Friday, February 9
Monroe, La.
3 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
3-0
6
at
4
Louisiana-Monroe
2-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Stephen F. Austin
0
2
0
0
0
1
3
6
11
2
UL Monroe
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
4
7
0
Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
Ladyjacks Split Doubleheader with Warhawks Friday Evening
2/9/2018 9:53:00 PM | Softball
SFA improves to 3-1 after its opening weekend of play, claims 6-4 win over Louisiana-Monroe in game one of doubleheader
MONROE, La. – For just the third time in the last 10 years the Stephen F. Austin softball team can lay claim to three wins through its first four games of the season. The Ladyjacks improved to 3-1 to start 2018 with a 6-4 game one win over Mardi Gras Classic host Louisiana-Monroe Friday evening. The victory gave SFA a split in the road doubleheader as the host Warhawks took hold of game two by a margin of 9-3.
The Ladyjacks' bats were hot in game one, tallying 11 hits and batting in six runs. However, SFA saw ULM total the same number of hits in game two as the Ladyjacks were held to six hits.
"Today was another solid outing for our team," head coach Nicole Dickson said after the two games. "I'm really proud of their effort and playing well as a unit. Playing against an offensive ULM team on the road in back-to-back games is a competitive set up. Both games were high energy, I thought the first game our kids stayed steady and made good adjustments offensively, while our pitching staff did a good job working together."
Win, 6-4 at ULM (2-1)
A three-run home run in the top of the third with two outs by junior designated player Margarita Corona (Tucson, Arizona) willed SFA ahead of the Warhawks after the Ladyjacks got two runs in the second and another in the sixth.
ULM took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning when Jayden Mount singled through the right side for an RBI. Trailing, SFA built a two-run second inning with singles from freshman first baseman Triniti Kendzior (Deer Park, Texas) and freshman right fielder Bryana Novegil (Houston Texas), followed by a RBI double to left center field by freshman shortstop Emily Evans (Santa Fe, Texas) and a sacrifice fly from junior second baseman Lauren Becker (Cypress, Texas).
After three scoreless innings, the Ladyjacks were back in business in the sixth. Senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro (Orange, Texas) got the inning started with a double down the left field line before a Kendzior sacrifice fly to right field scored her from third base. However, ULM responded in the sixth and knotted up the score once again at three apiece when Mount gathered her second RBI of the game on a solo shot over the center field fence.
After a Becker single, a foul out, a fielder's choice and a Fraccastoro walk, Corona stepped to the plate and squared up a left center shot for her first home run in a Ladyjack uniform. The three-run bomb gave SFA a commanding 6-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the final frame.
The Warhawks were able to claim just one run in the bottom of the seventh on a Ladyjack throwing error before a fly out and then ground out ended game one.
Novegil ended the opening game of the doubleheader a perfect 4-for-4 from home plate with a run scored, while Fraccastoro scored twice. Senior right-handed pitcher Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas) claimed her second win of the week after one and 2/3 innings of work and a pair of strikeouts.
ULM's Hogan and Hunter Hogan and Mount both went 2-for-3 at the plate as Sydney Wader (1-1) went the distance to take the loss.
Loss, 9-3 at ULM (3-1)
A five-run fifth inning and a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth allowed the home team to take game two after a 2-2 tie through the first four innings of play. The Warhawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first following a fielder's choice play before SFA scored two runs in the top of the third.
The Ladyjacks retook the lead at 2-1 when a pair of singles by junior center fielder Courtney Brown (Tucson, Ariz.) and Fraccastoro set up Corona for a sacrifice fly, before Novegil knocked in a RBI single down the left field line. The lead would be short lived as ULM gained another run in the bottom of the frame when Jesse Watts reached on a Ladyjack error and Rochelle Roberts scored from third.
SFA grabbed its second lead of the game (3-2) in the top of the fifth after Kendzior doubled down the right field line to bring around Fraccastoro from second. The score preceded the five-run inning by the Warhawks, who scored all of their runs with two outs.
Loading the bases, ULM scored on a Sydney McKay single to center field, a Roberts two RBI single to right field and two RBI double to left center field by Mount. The Warhawks then tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Watts double to right center field for an RBI and Victoria Pederson hit an RBI single to right center.
Three consecutive SFA batters were retired in the top of the seventh to leave out any chance of a Ladyjacks comeback. Fraccastoro once again scored two runs in the game as Sikes (2-1) took her first loss of 2018 after two and 2/3 innings of work inside the circle and two strikeouts.
The Warhawks got a 2-for-3, two RBI performance Watts and a 2-for-4, two RBI outing with two runs scored from Roberts. Watts (1-0) also picked up the win on the rubber after tossing for two and 2/3 innings.
"In game two ULM had a big fifth inning and overall we lacked execution on both offense and defense," commented coach Dickson. "We made too many mistakes to take that game. When you play tough opponents, you can't give them outs and not make adjustments and expect to win. On a positive note, our team learned more from the loss than the three wins."
"We are refocused and ready to get back to work to prepare for a big week ahead," Dickson continued.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will play their midweek game Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Texas A&M, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation according to the preseason USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Coaches Poll and ninth in the preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. First pitch from College Station is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network +, available online and through the ESPN app.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the season.
-SFA-
The Ladyjacks' bats were hot in game one, tallying 11 hits and batting in six runs. However, SFA saw ULM total the same number of hits in game two as the Ladyjacks were held to six hits.
