Softball Increases Win Streak to Six on Day One of 33rd Annual Louisiana Classic

Friday, February 15

Lafayette, La.

11 a.m.

Stephen F. Austin

6-1

Austin Peay

3-3

Stephen F. Austin

Austin Peay

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Softball Increases Win Streak to Six on Day One of 33rd Annual Louisiana Classic

2/15/2019 5:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Ladyjacks line 25 hits, score 12 runs in pair of victories over Austin Peay and Jackson State

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

SFA (7-1) at No. 13 Louisiana (6-0)
Saturday, Feb. 16 | 12:30 p.m. | Lamson Park | Lafayette, La.
Watch | Live Stats

SFA (7-1) at/vs. TBD
Saturday, Feb. 16 | 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. | Lamson Park | Lafayette, La.

SFA (7-1) at/vs. TBD
Sunday, Feb. 17 | 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. | Lamson Park | Lafayette, La.

LAFAYETTE, La. – Through eight games in 2019, the SFA softball team sits at 7-1 as the Ladyjacks continued their best start this century and extended their winning streak to six Friday at Lamson Park in Lafayette, Louisiana. SFA scored 12 runs on 25 hits while topping the Ohio Valley Conference's Austin Peay 5-1 and defeating the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Jackson State 7-3 on day one of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's 33rd Annual Louisiana Classic.

Although the day was highlighted by the Ladyjacks' offense, SFA's pitching staff combined for 20 strikeouts and allowed just three earned runs on seven total hits.

"It's a great start to the tournament winning two on opening day," head coach Nicole Dickson said after the pair of victories. "Austin Peay had a stout lineup and Wilbur did a good job controlling their hits. I'm proud of our offense today though with 25 hits in two games, that's impressive. I still think we can manufacture even more runs with better situational hitting."

"We got a solid second game from (Jordan) Llinas and (Ashley) Kriesel, executing and managing hitters," coach Dickson continued. "The highlight of the day was Brittany Crawford and Cassidy Tucker, we saw great things from both of them offensively. We're going to need to pitch, hit and play well on defense tomorrow versus Louisiana, we have to put it all together and compete hard."

Game One | Win | SFA 5 – Austin Peay 1
After the Governors (3-3) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a two-out unearned run due to a fielding error in the outfield, the Ladyjacks stormed back with an impressive fifth inning. SFA scored five runs on six hits in the top of the fifth to take hold of a four-run 5-1 lead that it would not relinquish.

Freshman right-hander and reigning USA Softball national player of the week Kassidy Wilbur retired six consecutive batters in the third and fourth innings before the Ladyjacks' big fifth frame. Three-straight singles led off the top half of the inning with senior shortstop Emily Wolfe connecting on 0-2 pitch and taking it over third base to score junior left fielder Madison Clements and tie up the score at 1-1. After freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth reached on a fielder's choice, senior first baseman Margarita Corona hit a RBI single to left center field and freshman catcher Mackenzie Bennett singled in front of home plate to make it 3-1. Moments later, redshirt sophomore centerfielder Brittany Crawford singled to left center to bring home Corona and make it 4-1. SFA's final run of the inning and game came when junior North Texas transfer third baseman Lindsay Gregory grounded out to second base for an RBI as freshman pinch runner Taylor Trosclair scored.

Austin Peay would get a single in the bottom of the fifth and another in the bottom of the seventh but Wilbur ended the game with her seventh strikeout of the contest.

Moving to 5-0 on the season, Wilbur did not allow an earned run and walked just two for her fourth complete game win in her first four collegiate starts. Corona continued her hot hitting by going 2-for-3 in the contest with an RBI, run scored and a walk, while Crawford finished 2-for-4 with an RBI as nine different Ladyjacks recorded a hit.

Governor left fielder Natalie Schilling was 1-for-1 with a walk and Austin Peay catcher Carly Mattson went 1-for-2 with the team's lone run. Starter Kelly Mardones (1-1) took the loss after throwing the opening five innings and allowing all five earned runs with a pair of strikeouts.

Game Two | Win | SFA 7 – Jackson State 3
After getting a double from sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil and a single from freshman designated player Cassidy Tucker in the bottom of the first, the Ladyjacks scored four runs on six hits in the second inning and never looked back.

Two different Ladyjacks collected their first career home runs in the bottom of the second as Crawford led off the frame with a solo shot over the left center field fence on a full-count pitch. Following singles by Clements and Wolfe, Hedspeth hammered a 2-2 pitch over left field for a three-run shot and SFA's third long ball of the season. Tucker and Corona would get singles later in the inning as the Ladyjacks led 4-0 after two complete.

With the Lady Tigers (0-8) unable to get a runner on base through the opening three innings, SFA increased its advantage to six in the bottom of the third. After Crawford led off the frame with a single to the shortstop, Clements brought her home on a RBI hit down the right field line. Clements then scored with bases loaded when Novegil was hit by a pitch.

Jackson State would get its first hit in the top of the fourth before scoring a trio of runs in the fifth. After a pair of leadoff walks, the Lady Tigers got a two RBI triple off of Marlisa Scott's bat and then a RBI sacrifice bunt from Ariana Cruz as Scott reached home plate to make it 6-3.

The Ladyjack tacked on their seventh run of the contest in the bottom of the inning when Wolfe scored on a Hedspeth RBI single up the middle.

Junior right-handed Galveston College transfer Ashley Kriesel entered the circle in relief in the top of the sixth and picked up right where she left off Wednesday, striking out six consecutive swinging to finish off the game.

Wolfe completed the game 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, while Clements and Crawford were both 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Hedspeth had one of her best performances to date in the Purple and White, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, a run and a walk. Junior righty starter Jordan Llinas picked up her first win of the season inside the circle, tossing five complete and striking out seven of 21 batters faced and walking only two.

The Lady Tigers' Sierra Smith finished the game 2-for-3 as Scott was 1-for-2 with her two RBI and run scored. Jackson State starting pitcher Kayla Owens (0-4) took the loss after throwing five complete and giving up all seven runs with three strikeouts.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to tournament play Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. tilt at 13th-ranked Louisiana, the game will be streamed live on the Ragin' Cajuns Digital Network. With a win, SFA will play at 3 p.m. Saturday against the round-robin play's No. 3 seed and with a defeat, the Ladyjacks will take on the No. 4 seed at 5:30 p.m. Sunday's 33rd Annual Louisiana Classic championship game will take place at 12:30 p.m., while the consolation contest will be played at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.

-SFA-