Friday, March 23
Beaumont, Texas
4 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
16-12, 4-3
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5
Lamar
17-13, 3-4
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6
7
8
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Stephen F. Austin
0
0
0
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1
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6
9
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Lamar
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0
0
0
1
5
9
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Photo by: Jeff Kellum | Lamar Athletics
Ladyjack Softball Splits Doubleheader at Lamar Friday Evening
3/23/2018 11:38:00 PM | Softball
SFA defeats Cardinals 6-5 in extra-innings in game one, falls 5-2 in game two
Beaumont, Texas – Two highly-entertaining softball games were played Friday evening at the LU Softball Complex in Beaumont, Texas, where the Stephen F. Austin softball team split a doubleheader with host Lamar. The Ladyjacks (16-13, 4-4 Southland) earned a hard-fought, 6-5 game one victory in eight innings to open up the Southland Conference road series, before dropping a 5-2 decision in game two.
SFA laced a total of 18 hits between the two games, compared to 16 by the Cardinals, but was outscored 10-8 for the day. Striking out 11 Lamar batters between the two games, the Ladyjacks scored at least one run in the final four innings of the first game and two of the first three innings of the second game.
The game one victory marked SFA's second extra-inning Southland win this season as the Ladyjacks got home runs in the contest from freshman designated player Triniti Kendzior (Deer Park, Texas) and junior first baseman Margarita Corona (Tucson, Ariz.).
"Sikes (Makayla) did a good job going the distance in game one," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the doubleheader split, "I thought she did really well and kept her composure."
"Going into tomorrow we need to clean some things up on defense," coach Dickson continued. "We can't beat ourselves and we've got to keep their slappers off base. That was the difference between game one and game two. We were able to keep their lefties off base and then in game two, they were able to capitalize off of some hits and miscues. Overall a good day on the road, it's always nice to go and take a split on the first day. We need to come out tomorrow refocused, I felt like that second game we got a little complacent the fourth through sixth innings. We didn't really capitalize when we had our moments. We just have to go out and know that we have to fight every pitch, every play, every inning and we can't take a play off. That's our mindset going into tomorrow."
A total of 17 base runners were left stranded by SFA in the doubleheader, including 10 in game two alone. Meanwhile, Lamar left 15 stranded on the bases, including 10 in game one.
The Ladyjacks' third through fifth hitters in the lineup combined to go 9-for-23 at the plate between the two games.
Win, 6-5 (8) at Lamar (17-13, 3-4 Southland)
With both teams tallying nine hits in the affair and the Cardinals mounting a 4-0 lead with a three-run fourth inning, SFA was forced to come from behind to claim the series opener. The Ladyjacks had just one hit in the game through the first four innings of play as the home team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a Shelby Hughston RBI single to third base that went off the glove of senior third baseman Amber Landry (Ponchatoula, La.)
Lamar scored its first run of the fourth inning as third baseman Kimberly Mattox reached first base on a Ladyjack muffed throw and collected an RBI when designated player Taylor Davis reached home on the play. Cardinal catcher Hughston collected her second RBI of the game when she reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt, allowing left fielder Kendall Talley to score and give Lamar a 3-0 lead. The home team would tack on its third run of the inning and fourth of the game after shortstop Savana Guidry singled to the pitcher for an RBI.
Trailing 4-0, SFA began to make its comeback in the top of the fifth when freshman second baseman Bryana Novegil (Tucson, Ariz.) singled down the left field line for an RBI, allowing freshman left fielder Katherine Thompson (Spring, Texas) to score. Not allowing the Cardinals to get a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Ladyjacks scored twice in the top sixth to make it a one-run game.
A sacrifice fly to center field by senior right fielder Autumn Holloway (Cypress, Texas) made it 4-2, before Kendzior crushed her first career home run over the center field fence. Her solo shot making it 4-3. Only one hit allowed by senior right-hander Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas) in the bottom of the sixth, set up the top of the seventh for a potential game-tying run.
