Friday, April 27
Nacogdoches, Texas
6 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
27-18, 15-7
0
vs
5
McNeese
34-16, 16-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
McNeese
1
0
0
0
4
0
0
5
5
1
Stephen F. Austin
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Photo by: SFA Athletics
Cowgirls Trip up Ladyjacks 5-0 in Opening Game of Southland Series Friday Night
4/27/2018 9:03:00 PM | Softball
SFA softball limited to just four hits in loss, only five reach base
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In a battle of Southland Conference leaders Friday night at SFA Softball Field, the Stephen F. Austin softball team was handed a 5-0 loss by McNeese in the opening tilt of a pivotal three-game home series. The Ladyjacks (27-18, 15-7 Southland) were limited to just four hits and reached base only five times as the visiting Cowgirls (34-16, 16-6 Southland) scored five runs on five hits, including a four-run fifth inning.
McNeese right-hander Alexsandra Flores pitched a complete game shutout and SFA was unable to collect timely hits, despite making excellent defensive plays throughout.
"I thought our effort was really good tonight," head coach Nicole Dickson commented after the game. "That is an extremely tough McNeese team and it showed tonight, but the score was not indicative of how close the game really was. Give them credit, I thought we played with purpose and hit the ball well. Both Makayla Sikes and Clarissa Hernandez did a good job inside the circle, limiting the Cowgirls. Tomorrow, it is all about adjustments and I believe it will be two very competitive games."
The visitors wasted no time in getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when three-time Southland Player and Hitter of the Year Erika Piancastelli took a 2-2 pitch over the left center field wall. In the Cowgirls' second at bat, the third baseman notched her 70th career home run, setting the Southland record for most career homers.
SFA was held hitless through the first three innings of play before collecting a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the fourth. Junior first baseman Margarita Corona singled to left field, before freshman left fielder Katherine Thompson singled to third base. Both advanced on a McNeese throwing error, giving the Ladyjacks runners on second and third. However, a foul out quickly ended the inning.
The Cowgirls used a big fifth inning, scoring four runs on three hits to take a 5-0 lead that they would not relinquish. Center fielder Lauren Brown was walked and then stole both second and third, before an RBI double to right center field from shortstop Taylor Strother brought her across home plate. Following a single and a walk, which loaded the bases with just one out, first baseman Morgan Catron singled through the left side for an RBI, allowing Strother to score. With a 3-0 advantage, McNeese got an RBI walk before second baseman Carleigh Chaumont knocked a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Piancastelli her second run of the game.
Unable to get anything going in the bottom of the fifth, SFA lined a hit in both the sixth and and seventh innings. Senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro was hit by pitch with two outs in the bottom of the sixth before Corona notched her second hit of the day down the left field line, but a strikeout ended the frame for the Ladyjacks. Senior right fielder Autumn Holloway singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the seventh but a double play by the Cowgirls and then a fly out to center field brought an end to the contest.
Corona finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Thompson and Holloway were both 1-for-3. Senior righty Makayla Sikes (16-7) took the loss on the rubber after going four and 1/3 innings and striking out three. Freshman right-hander Clarissa Hernandez tossed two and 2/3 innings of hitless ball in relief.
Piancastelli led McNeese, going 1-for-1 with three walks, an RBI and two runs scored. Strother was also 1-for-1 with an RBI, a run and a walk, while designated player Alexandria Saldivar went 1-for-2 with an RBI walk. Flores (16-7) struck out five in seven complete to earn the win inside the circle, including striking out SFA's first three batters and retiring 11 straight to begin the game.
Announced attendance was 731 Friday night in Texas' oldest town, marking the largest crowd at SFA Softball Field this season.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will wrap up their three-game series with the Cowgirls Saturday in a 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. doubleheader from SFA Softball Field. SFA will conclude its non-conference slate next Tuesday, May 1 when they Ladyjacks welcome Texas Southern to Nacogdoches for a 3 p.m. tilt.
