Northwestern State Tops Ladyjacks 4-1 in Non-Conference Affair Late Thursday

Thursday, February 15

Natchitoches, LA.

9 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

3-3

Northwestern State

4-3

Stephen F. Austin

Northwestern State

Photo by: Chris Reich | Northwestern State Photographic Services

Northwestern State Tops Ladyjacks 4-1 in Non-Conference Affair Late Thursday

2/16/2018 12:54:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

ady Demons take lead in bottom fifth after a two-run bomb from Cayla Jones, strikeout 13 SFA batters

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

2018 Lady Demon Classic Tournament Central

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Playing its second game on back-to-back nights but in a different state, the Stephen F. Austin softball team was defeated 4-1 by Northwestern State in a non-conference tilt at the Lady Demon Diamond in Natchitoches, Louisiana, late Thursday. The Ladyjacks (3-3) dropped their second consecutive road contest in their opening game of the 2018 Lady Demon Classic after leaving a total of 10 base runners stranded.

The host Lady Demons (4-3) got a two-run home run over the left field fence from second baseman Cayla Jones in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie and tacked on another run in the sixth to make it a 4-1 game. Northwestern State's pitching staff struck out 13 SFA batters and limited the Ladyjacks to just four hits on the night.

After three and a half scoreless innings of play, the Lady Demons got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when pinch hitter Kaylee Isenburg picked up an RBI ground out following a Northwestern State single and double. The Ladyjacks knotted up the game at one a piece in the top of the fifth when senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro (Orange, Texas) tripled to right field and then scored on a wild pitch.

A single by Northwestern State first baseman Hayley Barbazon was one of eight hits by the Lady Demons in the game and preceded Jones' two-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth frame, giving the home team a 3-1 advantage. SFA couldn't get anything going in the top of the sixth before Northwestern State's Barbazon reached on a fielder's choice for an RBI in the bottom of the inning, allowing left fielder Madelyn Matt to score.

The Ladyjacks loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh after the Lady Demons issued a pair of walks and a hit by pitch but could not bring anybody across home plate.

Fraccastoro finished 2-for-3 at the plate as sophomore pitcher Jordan Llinas (Houston, Texas) got the start inside the circle, striking out three in three and 1/3 innings of work. Senior right-hander Callee Guffey (Waco, Texas) (1-1) took the loss after tossing one and 2/3 innings in relief. Sophomore righty Autumn Anderson (Fort Collins, Colo.) picked up a trio of strikeouts in an inning of relief duty.

Northwestern State third baseman Sidney Harris finished 2-of-2 at the plate with a run scored, while Jones went 2-for-4. The Lady Demons' Micaela Bouvier (2-1) got the win after throwing five complete innings and striking out nine.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will continue play at the Lady Demon Classic, taking on Memphis Friday morning at 10 a.m. and getting a rematch with Northwestern State at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, SFA will face Memphis once again at 12:30 p.m. and then Jackson State at 3 p.m.

With a 60 percent chance of rain Saturday and 90 percent chance of rain Saturday in the Natchitoches area, the probability for this weekend's schedule to be altered due to weather is high. Schedule updates will be announced via SFA softball's social media accounts and on the softball schedule page of SFAJacks.com.

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-