Ladyjacks Drop 8-2 Tilt to Third-Seeded McNeese at 2018 Southland Tournament

Wednesday, May 9

Lake Charles, La.

1:55 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

#3 McNeese

Autumn_Holloway_McNeese_Slide_SouthlandTourney

Photo by: Raymond Stewart

Ladyjacks Drop 8-2 Tilt to Third-Seeded McNeese at 2018 Southland Tournament

5/9/2018 4:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SFA softball outhit 8-4 by host Cowgirls, four-run fourth propels McNeese

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

2018 Southland Softball Tournament Central | Bracket

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Playing in its first Southland Conference Tournament game since 2016, the Stephen F. Austin softball team ran into a hot-hitting McNeese squad Tuesday afternoon. The second-seeded Ladyjacks (31-21) were defeated 8-2 by 2018 Southland Softball Tournament host and No. 3 seed McNeese (38-19) in SFA's first game at the league's championship event.

After a 1-1 tie through the first two innings of play, the Cowgirls took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning as the Ladyjacks trailed for the remainder of the afternoon. SFA was outhit 8-4 and scored just one run in both the second and third innings. McNeese collected two home runs and sealed the game with a seven-run seventh inning.

"I thought we competed really well but McNeese just outplayed us," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "I was really happy with the way both Makayla Sikes and Callee Guffey started in the circle. We hit the ball really hard and had some great plays, there was a lot to be happy about. Tonight we need to clean a few things up against Sam Houston State but if we continue to compete well, we'll be alright."

McNeese took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning after getting a leadoff single from designated player Alexandria Saldivar, a stolen base and then an RBI single to right field from shortstop Tayler Strother. However, SFA wasted no time in knotting things up in the bottom of the frame, junior first baseman Margarita Corona led things off with a solo home run over the left center field wall. Her ninth long ball of the season coming off of a 2-0 pitch as the Ladyjacks would collect one more hit in the inning.

The Cowgirls broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the third inning by scoring two runs after loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single. Saldivar hit a two-out single to second base for both runs of the frame, giving McNeese a 3-1 advantage and advancing to second on a Ladyjack error. Much like the second inning, SFA responded in the bottom half with a two-out double down the left field line by senior catcher Taylor Fraccastoro followed by an RBI single to right field by senior third baseman Amber Landry.

Trailing 3-2 after three complete, the Ladyjacks saw their deficit increase to two in the top of the fourth. Cowgirl catcher Aubree Turbeville saw a full-count pitch with two outs and took it over the center field wall for a solo home run to give McNeese a 4-2 lead.

Two and a half scoreless innings ensued before the Cowgirls scored four times in the top of the seventh to take a commanding 8-2 lead that they would not relinquish. A Turbeville single and then an RBI double by pinch hitter Shanice Hagler made it a 5-2 game with just one out. A walk gave McNeese two on with two outs before first baseman Morgan Catron knocked out a three-run bomb over the left field fence for the Cowgirls' second homer of the day.

SFA was held without a hit for the final four innings of the game and got just three base runners on due to a hit by pitch, McNeese error and walk.

Corona and Fraccastoro both went 1-for-3 at the plate for the Ladyjacks as each scored a run and Corona had an RBI. Senior right-handed pitcher Makayla Sikes (18-9) took the loss after tossing the first three innings and striking out two. Fellow senior righty Callee Guffey threw four innings in relief and compiled six strikeouts, retiring eight consecutive batters at one point from the fourth to seventh inning.

Turbeville led the Cowgirls with a 2-for-3, one RBI and one run scored performance, while Saldivar went 2-for-4 with an RBI. McNeese right-hander Caroline Settle (9-6) earned the complete game win by striking out two in the seven innings.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will continue play at the 2018 Southland Softball Tournament with a back draw first round game against eighth-seeded Sam Houston State Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. The Bearkats defeated No. 5 seed Central Arkansas 5-1 in an elimination first round affair Tuesday morning, before dropping a 7-0 decision to fourth-seeded Southeastern Louisiana Tuesday afternoon.

SFA won two out of three games against Sam Houston State at SFA Softball Field earlier this year. The Ladyjacks took the final two games in the series after falling 1-0 in the opening contest.

For all weather-related schedule changes affecting SFA softball throughout the 2018 Southland Softball Tournament, 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-