"Today was another solid outing for our team," head coach Nicole Dickson said after the two games. "I'm really proud of their effort and playing well as a unit. Playing against an offensive ULM team on the road in back-to-back games is a competitive set up. Both games were high energy, I thought the first game our kids stayed steady and made good adjustments offensively, while our pitching staff did a good job working together."
Win, 6-4 at ULM (2-1)
A three-run home run in the top of the third with two outs by junior designated player Margarita Corona (Tucson, Arizona) willed SFA ahead of the Warhawks after the Ladyjacks got two runs in the second and another in the sixth.
ULM took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning when Jayden Mount singled through the right side for an RBI. Trailing, SFA built a two-run second inning with singles from freshman first baseman Triniti Kendzior (Deer Park, Texas) and freshman right fielder Bryana Novegil (Houston Texas), followed by a RBI double to left center field by freshman shortstop Emily Evans (Santa Fe, Texas) and a sacrifice fly from junior second baseman Lauren Becker (Cypress, Texas).
After three scoreless innings, the Ladyjacks were back in business in the sixth. Senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro (Orange, Texas) got the inning started with a double down the left field line before a Kendzior sacrifice fly to right field scored her from third base. However, ULM responded in the sixth and knotted up the score once again at three apiece when Mount gathered her second RBI of the game on a solo shot over the center field fence.
After a Becker single, a foul out, a fielder's choice and a Fraccastoro walk, Corona stepped to the plate and squared up a left center shot for her first home run in a Ladyjack uniform. The three-run bomb gave SFA a commanding 6-3 advantage heading into the bottom of the final frame.
The Warhawks were able to claim just one run in the bottom of the seventh on a Ladyjack throwing error before a fly out and then ground out ended game one.
Novegil ended the opening game of the doubleheader a perfect 4-for-4 from home plate with a run scored, while Fraccastoro scored twice. Senior right-handed pitcher Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas) claimed her second win of the week after one and 2/3 innings of work and a pair of strikeouts.
ULM's Hogan and Hunter Hogan and Mount both went 2-for-3 at the plate as Sydney Wader (1-1) went the distance to take the loss.
Loss, 9-3 at ULM (3-1)
A five-run fifth inning and a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth allowed the home team to take game two after a 2-2 tie through the first four innings of play. The Warhawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first following a fielder's choice play before SFA scored two runs in the top of the third.
The Ladyjacks retook the lead at 2-1 when a pair of singles by junior center fielder Courtney Brown (Tucson, Ariz.) and Fraccastoro set up Corona for a sacrifice fly, before Novegil knocked in a RBI single down the left field line. The lead would be short lived as ULM gained another run in the bottom of the frame when Jesse Watts reached on a Ladyjack error and Rochelle Roberts scored from third.
SFA grabbed its second lead of the game (3-2) in the top of the fifth after Kendzior doubled down the right field line to bring around Fraccastoro from second. The score preceded the five-run inning by the Warhawks, who scored all of their runs with two outs.
Loading the bases, ULM scored on a Sydney McKay single to center field, a Roberts two RBI single to right field and two RBI double to left center field by Mount. The Warhawks then tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Watts double to right center field for an RBI and Victoria Pederson hit an RBI single to right center.
Three consecutive SFA batters were retired in the top of the seventh to leave out any chance of a Ladyjacks comeback. Fraccastoro once again scored two runs in the game as Sikes (2-1) took her first loss of 2018 after two and 2/3 innings of work inside the circle and two strikeouts.
The Warhawks got a 2-for-3, two RBI performance Watts and a 2-for-4, two RBI outing with two runs scored from Roberts. Watts (1-0) also picked up the win on the rubber after tossing for two and 2/3 innings.
"In game two ULM had a big fifth inning and overall we lacked execution on both offense and defense," commented coach Dickson. "We made too many mistakes to take that game. When you play tough opponents, you can't give them outs and not make adjustments and expect to win. On a positive note, our team learned more from the loss than the three wins."
"We are refocused and ready to get back to work to prepare for a big week ahead," Dickson continued.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will play their midweek game Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Texas A&M, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation according to the preseason USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Coaches Poll and ninth in the preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. First pitch from College Station is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on the SEC Network +, available online and through the ESPN app.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the season.
-SFA-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sikes, Makayla (2-0)
L: Wader, S. (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Brown, Courtney 1 ; Fraccastoro, Taylor 1 ; Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Evans, Emily 1
HR: Corona, Margarita 1
RBI: Corona, Margarita 3 ; Kendzior, Triniti 1 ; Evans, Emily 1 ; Becker, Lauren 1
SF: Kendzior, Triniti 1 ; Becker, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Courtney 1 ; Fraccastoro, Taylor 2 ; Corona, Margarita 1 ; Kendzior, Triniti 1 ; Novegil, Bryana 1
HBP: Kendzior, Triniti 1
Batting:
2B: Agamaite, S. 1 ; Hogan, H. 1
HR: Mount, J. 1 ; Hogan, H. 1
RBI: Mount, J. 2 ; Hogan, H. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McKay, S. 1 ; Mount, J. 1 ; Hogan, H. 2
SB: McKay, S. 1 ; Mount, J. 1 ; Hogan, H. 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF/C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF/C
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
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Wednesday, February 22
Softball - Stephen F. Austin - 02/22/2017: Stephen F. Austin
Wednesday, February 22
SFA Completes Epic Comeback: SFA Softball
Thursday, May 12