Junior Courtney Brown (Tucson, Ariz.) came in to pinch hit and led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. She then made her way to third base following a sacrifice bunt and a single through the right side by Novegil. Following a strikeout, the third out of the frame, Brown reached home plate on a passed ball to tie up the score at 4-4. For the second-straight inning Lamar was only able to muster a hit, sending the game into extra innings.
It was Corona to lead off the eighth and she took a 1-2 pitch out of the park, homering over left center field and giving SFA its first lead of the day at 5-4. Following a Holloway single to third base and a Cardinal throwing error, freshman shortstop Emily Evans (Santa Fe, Texas) connected on a well-hit ball to left field for a sacrifice fly. Holloway's unearned run on the play giving the Ladyjacks a 6-4 advantage.
With one final chance in the bottom of the eighth, Lamar loaded the bases with two outs after a leadoff double, a single, a fly out and a walk. Cardinal first baseman Shelby Henderson then singled through the right side for an RBI but Hughston was thrown out at home on the play attempting to score from second base, ending the inning and the game at 6-5.
Novegil led the Ladyjacks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI as Corona finished 2-for-4 with her fourth homer of the season. Sikes (9-5) tossed all eight innings to notch her fifth complete game win, striking out five in the process.
Hughston finished 3-for-3 with two RBI for Lamar, while second baseman Kelly Meeuwsen went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Taylor Gruell (6-3) took the loss after one and 2/3 innings of relief work inside the circle and a strikeout.
Loss, 5-2 at Lamar (18-13, 4-4 Southland)
Game two was the complete opposite of game one for SFA. Unlike the slow start and hot finish by the Ladyjacks in the opening game of the series, SFA got off to a very strong start in the second contest of the day. The Ladyjacks owned seven hits and held a 2-0 lead through the first three innings of play, but a three-run fifth and a two-run sixth propelled the home team to the 5-2 win.
Outhitting Lamar 9-7 for the game, SFA racked up three hits in the second inning and took a 1-0 lead on an Evans RBI single to center field. The Ladyjacks made it a 2-0 affair in the top of the third, collecting three more hits and scoring on a Landry RBI single up the middle.
Senior righty Callee Guffey (Waco, Texas) did not allow a Cardinal hit in the first three innings, striking out four and retiring 11 of the first 12 batters she faced.
Lamar got its first hit in the bottom fourth on a single to center field and then erupted for three hits and three runs in the bottom fifth. An RBI triple to left center field by Mattox scored the Cardinals first run of the contest, before a Guidry RBI single to third base knotted things up at 2-2. A Ladyjack throwing error later in the inning gave the lead to Lamar as Guidry scored the unearned run on the play.
A single by sophomore center fielder Madison Clements (Pearland, Texas), followed by a Cardinal fielding error and a sacrifice bunt, gave SFA runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth. However, a groundout quickly ended the inning.
Three more hits and two runs by the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth quickly made it a 5-2 game. Lamar loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk, before scoring when right fielder Maddy Myers singled up the middle for an RBI. An RBI walk gave the home team its second run of the inning before a batter's interference and a Cardinal base running miscue got the Ladyjacks out of further damage.
SFA was unable to get anything going in the top of the seventh as Lamar retired three in order to make the 5-2 score final.
Landry finished 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Holloway was also 2-for-4 with a run scored and Clements 2-for-3. Guffey (4-6) took the loss after getting the start and going five and 1/3 innings deep with six strikeouts.
Lamar's Talley went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Mattox finished 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Gruell (7-3) claimed the win on the rubber in four innings of relief work and five strikeouts.
Up Next…
The decisive game three of the series between the Ladyjacks and the Cardinals is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. from the LU Softball Complex.
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).
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the season.
-SFA-
SFA laced a total of 18 hits between the two games, compared to 16 by the Cardinals, but was outscored 10-8 for the day. Striking out 11 Lamar batters between the two games, the Ladyjacks scored at least one run in the final four innings of the first game and two of the first three innings of the second game.
