Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech Escapes SFA with a Win
2/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 29, 2012
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks (5-11) plated a run in the bottom of the seventh, and had the potential winning run on base but was unable to drive them in falling to Louisiana Tech, 6-5, Wednesday afternoon at the SFA Softball Field.
Leading 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Louisiana Tech's (7-7) Tricia Van Winkle doubled to left driving in two runs. The Ladyjacks didn't allow the three-run advantage to last for along as they struck for three in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Charlotte Singleton walked to drive in the team's first run of the game. SFA tied the game on consecutive sacrifice flies to left field.
Louisiana Tech responded with three in the top half of the next inning, but it could have been a bigger inning for the visiting team. After regaining a one-run lead, the Lady Techsters were hurt by a unique base-running blunder. Tech's Dacia Hale homered to center field, but as she was watching the ball go over the fence she overran the base runner ahead of her turning a three-run homer into a two-run shot and forcing the final out of the inning.
The Ladyjacks rallied for one in the sixth on a Bethany Brown solo shot before stepping to the plate down two in the home half of the seventh. After Faith Hoisager led off the inning with a single, Jessica Arana reached on an error by the Lady Techster's shortstop. Erica Arana singled in Hoisager two pitches later to pull SFA within a run. SFA had runners at the corners with only one out but Tech's Melanie Goff came in and shut down the rally going two-thirds of an inning for her second save of the season.
SFA's Kaitlyn Mixon got the start and went 3.2 innings surrendering three runs, two earned, on five hits while striking out four. Sophomore Carli Thomas came in and pitched two innings of scoreless relief while striking out two. Elizabeth Arana went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Cadie Weaver was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Brown was 1-for-2 on the day with her lone hit a solo home run.
The Ladyjacks return to action Friday when they travel to Lafayette, La., to open play in the Ragin' Cajun Invitational. SFA will open the tournament against Nicholls at 11 a.m. They will return to the field to host Kentucky at 6:30 p.m.
-SFA-
