Year of the 'Jacks - April
8/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
2014-15 proved to be arguably the most memorable year in the history of Stephen F. Austin Athletics. Nine regular season conference titles, three NCAA postseason appearances, seven Coach of the Year honors, seven All-Americans, 23 Southland Conference major award winners, a national runner-up showing and the program's first Division I national champion. Over the next few weeks, SFAJacks.com looks back at the highlights of SFA's historic 2014-15 season, a season which came to be known as the "Year of the `Jacks."
APRIL
Records: Tennis (6-2); Softball (9-8); Baseball (5-11)
Nights of #PurpleLights: 11
Apr. 1 – WGLF – White Named SLC Golfer of the Month
Sophomore Jessie White became the second Ladyjack to be named SLC Golfer of the Month after recording three top-10 finishes in March. White tied for fifth at the Southern Miss Lady Eagle Invitational, tied for sixth at the MSU Ocala Spring Invitational before placing fourth at the UALR/ASU Women’s Golf Classic.
Apr. 3 – BB – Lumberjacks Take Series From Bearkats at Jaycees
SFA took the first two games of its three-game series against rival Sam Houston State, clinching the series win over the reigning SLC champions. The ‘Jacks outlasted the ‘Kats 3-2 in game one behind a solid pitching performance from Cameron Gann, then notched a 9-7 win in game two to clinch the series against their Piney Woods rival for the first time since 2010.
April 3 – SB – Guffey Throws No-Hitter Against Houston Baptist
Freshman pitcher Callee Guffey threw a no-hitter and picked up two wins as SFA swept Houston Baptist at home on April 3. She had a career day, walking just one batter and striking out four over five scoreless and hitless innings in game one for her first career no-no as a Ladyjack.
April 3 – T&F – SFA Wins 18 Events at 2015 Skechers Carl Kight Invitational
The SFA track and field teams dominated the 2015 Skechers Carl Kight Invitational – the only home meet of the year – with 18 individual event titles. Cody Rhodes notched a huge PR in the men’s javelin to claim the title, Demi Payne shattered the school record in the pole vault, Brittany Innis set a new school record in the 3,000m steeplechase and Rana Ryan also took down a program record in the 1,500m run with a first place effort to highlight the meet.
April 3 – SB – Campbell Cracks ESPN Top Ten With Incredible Diving Catch
Centerfielder Lindsay Campbell helped preserve a no-hitter against Houston Baptist with an all-out diving grab going back towards the wall in center in the top of the fifth and final inning. The jaw-dropping play kept Callee Guffey’s no-hitter intact, helped SFA secure the 8-0 win and made it to ESPN’s number three play of the day.
Apr. 7 – MGLF – Pugh Captures Jim West Intercollegiate Title
Senior Blake Pugh captured the second individual tournament title of his career, finishing first at the Jim West Intercollegiate in Bastrop, Texas. Pugh shot a career-best 9-under 207 tying for the second-lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history.
Apr. 7 – MBB – Parker, Walkup Named First Team All-Academic SLC
Senior Jacob Parker and junior Thomas Walkup were named first team Academic All-SLC selections as the duo comprised two of the five first team slots. It was the third-straight All-Academic honors for each player as SFA was one of just two SLC teams to have a pair of players recognized.
Apr. 9 – BOWL – Schwartz, Lemke Garner National Honors
National honors rolled in for SFA as freshman Stephanie Schwartz was named the NTCA Freshman of the Year and a first team All-American with coach Amber Lemke being named the NTCA Coach of the Year. Senior Chelsea King and sophomore Paige Kraushaar were both named honorable mention All-Americans for 2014-15.
April 10 – SB – Ladyjacks Smash 10 Home Runs to Sweep ACU
The SFA softball team displayed a lot of pop at the plate in a doubleheader against Abilene Christian, using seven home runs to beat the Wildcats 12-4 in a shortened game one and 14-13 in the nightcap. Katelyn Standley led the way with three dingers on the day while Shalie Day added two of her own. The Ladyjacks knocked three homers, including a grand slam from Taylor Fraccastoro, the next day to complete the three-game sweep.
Apr. 11 – BOWL – SFA Closes Season as NCAA National Runner-Up
Playing in its first-ever NCAA tournament, SFA made its mark as the Ladyjacks finished the year as the NCAA national runners-up. Clinching the top overall seed after the qualifying round, SFA bested Wisconsin-Whitewater 4-2 in the semifinals before falling to top-ranked Nebraska 4-2 in the championship match which aired nationally on ESPN. 
