Ladyjacks Host NSU In Weekend Series
4/12/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 12, 2013
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks softball team will look to carry some momentum following their series finale victory over McNeese State last week when they return to the diamond to host rival Northwestern State this weekend in a critical Southland Conference series.
The two teams will play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. from the SFA Softball Field and then close the series out on Sunday, also at 1 p.m. SFA (12-24, 5-10) lost two out of three at first place McNeese State last weekend but did manage to win the finale 2-0 behind a strong pitching performance from junior Carlie Thomas.
The Ladyjacks enter play on Saturday three games out of the final playoff spot behind Nicholls State/Southeastern La. (8-7) in the SLC standings. SFA is led offensively by junior shortstop Elizabeth Arana, who is 11th in the conference and first on the team in batting average (.373) and also leads the Ladyjacks in runs (20), hits (38), RBI (16) and on-base percentage (.471). Sophomore transfer third baseman Shalie Day has also raised her average to .300 and is second on the team with 27 hits.
Thomas anchors the SFA pitching staff with a 9-10 record and a 3.18 ERA. Thomas has struck out 104 batters in 124.1 innings pitched while issuing only 38 walks.
NSU (28-10, 9-5) is currently in second place in the league standings and have won 10 of their past 11 conference games. The Lady Demons are coming off a 5-0 loss at home to Louisiana Tech on Wednesday.
Junior infielder Brianna Rodriguez leads the Lady Demons in batting average (.364) and RBI (30) while sophomore catcher Cassandra Barefield has already hit a team-leading 10 home runs. In the circle NSU is led by senior Kylie Roos, who will enter play Saturday with a 10-2 record and a 1.26 ERA. Roos has struckout 101 batters in 94.2 innings of work and holds opponents to a league-best average of .157.
Following this weekend's series the Ladyjacks will host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi next weekend, April 20-21.
-SFA-
