Ladyjacks Split Games Friday at Lady Demon Classic

Friday, February 16

Natchitoches, La.

10 a.m

Stephen F. Austin

4-3

Memphis

3-3

Stephen F. Austin

Memphis

Photo by: Chris Reich | Northwestern State Photographic Services

Ladyjacks Split Games Friday at Lady Demon Classic

2/16/2018 8:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SFA outscores opponents 8-7 in two games and picks up a 3-1 win over American Athletic Conference Memphis

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

2018 Lady Demon Classic Tournament Central

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Playing its fourth game within a 48-hour span and continuing its six-game stretch in 72 hours, the Stephen F. Austin softball team withstood injuries sustained Thursday night to split a pair of games Friday at the 2018 Lady Demon Classic. The Ladyjacks picked up their fourth win of the young season in the opening game of the day at the Lady Demon Diamond in Natchitoches, Louisiana, by defeating American Athletic Conference foe Memphis by a score of 3-1. The victory preceded SFA's narrow 6-5 loss to tournament host Northwestern State in Friday's nightcap.

The Ladyjacks outscored their opponents 8-7 and got a big day from senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro (Orange, Texas), who accounted for seven of SFA's runs. Totaling a combined 11 hits across the two games, SFA was unable to halt Northwestern State's nine hits and was plagued by five total errors on the day.

"Taylor Fraccastoro and Makayla Sikes fought hard for that win," head coach Nicole Dickson commented following the win over Memphis. "We won because of those two."

vs. Memphis (3-3)
After five scoreless innings of play, SFA got a three-run home run from Fraccastoro in the top of the sixth to take a 3-0 lead that it would not relinquish.

Following a single by Tiger shortstop Kyler Trosclair Klatt, a bunt single by center fielder Delaney Smith and a Ladyjack throwing error, catcher Regan Hadley flied out to right field for a sacrifice in the bottom of the sixth to get Memphis within two at 3-1. However, that would be it for the Tigers as senior right-hander Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas) retired four Memphis batters in order to close out the game.

The Tigers, a squad that had an above .500 overall record in the AAC in 2017, was held to five hits in the contest and committed two errors. The two teams combined to leave just seven base runners stranded.

Sikes (3-2) went seven complete inside the circle to pick up her third win of the season, facing 25 batters and striking out two.

Memphis' Trosclair Klatt finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored. Right-handed pitcher Mariah Nichols (1-2) also tossed a complete game to take the loss with four strikeouts.

at Northwestern State (6-3)
Four errors haunted the Ladyjacks in the second game of the day, including three in the fourth inning alone. After SFA took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth, the host Lady Demons totaled four unearned runs in the bottom of the frame and collected a sixth run in the fifth inning before holding off the Ladyjacks for the win.

After two and a half scoreless innings, Northwestern State took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the third when second baseman Cayla Jones flied out to centerfield for a sacrifice RBI following a SFA error and a pair of fielder's choices. The Ladyjacks took their lone lead in the game in the top of the fourth as Fraccastoro cleared the bases with a three-run double into left center field.

A Ladyjack throwing error and a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth preceded two SFA miscues and four Lady Demon hits. Northwestern State right fielder Julie Rawls doubled to left center field for a pair of RBI and left fielder Madelyn Matt singled for another RBI. An RBI single to the left side of the field by both center fielder Sidney Salmans and Jones made it 5-3 in favor of the home team.

An RBI groundout by pinch hitter Kaylee Isenburg in the bottom of the fifth extended the Lady Demons' lead to 6-3 before the Ladyjacks got two runs in the top of the sixth. Senior first baseman Madison Selman (Lufkin, Texas) knocked out her first home run in SFA uniform when she smoked one down the left field line and Fraccastoro doubled to left field for an RBI, making it a one-run game at 6-5.

Other than a walk and a fielder's choice, the Ladyjacks couldn't get anything going in the seventh, making the score final.

Fraccastoro finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBI, while freshman second baseman Bryana Novegil (Houston, Texas) went 2-for-2 with a run scored and senior third baseman Amber Landry (Ponchatoula, La.) 2-for-3. Sophomore Autumn Anderson (For Collins, Colo.) started the game inside the circle and went two innings before freshman righty Clarissa Hernandez (San Antonio, Texas) tossed one inning in relief. Sikes (3-3) took the loss after tossing three innings and striking out three.

Northwestern State's Salmans went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored and Rawls finished 2-for-3 and had a run and an RBI. Mikayla Brown (3-1) picked up the win on the rubber after making the start and going four complete with three strikeouts as Micaela Bouvier collected her first save of the season in two innings of work.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will wrap up play at the Lady Demon Classic Saturday, facing Memphis once again at 10 a.m. and then the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Jackson State at 12:30 p.m. The two games were originally scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. but were moved up two and a half hours due to the threat of rain. SFA will enjoy five days off from competition before heading to Oxford, Mississippi, for Ole Miss' Red & Blue Classic held Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25.

For all weather-related SFA softball schedule changes throughout the 2018 spring season, be sure to keep an eye on SFAJacks.com and follow SFA softball on Facebook (SFA Softball) and Twitter (@SFA_Softball).

-SFA-