Apr. 15 – WGLF – White Captures 2015 SLC Championship Crown
Continuing her impressive play in the spring season, sophomore Jessie White shot a 4-over 220 at the SLC Championships, then won a playoff hole to capture the 2015 conference crown. She becomes the first SLC champion in SFA program history while her 220 is the lowest 54-hole total in program history.
Apr. 15 – MGLF – Pugh Named SLC Golfer of the Month
Following an impressive month of April, senior Blake Pugh was named the SLC Golfer of the Month for the first time in his career. After finishing first at the Jim West Intercollegiate with a 9-under 207, Pugh placed second at the Texas A&M Reveille Challenge, posting a 4-under 140 en route to notching the 11th top-10 finish of his career.
Apr. 15 – TEN – SFA Outlasts Central Arkansas For Key Victory
SFA needed a sweep in the doubles competition to finally outlast Central Arkansas 4-3 at the Schlief Tennis Complex in the 2015 home finale. The Ladyjacks opened up a 3-1 lead in singles play, only to watch UCA rally to tie the match at 3-3 before SFA kept its SLC title hopes alive with the doubles win.
April 17 – T&F –Ryan and Innis Break School Records in California
Freshman Brittany Innis broke her own school record in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 10:44.42 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California. Sophomore Rana Ryan then broke her own record in the women’s 1,500m run on the second day of the meet, posting a time of 4:30.03.
Apr. 18 – BB – Bats Come Alive as SFA Routs Incarnate Word 19-2
SFA’s bats came alive in a major way in the second game against SLC newcomer Incarnate Word as the Lumberjacks tallied 19 runs on 20 hits, routing the Cardinals 19-2 in San Antonio. The 19 runs was the most for an SFA team since a 22-2 win over Centenary in 2009.
Apr. 19 – TEN – SFA Clinches Share of SLC Title
SFA closed out the 2015 regular season with a 5-2 victory over Lamar, ensuring the Ladyjacks a share of the Southland Conference title. It marks the first conference title for SFA since 2010 as the Ladyjacks closed out conference play with a 10-1 mark.
Apr. 22 - TEN - Kulicke, Quevedo Garner All-SLC Honors
SFA claimed a pair of major tennis awards as Vivienne Kulicke was named the SLC's Freshman of the Year while Dhanielly Quevedo was tabbed the conference's Newcomer of the Year. Kulicke was also a first team All-SLC singles and second team doubles honoree with Malena Gordo (second team singles) and Valeria Terentyeva (second team doubles) also earning All-SLC honors.
Apr. 23 – WGLF – White Earns Program’s First-Ever First Team Honor
Coming off her individual SLC title, SFA sophomore Jessie White was named a first team All-SLC selection, becoming the first in Ladyjack program history. In addition, freshman Erica Lautensack was named an honorable mention All-SLC selection.
April 24 – T&F – Demi Payne Sets Collegiate Outdoor Pole Vault Record
SFA’s Demi Payne broke yet another collegiate women’s pole vault record in the Beijing World Championship Preview Pole Vault competition at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. She soared over 15-3.5 (4.66m) to claim the new collegiate outdoor standard – a mark she would soon break again. Payne won the street vault competition a few days prior on the streets of downtown Des Moines with a 15-1.50 (4.61m) jump. She was named the National Athlete of the Week by the USTFCCCA for her efforts. 
Apr. 26 – BB – SFA Shuts Out Wildcats on Senior Day
SFA sent its five seniors out in style on Senior Day, shutting out Abilene Christian 3-0 to claim the series victory over the Wildcats. Tyler Boxwell went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and the SFA pitching staff held ACU to just four hits on the day as the ‘Jacks closed out its 2015 home season with the victory.
"Year of the `Jacks" By The Numbers
Regular Season Conference Titles: 9
Total Number of Conference Titles: 10
NCAA Postseason Appearances: 4
All-Americans: 7
National/USA Champions: 2
SLC Major Award Winners: 23
SLC Players of the Year: 6
SLC/National Coaches of the Year: 7
First team All-SLC selections: 43
Total All-SLC selections: 105
Capital One Academic All-District selections: 11
Capital One Academic All-Americans: 2
SLC Student-Athletes of the Year: 3
SLC All-Academic Team selections: 24
"Year of the `Jacks" Release Schedule
August/September: Friday, June 19
October: Friday, June 26
November: Friday, July 3
December: Friday, July 10
January: Friday, July 17
February: Friday, July 24
March: Friday, July 31
April: Friday, August 7
Summer: Friday, August 14
-SFA-
