Sunday, May 6
Nacogdoches, Texas
12 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
31-20, 18-9
3
vs
1
Abilene Christian
23-25, 15-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Abilene Christian
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
2
Stephen F. Austin
0
0
2
1
0
0
X
3
5
1
Photo by: SFA Athletics
Ladyjacks Close Out Regular Season with 3-1 Senior Day Triumph over Abilene Christian
5/6/2018 3:07:00 PM | Softball
SFA softball outhit 6-5 but use a two-run third inning and strong pitching to edge ACU
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – On Senior Day 2018 the Stephen F. Austin softball team closed out its Southland Conference series with Abilene Christian on a high note, earning a 3-1 victory in the Ladyjacks' regular season finale. With seniors Taylor Fraccastoro, Callee Guffey, Autumn Holloway, Amber Landry, Madison Selman and Makayla Sikes honored before the game, SFA (31-20, 18-9 Southland) lined five hits and used a two-run third inning to upend the visiting Wildcats (23-25, 15-12 Southland).
"Today was awesome for our seniors," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the win. "Recognizing them for being a big part of our program, we're so proud of those ladies and what they've done this season. Just who they are as people, we're really proud that they represent SFA softball."
"I'm really proud of how our seniors played today," coach Dickson added. "Makayla Sikes threw great and Callee Guffey stepped up for us in the designated player position. She had a great hit that got things started for us. Lauren Becker had a great day and I felt like (Taylor) Fraccastoro and Bryana (Novegil) had good at bats today and found ways to get on base. Amber Landry has just been so clutch late and our team played hard. We got better today, that was the big focus going into this game, putting forth better effort and energy.
Behind the strong arm of right-hander Sikes, who tallied five strikeouts in her 10th complete game win of the season, the Ladyjacks were nearly perfect in the field. ACU claimed six hits on the afternoon and took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after the Wildcats registered their fifth home run of the three-game series.
After a scoreless opening inning, ACU first baseman Brianna Barnhill took a one-out, 0-1 pitch over the right field fence for her second homer of the weekend. Barnhill's bomb gave the visitors their only lead of the game as SFA responded in the bottom of the third inning.
A leadoff single to right field by designated player Guffey in her first collegiate career at bat preceded a Fraccastoro walk. Third baseman Landry then stepped to the plate and rocked a 2-1 pitch deep into left field for an RBI, allowing junior pinch runner Courtney Brown to score from second base and tie up the score at 1-1. Moments later, junior first baseman Margarita Corona grounded out to third base for an RBI, scoring Fraccastoro from third and giving the Ladyjacks just their second lead of the weekend at 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, junior second baseman Lauren Becker singled to shortstop before left fielder Selman reached on a fielder's choice. With base runners on first and second with just one out, designated player Brown singled to center field as Becker advanced to third and then scored on a Wildcat fielding error in center field.
Two scoreless innings ensued as Sikes retired six ACU batters in order. However, the Wildcats would have an opportunity to tie things up in the top of the seventh after getting a single, passed ball and a walk to give ACU runners on first and second with one out. A groundout advanced the base runners before another Wildcat was walked to give the visitors bases loaded with two outs. SFA ended the game and made the 3-1 score go final when Landry chased down a foul ball by the ACU dugout for the third out of the seventh.
Becker led the Ladyjacks at the plate, putting together a 2-for-3, one run scored performance, while Landry went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Sikes improved her record to 18-8 on the season with the complete game win.
Six different Wildcat batters collected a hit as right-handed starter Calie Burris (5-8) went three and 1/3 innings deep on the rubber to take the loss. Righty reliever Hannah Null completed the game in the circle for ACU, striking out three in two and 2/3 innings of work.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks have clinched the No. 2 seed and a double-round bye for next week's 2018 Southland Tournament held Tuesday-Friday, May 8-11, on the campus of McNeese at Joe Miller Field in Lake Charles, Louisiana. SFA will play Wednesday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. and will face either No. 3 seed McNeese, sixth-seeded ACU or No. 7 seed Northwestern State.
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-
"Today was awesome for our seniors," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the win. "Recognizing them for being a big part of our program, we're so proud of those ladies and what they've done this season. Just who they are as people, we're really proud that they represent SFA softball."
"I'm really proud of how our seniors played today," coach Dickson added. "Makayla Sikes threw great and Callee Guffey stepped up for us in the designated player position. She had a great hit that got things started for us. Lauren Becker had a great day and I felt like (Taylor) Fraccastoro and Bryana (Novegil) had good at bats today and found ways to get on base. Amber Landry has just been so clutch late and our team played hard. We got better today, that was the big focus going into this game, putting forth better effort and energy.
Behind the strong arm of right-hander Sikes, who tallied five strikeouts in her 10th complete game win of the season, the Ladyjacks were nearly perfect in the field. ACU claimed six hits on the afternoon and took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after the Wildcats registered their fifth home run of the three-game series.
After a scoreless opening inning, ACU first baseman Brianna Barnhill took a one-out, 0-1 pitch over the right field fence for her second homer of the weekend. Barnhill's bomb gave the visitors their only lead of the game as SFA responded in the bottom of the third inning.
A leadoff single to right field by designated player Guffey in her first collegiate career at bat preceded a Fraccastoro walk. Third baseman Landry then stepped to the plate and rocked a 2-1 pitch deep into left field for an RBI, allowing junior pinch runner Courtney Brown to score from second base and tie up the score at 1-1. Moments later, junior first baseman Margarita Corona grounded out to third base for an RBI, scoring Fraccastoro from third and giving the Ladyjacks just their second lead of the weekend at 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, junior second baseman Lauren Becker singled to shortstop before left fielder Selman reached on a fielder's choice. With base runners on first and second with just one out, designated player Brown singled to center field as Becker advanced to third and then scored on a Wildcat fielding error in center field.
Two scoreless innings ensued as Sikes retired six ACU batters in order. However, the Wildcats would have an opportunity to tie things up in the top of the seventh after getting a single, passed ball and a walk to give ACU runners on first and second with one out. A groundout advanced the base runners before another Wildcat was walked to give the visitors bases loaded with two outs. SFA ended the game and made the 3-1 score go final when Landry chased down a foul ball by the ACU dugout for the third out of the seventh.
Becker led the Ladyjacks at the plate, putting together a 2-for-3, one run scored performance, while Landry went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Sikes improved her record to 18-8 on the season with the complete game win.
Six different Wildcat batters collected a hit as right-handed starter Calie Burris (5-8) went three and 1/3 innings deep on the rubber to take the loss. Righty reliever Hannah Null completed the game in the circle for ACU, striking out three in two and 2/3 innings of work.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks have clinched the No. 2 seed and a double-round bye for next week's 2018 Southland Tournament held Tuesday-Friday, May 8-11, on the campus of McNeese at Joe Miller Field in Lake Charles, Louisiana. SFA will play Wednesday, May 9 at 1:30 p.m. and will face either No. 3 seed McNeese, sixth-seeded ACU or No. 7 seed Northwestern State.
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 (18-8)
L: Burris, Calie (5-8)
Batting:
HR: Barnhill, Brianna 1
RBI: Barnhill, Brianna 1
SH: Bishoff, Allyson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barnhill, Brianna 1
Batting:
2B: Landry, Amber 1
RBI: Landry, Amber 1 ; Corona, Margarita 1
SH: Fraccastoro, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fraccastoro, Taylor 1 ; Becker, Lauren 1 ; Brown, Courtney 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
pr/dp
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF/C
/ Softball
C/UTIL
/ SoftballP
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
P
/ 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
