Stephen F. Austin
McNeese
SFA Drops Two in a Hard Fought Battle Against McNeese
4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
McNeese 2, Stephen F. Austin 1
Cowgirl Field – Lake Charles
Record: SFA (17-29, 9-11); McNeese (35-16, 20-3)
McNeese 3, Stephen F. Austin 1
Cowgirl Field – Lake Charles
Record: SFA (17-30, 9-12); McNeese (36-16, 21-3)
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks fought through extra innings in the first game of the doubleheader, holding the McNeese Cowgirls, who averages 5.86 runs per game to only two runs off six hits. The SFA defense made several big plays throughout both games to help the freshman pitcher Jordan Llinas out of some sticky jams.
Sophomore Emily Wolfe had the best at bat average of the day going 1-for-2. Sophomore Lauren Becker went 1-for-3 with two sacrifice bunts as well. Junior Autumn Holloway swung 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Freshman Katie Clark was 2-for-4, while senior Brittany Lewis was 1-for-6, but swung the solo homer in game two.
In the second inning of work, McNeese earned a lead-off free pass and then stole second to put the first runner into scoring position. Llinas battled for the first strike out of the game for the second out, but then a passed ball advanced the runner to third. Keeping her cool in the circle, Llinas solidly delivered a strike out swinging to freeze the runner at third.
The Cowgirls scored the first run in the third from a sacrifice fly to center field, but the Ladyjacks would get the ball rolling again in the fifth frame. Wolfe singled to right field, followed by a failed fielder’s choice which put two runners on. Becker battled for a walk to load the bases, but all three were left stranded in a pop up to short stop.
The Ladyjacks’ second advance was in the sixth. This time successfully rounding third on an RBI sacrifice fly by Holloway. Her hit scored junior Amber Landry, who reached on a walk. Junior Madison Selman followed up with a one-out single to left center that advanced freshman Katie Clark into scoring position. McNeese made a pitching change during the drive, cutting off SFA’s charge, but the game would be tied at one apiece.
The seventh inning proved to be tough for the Ladyjacks they once again moved a runner to second, but a pop-up and strike out left her on base. In the bottom of the frame McNeese swung a one out single to center field. Wolfe then snagged the next hit for a double play to Lewis to end the seventh and force extra innings.
SFA would go three up and three down in the eighth, but McNeese would be successful in bring in a run for the 2-1 verdict.
In the second game, McNeese scored their run early in the first frame, scoring on the throw from a single to center field. The Ladyjacks would try for a run in the fourth after freshman Kiriany Hornberger reached second base on an error. Clark advanced her to third on a sacrifice bunt, but Hornberger would be stranded there
The Cowgirl came back for revenge in the bottom of the frame, tacking on another run to force the score up to 2-0. Lewis came through in a much need offensive attack by the Ladyjacks with a lead-off home-run that flew inches away from the left foul pole. The base-rounder cut the Cowgirls lead to one run, but McNeese was not done as they claimed a 3-1 lead at the end of the sixth.
Llinas took the loss for game one, falling to 5-6 on the season. She scattered six hits from 32 batters faced. She gave up two runs and struck out three. Junior Callee Guffey takes the second loss of the day. She is now 9-11 on the season. Guffey allowed only one hit and one runs from eight batters. Junior Makayla Sikes came in to relieve Guffey in the second inning. Sikes took on 23 batters, scattering two this, and struck out six.
SFA will be back on the road next weekend with the final conference series of the season. SFA will travel to Abilene to face the Wildcats on Friday, May 5.
-SFA-