The game one victory marked SFA's second extra-inning Southland win this season as the Ladyjacks got home runs in the contest from freshman designated player Triniti Kendzior (Deer Park, Texas) and junior first baseman Margarita Corona (Tucson, Ariz.).
"Sikes (Makayla) did a good job going the distance in game one," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the doubleheader split, "I thought she did really well and kept her composure."
"Going into tomorrow we need to clean some things up on defense," coach Dickson continued. "We can't beat ourselves and we've got to keep their slappers off base. That was the difference between game one and game two. We were able to keep their lefties off base and then in game two, they were able to capitalize off of some hits and miscues. Overall a good day on the road, it's always nice to go and take a split on the first day. We need to come out tomorrow refocused, I felt like that second game we got a little complacent the fourth through sixth innings. We didn't really capitalize when we had our moments. We just have to go out and know that we have to fight every pitch, every play, every inning and we can't take a play off. That's our mindset going into tomorrow."
A total of 17 base runners were left stranded by SFA in the doubleheader, including 10 in game two alone. Meanwhile, Lamar left 15 stranded on the bases, including 10 in game one.
The Ladyjacks' third through fifth hitters in the lineup combined to go 9-for-23 at the plate between the two games.
Win, 6-5 (8) at Lamar (17-13, 3-4 Southland)
With both teams tallying nine hits in the affair and the Cardinals mounting a 4-0 lead with a three-run fourth inning, SFA was forced to come from behind to claim the series opener. The Ladyjacks had just one hit in the game through the first four innings of play as the home team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a Shelby Hughston RBI single to third base that went off the glove of senior third baseman Amber Landry (Ponchatoula, La.)
Lamar scored its first run of the fourth inning as third baseman Kimberly Mattox reached first base on a Ladyjack muffed throw and collected an RBI when designated player Taylor Davis reached home on the play. Cardinal catcher Hughston collected her second RBI of the game when she reached on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt, allowing left fielder Kendall Talley to score and give Lamar a 3-0 lead. The home team would tack on its third run of the inning and fourth of the game after shortstop Savana Guidry singled to the pitcher for an RBI.
Trailing 4-0, SFA began to make its comeback in the top of the fifth when freshman second baseman Bryana Novegil (Tucson, Ariz.) singled down the left field line for an RBI, allowing freshman left fielder Katherine Thompson (Spring, Texas) to score. Not allowing the Cardinals to get a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Ladyjacks scored twice in the top sixth to make it a one-run game.
A sacrifice fly to center field by senior right fielder Autumn Holloway (Cypress, Texas) made it 4-2, before Kendzior crushed her first career home run over the center field fence. Her solo shot making it 4-3. Only one hit allowed by senior right-hander Makayla Sikes (Gilmer, Texas) in the bottom of the sixth, set up the top of the seventh for a potential game-tying run.
Junior Courtney Brown (Tucson, Ariz.) came in to pinch hit and led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. She then made her way to third base following a sacrifice bunt and a single through the right side by Novegil. Following a strikeout, the third out of the frame, Brown reached home plate on a passed ball to tie up the score at 4-4. For the second-straight inning Lamar was only able to muster a hit, sending the game into extra innings.
It was Corona to lead off the eighth and she took a 1-2 pitch out of the park, homering over left center field and giving SFA its first lead of the day at 5-4. Following a Holloway single to third base and a Cardinal throwing error, freshman shortstop Emily Evans (Santa Fe, Texas) connected on a well-hit ball to left field for a sacrifice fly. Holloway's unearned run on the play giving the Ladyjacks a 6-4 advantage.
With one final chance in the bottom of the eighth, Lamar loaded the bases with two outs after a leadoff double, a single, a fly out and a walk. Cardinal first baseman Shelby Henderson then singled through the right side for an RBI but Hughston was thrown out at home on the play attempting to score from second base, ending the inning and the game at 6-5.
