Ladyjacks Suffer 1-0 Setback to Texas Tech in Opening Round of NISC Regionals

Wednesday, May 16

Conway, Ark.

3 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

31-23

Texas Tech

30-26

Stephen F. Austin

Texas Tech

Makayla_Sikes_SHSU_Southland_Tournament2

Photo by: Raymond Stewart

Ladyjacks Suffer 1-0 Setback to Texas Tech in Opening Round of NISC Regionals

5/16/2018 6:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SFA softball holds Red Raiders to just two hits but can’t plate a run after lining four hits

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

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CONWAY, Ark. – Playing just its third game in a national postseason tournament as a NCAA Division I member, the Stephen F. Austin softball team was handed a 1-0 loss by the Big 12 Conference's Texas Tech in the opening round of the 2018 Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) Region 4 Wednesday afternoon. The Ladyjacks (31-23) held the Red Raiders (30-26) to just two hits but couldn't plate a run despite four hits of their own at Central Arkansas' Farris Field in Conway, Arkansas.

Behind senior right-handed pitcher Makayla Sikes inside the circle, SFA did not allow a hit in the final five innings, did not commit an error in the field and allowed just seven Texas Tech players to reach base.

"We played fantastic defensively and Makayla Sikes was phenomenal inside the circle," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the loss. "Our effort was really good today and our competitiveness showed on the field. Credit Texas Tech for taking advantage of their opportunity in the first inning. We simply did not make adjustments at the plate and that really hurt us."

Texas Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning after getting a one-out single through the right side from center fielder Michaela Cochran, who stole both second and third base, and then scored on a two-out RBI single up the middle by right fielder Karli Hamilton. The two-hit first inning would produce the lone run in the game as five and a half scoreless innings of play ensued.

The Ladyjacks got a runner on base in each of the first three innings with senior third baseman Amber Landry smacking a two-out single to right field in the top of the first, senior right fielder Autumn Holloway reaching on a Red Raider fielding error in the second and senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro collecting a two-out double to center field in the third. After not getting anybody on in the top of the fourth, junior designated player Lauren Becker led off the fifth with a single to left field before a pair of pop ups and a line out thwarted any chances for SFA. The Ladyjacks had one final chance in the top of the seventh when freshman left fielder took the first pitch she saw down the right field line for a one-out single. However, a strikeout and a fielder's choice out made the 1-0 score go final.

After the opening inning, Sikes didn't allow a hit as Texas Tech reached base five times due to walks. The Red Raiders had a base runner in scoring position just once, advancing left fielder Kaylee Strickland to second base in the bottom of the fifth after a fielder's choice interference and a steal.

Sikes (18-11) took the loss after striking out four and tossing all six innings. Freshman left-hander Erin Edmoundson (16-11) threw a complete game shutout for Texas Tech, striking out seven Ladyjack batters in the process while not giving up a walk or hit by pitch.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks drop into the first elimination game of the four-team NISC regional hosted by Southland Conference counterpart Central Arkansas. SFA will face either UT Arlington (27-26) or host UCA (27-25) Thursday, May 17 at 12 p.m. The Mavericks and the Bears are slated to play their first round game Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. after a weather delay with the loser taking on the Ladyjacks Thursday.

SFA won two out of three games against UCA earlier this season in Nacogdoches, splitting a doubleheader on Friday, April 6 before claiming a 6-0 shutout over the Bears in the rubber game of the Southland series Sunday, April 8. The Ladyjacks have not played UT Arlington since March 15, 2017, when the Mavericks defeated SFA 6-0 in Arlington.

For all weather-related schedule changes affecting SFA softball throughout the 2018 Postseason NISC, 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-