Friday, April 20
San Antonio, Texas
12 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
25-17, 0
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Incarnate Word
12-26, 0
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Stephen F. Austin
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Incarnate Word
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Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
Softball Secures First Winning Season Since 2010 with Doubleheader Sweep of Incarnate Word
4/20/2018 5:50:00 PM | Softball
Ladyjacks secure fifth-straight Southland Conference series win with 8-3 and 2-1 victories over Cardinals Friday
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For the first time in eight years, the Stephen F. Austin softball team will complete the regular season with a winning record after earning a doubleheader road sweep at Incarnate Word Friday afternoon. The Ladyjacks improved to 26-17 overall and 14-6 in league play after picking up an 8-3 opening game win and a 2-1 game two victory in their final Southland Conference series away from Nacogdoches this season.
With the two triumphs Friday, SFA has now clinched its fifth-straight conference series win and secured its sixth Southland series of 2018.
The Ladyjacks lined 15 combined hits in the two games and were nearly perfect in the field, committing just one error. Once again, SFA got stellar performances from both senior right-handed pitchers Makayla Sikes and Callee Guffey, who struck out a total of 14 Cardinal batters on the day.
"Our players did a phenomenal job today," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the wins. "It's hard to go play on the road and sweep the first day. This is a quality team (UIW), both of their pitchers threw well. Our players hit the ball well the second game, I felt like we hit the ball hard right at people and they made some really good plays. The second game was a great game, it was fun to be in and both teams competed hard."
"I thought (Makayla) Sikes and (Callee) Guffey did a good job today," coach Dickson continued, "And we made some really good plays on defense too. I thought (Bryana) Novegil and (Taylor) Fraccastoro did a great job at the top and Margarita (Corona) was hitting the ball really hard today. I'm just proud of our effort and now we need to rest before trying to sweep the series tomorrow."
Freshman leadoff second baseman Bryana Novegil finished the afternoon 4-for-7 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Win, 8-3 at Incarnate Word (12-26, 5-14 Southland)
An 18-minute top of the first inning yielded four runs for the visiting Ladyjacks as SFA scored in a variety of ways. The Ladyjacks tacked on another three runs in the top of the third to take a commanding 7-0 lead but UIW responded in the bottom of the inning with three of its own. SFA added another run late in the top of the sixth as the Ladyjacks scored three of their runs in unearned fashion due to three Cardinal errors.
Outhitting UIW 8-6, SFA got fantastic pitching from reliever Guffey, who allowed just two hits in the final four innings of play.
In the lengthy opening inning, the Ladyjacks scored their first run of the afternoon on an RBI double to right center field by junior first baseman Margarita Corona. With Novegil scoring on Corona's hit, senior designated player/third baseman Amber Landry then reached on a fielder's choice to second base for an RBI. Senior catcher Fraccastoro scored on the fielder's choice as Corona advanced to third base and then scored on a Cardinal throwing error. Moments later, Landry reached home plate on UIW wild pitch to give SFA a 4-0 advantage.
An RBI fielder's choice bunt by sophomore center fielder Madison Clements allowed junior third baseman/designated player Lauren Becker to score the first of three runs for the Ladyjacks in the top of the third. With runners on second and third and just one out, Novegil doubled to center field for an RBI, scoring freshman shortstop Emily Evans. Following a hit by pitch, Corona was walked with bases loaded as Clements' run made it a 7-0 game.
However, the Cardinals made it a four-run game once again in the bottom of the third. After a pair of singles, a walk and a wild pitch, third baseman Shelby Neatherlin was walked with bases loaded for UIW's first score of the day. A Ladyjack fielding error then allowed second baseman Victoria Bratcher to reach home plate for an unearned run, before left fielder Monica Flores collected another RBI walk with bases loaded. The third inning was finally drawn to a close as Sikes dialed up her sixth and final strikeout of the contest.
With one on in the bottom of the fourth, Guffey entered the circle in relief of Sikes and worked herself out of a jam. A second walk in the frame and then a Cardinal double gave UIW base runners on second and third with just one out. Guffey needed just 11 more pitches end the inning, sending two Cardinal batters to the dugout swinging.
Back-to-back fielding errors by UIW in the top of the sixth following a Becker walk, allowed the designated player to reach home for SFA's eighth and final score of the game.
