Stephen F. Austin
Central Arkansas
UCA Rally Sinks Ladyjacks
5/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 1, 2011
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Central Arkansas put up six runs in the top of the seventh to erase a 4-0 Stephen F. Austin lead and leave town with a 6-4 victory and a series win over the Ladyjacks. SFA starter Carlie Thomas had shut the Bears out on one hit through the first six innings, but Central Arkansas got to the freshman for five base knocks in the final frame.
The loss moves SFA to 13-34 on the year and 8-19 in Southland Conference play, while Central Arkansas improves to 24-29 overall with a 10-17 mark against the league.
SFA staked itself to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when leadoff batter Elizabeth Arana scored from third on an RBI ground-out by Cadie Weaver. Arana had started the game with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Luetge, then taken third on Amber Price's infield hit.
Thomas retired the Bears in order in each of the next three innings and didn't allow a runner until she issued a walk in the fifth. The only time in the first six innings that Central Arkansas advanced a runner past first was in the sixth, when Melissa Bryant got an infield single with two outs, then moved up a station on Kasey Britt's walk.
By that time, SFA had given Thomas a 4-0 lead with three runs in the fifth. Lacy Liles drew a leadoff walk and moved to second one at-bat later on a single down the line in left by Nicole Wotten. Arana then had a base hit to center taken away from her when UCA's Britt threw ahead of Liles at third for the force out.
Luetge then got a two-out single to center. Wooten scored on the play. Arana moved to third and Luetge coasted into second when UCA catcher Kelley Martino couldn't handle the throw from Britt in center. Price made the error hurt when she singled through the left side in the next at-bat, scoring both runners.
But the Bears finally got their offense on track in the seventh. Shay Ristau led off with a single to left. Kelvon Greer was then hit by a pitch and Taylor Dear drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Ashlynn Tovar came up with a pinch-hit base knock through the left side, the first of four straight RBI singles for Central Arkansas. Nicole Beals, Lindsey Barsoum and Melissa Bryant followed with base hits to tie the score.
Beals then scored on a wild pitch, giving UCA a 5-4 advantage. Britt drew a walk to load the bases again, then Katie McGregor popped up for the first out of the inning. Ristau then grounded out to second, scoring Barsoum. Tara Underhill struck out looking to end the frame.
Price tripled past a diving Barsoum in left field to give the Ladyjacks a runner on third with two out in their final at-bat. Weaver was then hit by a pitch and stole second to get the tying run into scoring position. But UCA reliever McGregor got Bethany Brown on strikes to end the game.
Thomas (8-11) finished with six earned runs on six hits and five walks with five strikeouts.
Price was 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the team. Arana, Luetge, Liles and Wooten had one hit apiece.
SFA will close out the season next weekend with a three-game series against Nicholls. The set will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from SFA Field.
-- SFA --
