Stephen F. Austin
Texas A&M
Ladyjacks Drop Pair at No. 22 Texas A&M
4/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The Stephen F. Austin softball team pushed No. 22 Texas A&M to the brink in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday night at Aggie Softball Complex, but couldn't close the deal in a 3-2 loss. The Ladyjacks dropped the second game 6-0 and are now 9-24 on the season heading into their upcoming weekend series against Houston Baptist.
The Ladyjacks jumped on the Aggies (27-9) early in the first game thanks to the bat of Brittany Lewis. The designated player wasted little time putting SFA on the board, sending a Rachel Fox pitch over the left field wall to lead off the game.
SFA added to its lead with another run in the second inning. Lindsay Campbell hit one of her two doubles in the game deep to the gap in left center and circled home after Autumn Holloway floated a single over the right side of the infield. The one-out RBI single gave the Ladyjacks a 2-0 cushion before a lightning delay halted play for a little over an hour.
When play resumed, the Aggies finally found a way to get on the board with a run in the third and fourth innings to tie the game 2-2.
The SFA defense would tighten, getting out of tight jams all night behind the arm of freshman pitcher Callee Guffey. The Ladyjack hurler stranded the bases loaded in the second and watched her defense make great plays behind her all night.
In the bottom of the fourth with an Aggie runner at third, Campbell made a catch in shallow center field and gunned down the runner at the plate for a huge double play. The centerfielder made nice plays on the ball all evening to keep the `Jacks in the game.
The play of the night came in the bottom of the fifth after two putouts by Campbell. On a blooper hit down the left field line, shortstop Taylor Vick got a great jump and made a phenomenal diving catch to help SFA get out of the inning unscathed.
Despite the great defense, the Aggies finally broke through with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly to left field. The Ladyjacks couldn't rally in the seventh, falling on the short end of a 3-2 decision.
Guffey pitched the entire six innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and five walks. The Ladyjack ace fanned five on the night but was charged with the loss.
On the Aggie side, Fox (14-6) struck out 10 batters in seven innings to earn the win.
In the second game, the Ladyjacks ran into a hot pitcher in Katie Marks. The junior surrendered just one hit in seven scoreless innings and picked up her 10th win of the year.
Texas A&M outhit SFA 11-1 overall and took advantage of three Ladyjack errors to come away with the 6-0 win and doubleheader sweep.
SFA will return home for a three-game series against Houston Baptist this Friday and Saturday at SFA Softball Field. Play will begin at 1:00 p.m. each day.
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