Stephen F. Austin
Butler
SFA Just Shy of Butler in 3-2 Verdict in Extra Innings, then Lose to Mizzou, 14-6, in Five
3/3/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Butler 3, Stephen F. Austin 2
University Field – Columbia, Mo.
Record: SFA (6-11); Butler (6-6)
Mizzou 14, Stephen F. Austin 6
Mizzou Softball Stadium – Columbia, Mo.
Record: SFA (6-12); Mizzou (8-6)
Columbia, Mo. – Stephen F. Austin fought hard in their opening day of the Mizzou tournament in Columbia, Missouri. Every run scored by the Ladyjacks on Friday was earned by a different player, except for freshman Madison Clements who score one in each game. The hits were also scattered with Senior Brittany Lewis claiming two, junior Autumn Holloway with two, and junior Amber Landry hit two. Lewis had the best batting average of the day going 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI. Holloway also claimed two RBI, one in each game and was 2-for-5 at the plate.
The Ladyjacks started off their day with a 3:00 game against Bulter. SFA put up the first score on the board in the third inning Clements reached on a fielder’s choice and then was moved to second on a wild pitch. Lewis then singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Holloway followed up with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Clements.
SFA made a pitching change in the fourth inning, but Butler took advantage of the situation and scored from a sacrifice bunt and a single. The two teams were knotted at one through the seventh inning, bringing up the extra eighth frame.
The Ladyjacks made short work of the runner, junior Taylor Fraccastoro, placed on second with Clements hitting a sacrifice bunt to move Fraccastoro to third, and Lewis slammed a fly out to center field that brought in the go-ahead run. The Bulldogs had something different in mind as they came up to bat in the bottom eight. They also bunted to move the runner to third, but then they singled a slapper in front of the plate to load the bases, so that the next fly out would bring in the tying run and the go-ahead would be set for the next batter.
Bulter stole the lead, ending the game at 3-2 in eight innings.
The second game on Saturday was against the No.24 Mizzou Tigers. In this one, SFA struck early putting a run on in the first frame. Mizzou answered back by adding two runs in their frame, and if that wasn’t enough they extended their lead by six in the bottom of the second. SFA made a pitching change from freshman Jordan Llinas to junior Callee Guffey, but the effort would be short sided as Mizzou still tacked on three in the third.
The Ladyjacks were able to six in the third inning when Holloway singled to right field for the RBI after Hornberger was walked and junior Tanna Huie hit a single. A hit-by-pitch then loaded the bases for the Ladyjacks, but nothing would come of it after a two-out ground out to third base.
SFA then decided to put their luck in the young freshman Kiriany Hornberger. Hornberger was called into the circle for the Ladyjacks as a wild card pitcher. The freshman had not pitched any collegiate game before that night. The risky move worked as Hornberger kept Mizzou to only one run in the fourth frame.
The top of the fifth became rally time for the Ladyjacks, as they loaded the bases again. This time from back-to-back walks and a single to left. Clements then ripped one to center field, which the outfielder then dropped, and SFA emptied the bases. With Clements on third, Lewis slapped one eight feet off the plate to give Clements the run that close the gap to 12-6.
Mizzou knew they needed two runs to invoke the run rule, which they handily did after hitting their third home run of the game.
Guffey took the first loss, falling to 3-4 on the season, after she came in to relieve junior Makayla Sikes against Butler. Sikes pitched for three innings, allowed four hits and one run. She struck out four of her 15 batters faced. Guffey pitched 4.2 innings and scattered seven hits. She allowed the two run win, but struck out three.
Freshman Jordan Llinas took on the big job of pitching against Mizzou, but after having five hits and seven runs off her, the Ladyjacks put in Guffey. The junior could not help much either, only putting in 1.2 innings of work and giving up four runs. That’s when SFA turned to Hornberger, who pitched the last 1.2 innings. She had five hits and three runs, and she struck out one.
SFA will be back on the field at 10:00 a.m. for a rematch against Butler on the Mizzou Softball Stadium. After then, SFA will turn around and play Maryland at 12:30 p.m.
-SFA-
