SFA Set For Troy Cox Classic
2/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2012
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack softball team will open play Friday in the Troy Cox Classic, hosted by New Mexico State. The Ladyjacks will pay five games in three days, taking on Colorado State, Weber State (twice), Nebraska and New Mexico State.
SFA will take on Colorado State in the first game of the tournament on Friday at 10:30 a.m (CT), followed by a evening game versus Weber State at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Ladyjacks will take on Nebraska at 10:30 a.m., then face New Mexico State at 3:00 p.m. The action will wrap up Sunday with a 9 p.m. game against Weber State once again.
SFA is 1-4 and have not played since last Sunday when they fell 3-2 to Tennessee Tech in the Seminole Classic. The Ladyjacks were scheduled to host Houston Baptist this past Wednesday for a doubleheader home opener but was postponed due to inclement weather.
Sophomore Cadie Weaver batted .545 in the Seminole Classic to lead SFA at the plate, along with a team-high three RBI's. Junior Bethany Brown (.333) and senior Jessica Arana (.300) also had solid performances at the plate. However, the Ladyjacks hit just .207 as a team and .214 in 28 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
The SFA pitching staff will be looking to bounce back after a rough start to the season. Thus far the Ladyjacks have compiled 5.60 ERA in 30 innings of work while allowing 39 hits, 24 earned runs and 24 walks.
SFA's first opponent on Friday, Colorado State, went 2-3 in the season-opening Texas Invitational tournament. The Rams took down UTSA 10-2 in the season opener but then lost back-to-back games against Cal State Fullerton and Texas, before bouncing back with a 9-3 win over Cal State Fullerton later in the tourney.
Weber State, is 2-3 on the year following an up and down weekend at the Sportco Kickoff Classic in Las Vegas, NV. The Wildcats started the season 2-0 with wins over Kent State and UNLV but then lost three consecutive contests to CSU Bakersfield, No. Oklahoma and Minnesota, respectively.
No. 20 Nebraska went 3-3 in the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., highlighted by a 11-10 win over No. 8 Arizona. New Mexico State has started the season 5-0 and have outscored their opponents 52-21 in the process. The Aggies swept the Hotel Encanto Invitational with wins over Indiana, Santa Clara, UIC, St. Mary's and UTEP.
For complete tournament coverage, including live stats, visit the New Mexico State website at nmstatesports.com.
-- SFA --
