Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas
Ladyjacks Rally to Defeat No. 24 Arkansas
2/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 28, 2014
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It took a total team effort and a three-run two-out rally on Friday evening, and the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks notched their second win over a ranked opponent this season. SFA rallied from behind in the final inning to defeat No. 24 Arkansas 7-6 at the Razorbacks’ home tournament after falling to Louisiana Tech earlier in the day late.
SFA (8-10) trailed 6-4 heading into the top of the seventh inning after allowing Arkansas (13-4) to extend the lead in the bottom of the sixth. That’s when the Ladyjacks came alive with their backs against the wall.
It was a group of freshman that made the comeback happen after senior Elizabeth Arana was hit by a pitch to start the inning off. Brittany Lewis tripled to center field, driving in Arana and pulling with a run again.
Then back-to-back groundouts did not allow Lee to score from third for the tying run, and with two outs fellow freshman Taylor LeFlore singled to tie the game. And yet another freshman, this time Taylor Vick, provided heroics as she tripled to plate LeFlore and take the 7-6 lead.
Senior pitcher Carlie Thomas threw another complete game with eight strikeouts, including two in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.
In the bottom half of the seventh after SFA took the lead, Thomas walked the leadoff hitter, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Thomas struck out the next batter and got another to ground out back to her and advance the tying run to third.
The game appeared to be over on a pop fly in foul territory, but LeFlore dropped the ball and Arkansas remained alive. Thomas provided the final nail as she posted her eighth strikeout of the day to end the game.
“This was a big win for us over Arkansas,” said Head Coach Gay McNutt. “Carlie Thomas stepped up again when we needed her to, and we hit all the way through the lineup. It was great to see our kids come through how they did.”
SFA smacked 10 hits in the victory over Arkansas with eight different players contributing, and six different players drove in a run.
The drama of the seventh inning with Arkansas was possible because of another rally in the sixth when freshman Taylor LeFlore led off the top of the inning with a single. Brittany Lee came in to pinch run and put more speed on the base paths. Freshman Taylor Vick then reached on an error while trying to sacrifice bunt to move Lee into scoring position.
Junior college transfer Jordan Garza slapped a single to right field. Lee and Vick both scored on an error by the right fielder to pull within a run down 5-4 while Garza was thrown out in the commotion following the error.
Earlier in the day Friday, SFA dropped a game against Louisiana Tech 4-3 with the Lady Techsters rallying from behind in the final inning.
SFA held a 3-1 lead going into the top of the seventh, and LaTech responded with three runs on three hits. A double and single forced a pitching change, and the next batter hit a three-run homer to go on top 4-3. SFA went three-up three-down to close the heartbreaking loss.
The Ladyjacks close the Woo Pig Fastpitch Classic on Saturday with a game against Drake at 9 a.m. All four teams in the tournament will be seeded after round-robin play and play a third-place and championship game in the afternoon. Anticipated inclement weather caused the tournament to restructure the seeded play and end the tournament on Saturday.
Fans can follow the action with live results provided online at arkansasrazorbacks.com.
sfajacks.com