Novegil and Becker both went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk as Novegil scored a run and had an RBI, and Becker earned two runs. Corona finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Guffey (7-8) notched her seventh win of the season inside the circle, striking out four of 16 batters faced in four complete.
The Cardinals were led by center fielder Marcela Lopez, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and shortstop Mackenzie Stark, who was 2-for-4 at the plate. Righty pitcher Sarah Leal (8-11) took the loss on the rubber after tossing two and 1/3 innings in the start and striking out two. Right-hander Jessica Rodriguez pitched four and 2/3 innings of relief ball, giving up just two hits and striking out a pair.
Win, 2-1 at Incarnate Word (12-27, 5-15 Southland)
Lacing seven hits, SFA broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth thanks to a Corona RBI single down the left field line. The Ladyjacks held host UIW to just four hits in the contest and were near flawless defensively.
A pair of singles in the top of the second inning allowed SFA to take 1-0 lead. After Becker reached first on a walk, Evans bunted her over to second before Clements singled to right field. With runners in the corners and two outs, Novegil drove in Becker with a RBI single through the right side.
The Ladyjacks held the lead for just a short time as the Cardinals knotted things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Leading off with a single through the left side by right fielder Lacie Stevens, UIW got a sacrifice bunt and then an RBI double down the left field line from pitcher Breanna Hernandez.
The third and fourth innings saw just one hit before SFA regained the lead in the fifth. A two-out double down the left field line by Fraccastoro was preceded by Corona's go-ahead RBI single down the left field line. Sikes closed out the game to secure the Ladyjacks' doubleheader sweep by allowing just one hit in the last three innings and retiring the Cardinals' final four batters.
Both Novegil and Fraccastoro went 2-for-4 in the game as Novegil had an RBI and Fraccastoro a run scored. Sikes (16-6) tallied her 16th win of the season and ninth complete game victory in the circle with four strikeouts.
Right-hander Hernandez (4-11) pitched all seven innings and struck out just one to take the loss.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will attempt to secure their third Southland series sweep of 2018 tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, with the series finale against the Cardinals getting underway at 12 p.m.
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-
With the two triumphs Friday, SFA has now clinched its fifth-straight conference series win and secured its sixth Southland series of 2018.
The Ladyjacks lined 15 combined hits in the two games and were nearly perfect in the field, committing just one error. Once again, SFA got stellar performances from both senior right-handed pitchers Makayla Sikes and Callee Guffey, who struck out a total of 14 Cardinal batters on the day.
"Our players did a phenomenal job today," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the wins. "It's hard to go play on the road and sweep the first day. This is a quality team (UIW), both of their pitchers threw well. Our players hit the ball well the second game, I felt like we hit the ball hard right at people and they made some really good plays. The second game was a great game, it was fun to be in and both teams competed hard."
"I thought (Makayla) Sikes and (Callee) Guffey did a good job today," coach Dickson continued, "And we made some really good plays on defense too. I thought (Bryana) Novegil and (Taylor) Fraccastoro did a great job at the top and Margarita (Corona) was hitting the ball really hard today. I'm just proud of our effort and now we need to rest before trying to sweep the series tomorrow."
Freshman leadoff second baseman Bryana Novegil finished the afternoon 4-for-7 at the plate with two RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Win, 8-3 at Incarnate Word (12-26, 5-14 Southland)
An 18-minute top of the first inning yielded four runs for the visiting Ladyjacks as SFA scored in a variety of ways. The Ladyjacks tacked on another three runs in the top of the third to take a commanding 7-0 lead but UIW responded in the bottom of the inning with three of its own. SFA added another run late in the top of the sixth as the Ladyjacks scored three of their runs in unearned fashion due to three Cardinal errors.
Outhitting UIW 8-6, SFA got fantastic pitching from reliever Guffey, who allowed just two hits in the final four innings of play.
In the lengthy opening inning, the Ladyjacks scored their first run of the afternoon on an RBI double to right center field by junior first baseman Margarita Corona. With Novegil scoring on Corona's hit, senior designated player/third baseman Amber Landry then reached on a fielder's choice to second base for an RBI. Senior catcher Fraccastoro scored on the fielder's choice as Corona advanced to third base and then scored on a Cardinal throwing error. Moments later, Landry reached home plate on UIW wild pitch to give SFA a 4-0 advantage.
