SFA Closes Regular Season at SHSU
5/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Stephen F. Austin at Sam Houston State
Game One: Friday, May 1 · 3:00 p.m.
Game Two: Friday, May 1 · 5:00 p.m.
Game Three: Saturday, May 2 · 3:00 p.m.
Bearkat Softball Complex · Huntsville, Texas
Live Stats
Records: SFA (18-30, 10-13 SLC), SHSU (17-27, 8-14 SLC)
HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The Stephen F. Austin softball team is set to close the 2015 regular season with a three-game series against Southland Conference foe Sam Houston State this weekend. The two rivals clash in a Friday doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. before the season finale on Saturday afternoon beginning at 3:00 p.m. as well.
The Ladyjacks need three victories and some help from Incarnate Word and Lamar this weekend in order to extend their season past Saturday. Sitting in eighth place entering the weekend, the `Jacks will have to leapfrog both Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Nicholls to earn the sixth and final automatic berth into the 2015 SLC Tournament.
More than the stipulations and scenarios, the only focus for the girls in purple and white will be to close the regular season on a high note. A series victory over the Bearkats will accomplish just that.
Back to Form
Prior to last weekend's sweep at the hands of first place Northwestern State, SFA had been cruising against SLC and non-conference opponents alike. The three losses last weekend to the Lady Demons ended a seven-game winning streak for the Ladyjacks -- the longest spurt for SFA since 2010. The Ladyjacks have won eight of their last nine contests against teams not named Northwestern State and will look to return to those winning ways against the ninth place Bearkats.
Turning it on in SLC Play
Despite some offensive struggles early in the season, the Ladyjacks started to find their groove at the plate during the Southland Conference season. Five players are batting at or above .300 in 23 SLC games. Like she has done all season long, Brittany Lewis paces SFA with a .346 batting average in league action, followed by Lindsay Campbell (.344), Shalie Day (.339), Heather Hollingsworth (.328) and Alisa Hamilton (.299). Taylor Fraccastoro has also played well during the conference slate, batting .290 in 22 games and matching Lewis' team-leading six home runs.
Last Time Out
The Ladyjacks last played on Tuesday night in Ruston, Louisiana against Louisiana Tech. Despite holding two separate leads over the course of the game, one as late as the fifth inning, SFA couldn't hold off a late LA Tech run. The Lady Techsters scored six runs over the final two frames to secure the 8-4 non-conference victory. Senior Shalie Day led the Ladyjacks offensively, going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Taylor LeFlore also notched two hits, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk.
Error Free
The Ladyjacks have proved that they have one of the best outfields in the league this season. In terms of defense, the starting combination of Alisa Hamilton, Lindsay Campbell and Heather Hollingsworth from left to right have combined for a perfect fielding percentage in SLC games. The trio has 127 total putouts and zero errors in the 23 league contests with Hamilton leading the way with 64 putouts and one outfield assist. Hamilton, Campbell and Hollingsworth have also been getting it done at the plate, combining for a .323 batting average and 35 runs in conference action.
On a Hot Streak
Sophomore Brittany Lewis has hit safely in eight straight conference games dating back to April 10 against Abilene Christian. During the streak, which is the longest for Lewis in 2015, she is batting .385 (10-for-26) with 12 RBI and three home runs. This season, Lewis leads the Ladyjacks in batting average (.338), doubles (9), home runs (10), RBI (40) and slugging percentage (.613).
Staff Ace
Freshman Callee Guffey ranks among the best pitchers in the Southland this season. She sits third in complete games (11), fourth in strikeouts per game (4.47), fifth in wins (8) and seventh in ERA (2.87) in SLC play. Out of the pitchers who rank in the top seven in ERA this season, Guffey is the only pitcher with double digit complete games and has the most innings pitched (87.2) and strikeouts (56).
Homer Count
The Ladyjacks rank sixth in the league this season with 20 home runs in 23 SLC games and have hit 30 overall in 2015.
10 -- Brittany Lewis
9 -- Taylor Fraccastoro
5 -- Shalie Day
4 -- Katelyn Standley
1 -- Autumn Holloway
1 -- Taylor LeFlore
A Look at the Bearkats
Sam Houston State comes into the final weekend series of the season as one of the worst hitting teams in the Southland. The Bearkats rank 11th out of 12 SLC teams with a .245 team batting average. Pitching is more of a strength for the team although it's been a committee effort. The Sam Houston pitching staff is fifth in the league with a 3.59 ERA while its six complete games ranks last. Dani Allen (.343, 26R, 3HR, 13RBI) and Peyton Webb (.304, 23R, 7HR, 23RBI) are the two big threats offensively for the Bearkats while Jordan Franks (4-6, 3.33 ERA) and Haley Baros (3-7, 3.33 ERA) will see a good chunk of the workload in the circle this weekend.
Up Next
Depending on the outcomes from around the league this weekend, the Ladyjacks could next be in action at the 2015 Southland Conference Tournament held in Natchitoches, Louisiana from May 6-8.
-SFA-
