SFA Natchitoches Bound for Final Road Series of 2016
4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Stephen F. Austin (22-24, 10-10 SLC) at Northwestern State (24-22, 7-14 SLC)
Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, Louisiana
Friday, April 29 (4/6 pm) – Saturday, April 30 (1 pm)
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin softball team heads to Natchitoches, Louisiana for a three-game series with Northwestern State on Friday and Saturday, marking the final Southland Conference road series of the season for the Ladyjacks. The two teams will play a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m. from Lady Demon Diamond on Friday before concluding the set on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. – weather permitting.
The Ladyjacks are in great position in the league standings after 20 SLC contests, currently in fifth place among tournament-eligible teams. The Lady Demons are on the outside looking in with their eighth place 7-14 mark in conference action. Only six teams are selected for the SLC Tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana from May 11-13.
GAME NOTES
Last Time Out – The Ladyjacks got a great result in their final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday against Louisiana Tech at SFA Softball Field. Senior pitcher Hannah Welch pitched a complete game beauty and the offense helped just enough to pull out a quality 3-1 victory. Welch gave up just one run on five hits over her 7.0 innings of work, picking up her second winning decision of the season.
Lewis on a Tear – Junior first baseman/designated player Brittany Lewis has been nearly unstoppable at the plate in league play this season. Last weekend at Incarnate Word she went 8-for-11 to bump her SLC batting average to a whopping .550. She now leads the SLC in the category during league play while also sitting second in slugging (1.017), on-base percentage (.625), RBI (23) and home runs (7).
Sadie Allison Award – On Wednesday night at SFA’s annual Champions Dinner, Brittany Lewis was honored as the 2016 Sadie Allison Award recipient, representing the SFA Softball MVP. In 46 games overall this season, she leads the team in average (.380), slugging (.669), on-base percentage (.444), doubles (10), triples (2), homers (9) and RBI (43).
Record Watch – With 43 RBI already in 2016, Brittany Lewis is just one away from tying her own program record for a single season. Lewis drove in 44 runs as a freshman in 2014 to claim the top spot in SFA history. Last year she registered 41 RBI to give her 40+ RBI in three straight seasons – the only Ladyjack to ever accomplish the feat.
National Leader – Junior shortstop Courtney Chambers leads the nation this season in hit by pitch, getting pegged a total of 27 times through 46 games this season. That total is also the most for a single season in SFA history. On average she is hit 0.59 times per game.
Pitching Duo – Sophomore hurlers Makayla Sikes and Callee Guffey have been solid in the circle for the Ladyjacks during SLC play this season. Sikes currently ranks fifth in league action with a 1.40 ERA while Guffey is close behind in ninth with a 2.55 mark. SFA is just one of three teams in the conference with multiple pitchers in the top 10 in the category.
Sacrificing for the Team – Senior outfielder Alisa Hamilton has been successful in moving runners over this season. She currently leads the league with seven sacrifice bunts during SLC play and has 10 overall on the year.
Last Season vs. NSU – The Ladyjacks played Northwestern State tough last year, despite dropping all three games to the 2015 SLC Champions in Nacogdoches from April 24-26. SFA lost game one 4-2 and capped the series with a narrow 2-1 setback at SFA Softball Field.
Scouting the Lady Demons – One year after winning the SLC regular season championship, Northwestern State sits in eighth place with a 7-14 league record and two series to go. The Lady Demons are currently on a five-game slide with all five losses coming against first place McNeese or second place Nicholls. With the loss of 2015 SLC Pitcher of the Year Mikayla Brown to injury early in the season, the Lady Demons have relied heavily on Shelby Sells (9-11, 3.61 ERA) and Micaela Bouvier (13-9, 3.74 ERA) inside the circle. Kellye Kincannon is NSU’s biggest threat offensively with a .394 average, 13 homers and 40 RBI in 2016.
Up Next – Following the weekend road trip to Natchitoches, SFA will return home for the SLC season series finale with rival Sam Houston State next Friday and Saturday.
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