Stephen F. Austin
LSU
Ladyjacks Fall to FAU and No. 7 LSU
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
FAU 8, SFA 0 (6) | No. 7 LSU 9, SFA 0 (5)
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Stephen F. Austin softball team struggled to get things going offensively on Friday in the first day of the Purple and Gold Challenge hosted by LSU at Tiger Park. The Ladyjacks (5-8) fell to Florida Atlantic 8-0 in six innings and were then handcuffed by No. 7 LSU in five innings, 9-0.
In the first game of the day against FAU (14-1), SFA was outhit 11-4 in the 8-0 decision. The Owls, who came into the tournament receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Polls, struck first for three runs in the first inning and then scored at least one run in four of the final five frames.
Brittany Lewis and Heather Hollingsworth each went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game to the lead the Ladyjacks. Lewis led off the sixth inning with a double down the left field line to represent the best chance for SFA, but couldn't finish the round-trip.
Makayla Sikes fell to 1-4 on the season after pitching the complete game for the Ladyjacks. She allowed 11 hits and fanned three in six innings.
Christina Martinez of FAU led the Owls offensively, going 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, while Amanda Wilson (4-1) picked up the win after striking out eight in six scoreless innings.
In Friday's nightcap, the Tigers of LSU (18-0) proved why they're the seventh ranked team in the nation and receiving first place votes. Three different players hit home runs and the team went 9-for-20 at the dish as a unit. Baylee Corbello (5-0) got the win after striking out nine batters and allowing three hits in five clean innings.
Shalie Day went a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk on the night while Hollingsworth connected for the Ladyjacks' other hit to finish 3-for-6 between the two games on Friday.
Callee Guffey (2-3) was charged with the loss for SFA after giving up nine runs - eight earned - on nine hits in three innings. Hannah Welch retired three consecutive batters in a relief appearance.
The Ladyjacks will return to action tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. in a rematch with Florida Atlantic before playing Ball State at 12:30 p.m.
-SFA-