An RBI fielder's choice bunt by sophomore center fielder Madison Clements allowed junior third baseman/designated player Lauren Becker to score the first of three runs for the Ladyjacks in the top of the third. With runners on second and third and just one out, Novegil doubled to center field for an RBI, scoring freshman shortstop Emily Evans. Following a hit by pitch, Corona was walked with bases loaded as Clements' run made it a 7-0 game.
However, the Cardinals made it a four-run game once again in the bottom of the third. After a pair of singles, a walk and a wild pitch, third baseman Shelby Neatherlin was walked with bases loaded for UIW's first score of the day. A Ladyjack fielding error then allowed second baseman Victoria Bratcher to reach home plate for an unearned run, before left fielder Monica Flores collected another RBI walk with bases loaded. The third inning was finally drawn to a close as Sikes dialed up her sixth and final strikeout of the contest.
With one on in the bottom of the fourth, Guffey entered the circle in relief of Sikes and worked herself out of a jam. A second walk in the frame and then a Cardinal double gave UIW base runners on second and third with just one out. Guffey needed just 11 more pitches end the inning, sending two Cardinal batters to the dugout swinging.
Back-to-back fielding errors by UIW in the top of the sixth following a Becker walk, allowed the designated player to reach home for SFA's eighth and final score of the game.
Novegil and Becker both went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk as Novegil scored a run and had an RBI, and Becker earned two runs. Corona finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Guffey (7-8) notched her seventh win of the season inside the circle, striking out four of 16 batters faced in four complete.
The Cardinals were led by center fielder Marcela Lopez, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored, and shortstop Mackenzie Stark, who was 2-for-4 at the plate. Righty pitcher Sarah Leal (8-11) took the loss on the rubber after tossing two and 1/3 innings in the start and striking out two. Right-hander Jessica Rodriguez pitched four and 2/3 innings of relief ball, giving up just two hits and striking out a pair.
Win, 2-1 at Incarnate Word (12-27, 5-15 Southland)
Lacing seven hits, SFA broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth thanks to a Corona RBI single down the left field line. The Ladyjacks held host UIW to just four hits in the contest and were near flawless defensively.
A pair of singles in the top of the second inning allowed SFA to take 1-0 lead. After Becker reached first on a walk, Evans bunted her over to second before Clements singled to right field. With runners in the corners and two outs, Novegil drove in Becker with a RBI single through the right side.
The Ladyjacks held the lead for just a short time as the Cardinals knotted things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Leading off with a single through the left side by right fielder Lacie Stevens, UIW got a sacrifice bunt and then an RBI double down the left field line from pitcher Breanna Hernandez.
The third and fourth innings saw just one hit before SFA regained the lead in the fifth. A two-out double down the left field line by Fraccastoro was preceded by Corona's go-ahead RBI single down the left field line. Sikes closed out the game to secure the Ladyjacks' doubleheader sweep by allowing just one hit in the last three innings and retiring the Cardinals' final four batters.
Both Novegil and Fraccastoro went 2-for-4 in the game as Novegil had an RBI and Fraccastoro a run scored. Sikes (16-6) tallied her 16th win of the season and ninth complete game victory in the circle with four strikeouts.
Right-hander Hernandez (4-11) pitched all seven innings and struck out just one to take the loss.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will attempt to secure their third Southland series sweep of 2018 tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, with the series finale against the Cardinals getting underway at 12 p.m.
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: Guffey, Callee (7-8)
L: Sarah Leal (8-11)
Batting:
2B: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Corona, Margarita 1
RBI: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Corona, Margarita 2 ; Landry, Amber 1 ; Clements, Madison 1
SH: Holloway, Autumn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Fraccastoro, Taylor 1 ; Corona, Margarita 1 ; Landry, Amber 1 ; Becker, Lauren 2 ; Evans, Emily 1 ; Clements, Madison 1
SB: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Becker, Lauren 1
HBP: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Fraccastoro, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Angel Villanueva 1 ; Mackenzie Stark 1
RBI: Shelby Neatherlin 1 ; Monica Flores 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Marcela Lopez 1 ; Victoria Bratcher 1 ; Hope Sobolewski 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
3b/dp
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF/C
/ SoftballINF
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C/INF
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