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-
McNeese right-hander Alexsandra Flores pitched a complete game shutout and SFA was unable to collect timely hits, despite making excellent defensive plays throughout.
"I thought our effort was really good tonight," head coach Nicole Dickson commented after the game. "That is an extremely tough McNeese team and it showed tonight, but the score was not indicative of how close the game really was. Give them credit, I thought we played with purpose and hit the ball well. Both Makayla Sikes and Clarissa Hernandez did a good job inside the circle, limiting the Cowgirls. Tomorrow, it is all about adjustments and I believe it will be two very competitive games."
The visitors wasted no time in getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when three-time Southland Player and Hitter of the Year Erika Piancastelli took a 2-2 pitch over the left center field wall. In the Cowgirls' second at bat, the third baseman notched her 70th career home run, setting the Southland record for most career homers.
SFA was held hitless through the first three innings of play before collecting a pair of two-out singles in the bottom of the fourth. Junior first baseman Margarita Corona singled to left field, before freshman left fielder Katherine Thompson singled to third base. Both advanced on a McNeese throwing error, giving the Ladyjacks runners on second and third. However, a foul out quickly ended the inning.
The Cowgirls used a big fifth inning, scoring four runs on three hits to take a 5-0 lead that they would not relinquish. Center fielder Lauren Brown was walked and then stole both second and third, before an RBI double to right center field from shortstop Taylor Strother brought her across home plate. Following a single and a walk, which loaded the bases with just one out, first baseman Morgan Catron singled through the left side for an RBI, allowing Strother to score. With a 3-0 advantage, McNeese got an RBI walk before second baseman Carleigh Chaumont knocked a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Piancastelli her second run of the game.
Unable to get anything going in the bottom of the fifth, SFA lined a hit in both the sixth and and seventh innings. Senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro was hit by pitch with two outs in the bottom of the sixth before Corona notched her second hit of the day down the left field line, but a strikeout ended the frame for the Ladyjacks. Senior right fielder Autumn Holloway singled to left field to lead off the bottom of the seventh but a double play by the Cowgirls and then a fly out to center field brought an end to the contest.
Corona finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Thompson and Holloway were both 1-for-3. Senior righty Makayla Sikes (16-7) took the loss on the rubber after going four and 1/3 innings and striking out three. Freshman right-hander Clarissa Hernandez tossed two and 2/3 innings of hitless ball in relief.
Piancastelli led McNeese, going 1-for-1 with three walks, an RBI and two runs scored. Strother was also 1-for-1 with an RBI, a run and a walk, while designated player Alexandria Saldivar went 1-for-2 with an RBI walk. Flores (16-7) struck out five in seven complete to earn the win inside the circle, including striking out SFA's first three batters and retiring 11 straight to begin the game.
Announced attendance was 731 Friday night in Texas' oldest town, marking the largest crowd at SFA Softball Field this season.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will wrap up their three-game series with the Cowgirls Saturday in a 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. doubleheader from SFA Softball Field. SFA will conclude its non-conference slate next Tuesday, May 1 when they Ladyjacks welcome Texas Southern to Nacogdoches for a 3 p.m. tilt.
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: Flores, Alexsandra (16-7)
L: Sikes, Makayla (16-7)
Batting:
2B: Strother, Tayler 1
HR: Piancastelli, Erika 1
RBI: Piancastelli, Erika 1 ; Catron, Morgan 1 ; Saldivar, Alexandria 1 ; Chaumont, Carleigh 1 ; Strother, Tayler 1
SH: McClain, Justyce 1
SF: Chaumont, Carleigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McClain, Justyce 1 ; Piancastelli, Erika 2 ; Brown, Lauren 1 ; Strother, Tayler 1
SB: Brown, Lauren 3
CS: Williams, Padyn 1
HBP: Brown, Lauren 1
Base Running:
HBP: Fraccastoro, Taylor 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Softball
C/UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballUTIL
/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
Friday, February 02
Softball - Stephen F. Austin - 02/22/2017: Stephen F. Austin
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
