.
McNeese State used four walks and an extra-base hit to put up three runs in the second inning. A Lindsey Langner double scored Shumaker and Alanna Divittorio with one out. Both runners had reached base on walks. Stacey Conley followed the double with another walk, then Mykeisha Young reached base on a fielder's choice with her attempted sacrifice bunt. SFA first baseman Lauren Luetge fielded the bunt and tried to force Conley out at third, but her throw was not in time, leaving the bases loaded.
The next batter, Claire Terracina, hit sharply to Bethany Brown at shortstop, and Brown threw home in time for the second out. But Dani Price drew an RBI walk in the next at-bat to give the Cowgirls a 3-0 lead.
Divittorio launched a two-run homer to left in the top of the third to give McNeese a 5-0 lead and chase SFA starter Angela White from the circle. Carlie Thomas came on in relief and escaped the inning without further damage.
Terracina led off the fourth with a single, then stole second. The next batter, Price, put down a bunt that she beat out. Price then took second as SFA had left the base uncovered. Price would eventually be put out trying to take third, but Terracina scored on the play. The next batter, Molly Guidry, homered to left to make it a 7-0 game.
SFA picked up its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth, when Amber Price singled to left-center. But the next two batters went down on strikes to end the inning with two on.
McNeese set the final margin on Shumaker's two-run homer in the top of the sixth. Brown lined a drive off Shepherd's glove in the sixth for the Ladyjacks' second hit of the game, but the contest ended on a ground-out in the next at-bat.
White (0-3) went 2.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on three hits and four walks. Thomas worked 3.2 innings in relief, giving up four earned runs on eight hits and three walks with one strikeout.
The Ladyjacks will be back in action Wednesday when they host Houston Baptist in a single game. The contest against the Huskies is set to begin at 3 p.m. from SFA Field.
-- SFA --
