Ladyjacks Knock Off 16th-Ranked Indiana, Hand Hoosiers First Loss of Season

Friday, March 1

Baton Rouge, La.

2:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

12-6

No. 16 Indiana

14-1

Stephen F. Austin

Indiana

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Ladyjacks Knock Off 16th-Ranked Indiana, Hand Hoosiers First Loss of Season

3/1/2019 5:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Freshman Kassidy Wilbur tosses two-hit shutout, SFA earns third top-25 win of season in Baton Rouge

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

BATON ROUGE, La. – For the third time this season, the SFA softball team knocked off one of the nation's best programs. The Ladyjacks (12-6) earned their third top-25 win of 2019 by defeating previously unbeaten 16th-ranked Indiana 1-0 Saturday afternoon inside Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Hoosiers (14-1) entered the weekend as one of only six undefeated teams in the nation and ranked No. 16 by USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), No. 15 by ESPN.Com/USA Softball and No. 10 by Softball America. With Saturday afternoon's victory over Indiana, SFA improves to 3-1 against Power Five programs this season, while moving to 3-3 against nationally-ranked opposition and 2-0 versus Big Ten Conference teams.

Freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur tossed a two-hit shutout and sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil scored the lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning following a Hoosier error. The Ladyjacks collected five hits in the affair while playing excellent defense behind Wilbur's play inside the circle.

"The game was a defining moment for our team," head coach Nicole Dickson said after triumph. "Having the ability to refocus and bounce back with a win against one of the top teams and pitchers in the nation speaks volumes. I'm beyond proud. We had a steady mental approach and one awesome outing from freshman Kassidy Wilbur. Her execution was on point and her mindset was unbreakable. Our team was fighting every pitch."

"This afternoon was a lot of relentless effort and a true complete team win," continued coach Dickson. "If this group stays steady and connected, they are on the verge of a special season."

After three scoreless innings, the Ladyjacks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth thanks to a drop fly ball by the Hoosiers. Novegil led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch before sophomore designated player Triniti Kendzior hit a one-out single through the left side. Following a popup for the second out of the frame, junior North Texas transfer third baseman Lindsay Gregory reached on a dropped fly ball in the infield as Kendzior advanced to second base and Novegil scored. Junior Des Moines Community College transfer catcher Bailey Richards would pinch hit and collect SFA's second hit of the inning when she singled to the pitcher.

Wilbur retired six in order in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, registering three strikeouts, before senior first baseman Margarita Corona doubled to left center field to leadoff the sixth. However, three quick outs ended any chances for the Ladyjacks to tack on more runs.

The freshman starting pitcher would show great composure in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings as Indiana got a base runner in scoring position in the sixth with a leadoff walk and stolen base. A strikeout, fly out and popup ended the sixth, before junior left fielder Madison Clements earned SFA's final hit of the game in the top of the seventh with a single through the right side. After Hoosier shortstop Grayson Radcliffe doubled to right center field with just one out in the bottom of the seventh, Wilbur forced a popup in foul territory and a fly ball as the Ladyjacks' defense clinched the victory.

Senior shortstop Emily Wolfe finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate, along with Richards, while Wilbur (7-4) fanned nine Indiana batters of 25 total faced and walked just two to earn her second complete game shutout of the season.

The Hoosiers' Radcliffe collected both of Indiana's hits, including a one-out triple down the left field line in the bottom of the second. Starting right-hander Tara Trainer (9-1) suffered her first loss of the season on the rubber, claiming eight strikeouts and giving up zero earned runs and just one walk in the seven innings.

All of SFA's games at the Purple & Gold Challenge can be followed along via live stats at LSUSports.net, while the Ladyjacks' games with LSU will be streamed live on SEC Network+. More information on the 2019 Purple & Gold Challenge, including links for every game and the event's history, can be found on the tournament central page.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to Purple & Gold Challenge play Saturday morning with a 9:30 a.m. matchup with the Big South Conference's USC Upstate, before taking on tournament host and 10th-ranked LSU at 5 p.m. SFA will wrap up its non-conference tournament play Sunday with a second game against the host Tigers at 11:30 a.m.

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

-SFA-