Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Thomas Blanks Nicholls In 2-0 Victory
3/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2012
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Carlie Thomas pitched a complete game shutout and the Ladyjacks scrapped across two runs that held up to snap a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Nicholls State Friday.
Thomas struck out six and walked only one in seven innings of work to improve to 4-7 on the season. The sophomore from Huntington, Texas did allow nine hits but worked her way out of several jams to preserve the shutout and victory.
SFA (8-17, 1-2), who had been no-hit in their previous two games, had five hits on Friday and used a bit of good fortune and small ball to push across their lone runs against the Colonels.
Bethany Brown led off the Ladyjacks half of the first inning with a walk and was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Amber Price. Shortstop Elizabeth Arana then hit a routine ground ball to Nicholls' shortstop Kat Angeles, who booted the play and saw the ball ricochet into left field to allow Brown to score easily from second base, putting SFA up 1-0.
The Ladyjacks took advantage of another defensive miscue in the third inning. Brown reached first with a one-out single and then stole second base following a Price popout. Elizabeth Arana then reached on an infield single to Angeles but once again the Nicholls' shortstop made a miscue by overthrowing the first baseman and allowing Brown to score the game's second and final run.
Nicholls put together a threat in the top of the seventh inning, getting runners to second and first with two outs, but Ashley Ray hit a line drive that deflected off of Thomas and was caught by SFA third baseman Weaver to end the game.
SFA will look to sweep the two-game series tomorrow when they play the Colonels at 1 p.m. at the SFA Softball Field.
--SFA--