Novegil led the Ladyjacks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI as Corona finished 2-for-4 with her fourth homer of the season. Sikes (9-5) tossed all eight innings to notch her fifth complete game win, striking out five in the process.
Hughston finished 3-for-3 with two RBI for Lamar, while second baseman Kelly Meeuwsen went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. Taylor Gruell (6-3) took the loss after one and 2/3 innings of relief work inside the circle and a strikeout.
Loss, 5-2 at Lamar (18-13, 4-4 Southland)
Game two was the complete opposite of game one for SFA. Unlike the slow start and hot finish by the Ladyjacks in the opening game of the series, SFA got off to a very strong start in the second contest of the day. The Ladyjacks owned seven hits and held a 2-0 lead through the first three innings of play, but a three-run fifth and a two-run sixth propelled the home team to the 5-2 win.
Outhitting Lamar 9-7 for the game, SFA racked up three hits in the second inning and took a 1-0 lead on an Evans RBI single to center field. The Ladyjacks made it a 2-0 affair in the top of the third, collecting three more hits and scoring on a Landry RBI single up the middle.
Senior righty Callee Guffey (Waco, Texas) did not allow a Cardinal hit in the first three innings, striking out four and retiring 11 of the first 12 batters she faced.
Lamar got its first hit in the bottom fourth on a single to center field and then erupted for three hits and three runs in the bottom fifth. An RBI triple to left center field by Mattox scored the Cardinals first run of the contest, before a Guidry RBI single to third base knotted things up at 2-2. A Ladyjack throwing error later in the inning gave the lead to Lamar as Guidry scored the unearned run on the play.
A single by sophomore center fielder Madison Clements (Pearland, Texas), followed by a Cardinal fielding error and a sacrifice bunt, gave SFA runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth. However, a groundout quickly ended the inning.
Three more hits and two runs by the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth quickly made it a 5-2 game. Lamar loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk, before scoring when right fielder Maddy Myers singled up the middle for an RBI. An RBI walk gave the home team its second run of the inning before a batter's interference and a Cardinal base running miscue got the Ladyjacks out of further damage.
SFA was unable to get anything going in the top of the seventh as Lamar retired three in order to make the 5-2 score final.
Landry finished 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Holloway was also 2-for-4 with a run scored and Clements 2-for-3. Guffey (4-6) took the loss after getting the start and going five and 1/3 innings deep with six strikeouts.
Lamar's Talley went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and Mattox finished 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Gruell (7-3) claimed the win on the rubber in four innings of relief work and five strikeouts.
Up Next…
The decisive game three of the series between the Ladyjacks and the Cardinals is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. from the LU Softball Complex.
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).
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 (9-5)
L: Gruell, Taylor (6-3)
Batting:
2B: Corona, Margarita 1
HR: Corona, Margarita 1 ; Kendzior, Triniti 1
RBI: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Corona, Margarita 1 ; Holloway, Autumn 1 ; Kendzior, Triniti 1 ; Evans, Emily 1
SH: Fraccastoro, Taylor 1 ; Clements, Madison 1
SF: Holloway, Autumn 1 ; Evans, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Corona, Margarita 1 ; Ruffino, Carley 1 ; Holloway, Autumn 1 ; Kendzior, Triniti 1 ; Thompson, Katherine 1 ; Brown, Courtney 1
HBP: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Brown, Courtney 1
Batting:
2B: Myers, Maddy 1
3B: Meeuwsen, Kelly 1
RBI: Guidry, Savana 1 ; Henderson, Shelby 1 ; Mattox, Kimberly 1 ; Hughston, Shelby 2
SH: Myers, Maddy 1 ; Hughston, Shelby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Meeuwsen, Kelly 1 ; Davis, Taylor 1 ; Talley, Kendall 1 ; Myers, Maddy 1 ; Mattox, Kimberly 1
SB: Talley, Kendall 1 ; Mattox, Kimberly 1
CS: Henderson, Shelby 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF/C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF/C
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballINF
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P
/ Softball
UTIL
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