Clements Goes 2-for-3, Wilbur Fans Six in Softball’s Saturday Morning Tilt with USC Upstate

Saturday, March 2

Baton Rouge, La.

9:30 a.m.

Stephen F. Austin

12-7

USC Upstate

13-2

USC Upstate

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Clements Goes 2-for-3, Wilbur Fans Six in Softball’s Saturday Morning Tilt with USC Upstate

3/2/2019 12:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Ladyjacks limit Spartans to four hits in three-run affair

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

BATON ROUGE, La. – Junior left fielder Madison Clements went 2-for-3 at the plate and freshman right-handed pitcher Kassidy Wilbur recorded six strikeouts Saturday morning against USC Upstate as the softball team continued play at LSU's Purple & Gold Challenge inside Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Despite limiting the Spartans (13-2) to just four hits in the contest, the Ladyjacks (12-7) were outscored 3-0 with USC Upstate claiming runs in the top of the third and seventh innings.

SFA lined four hits in the game and had a base runner in scoring position just twice as Spartan starting pitcher Christina Biggerstaff fanned eight Ladyjack batters and walked none.

With only two combined hits through the first two innings of play, the Spartans connected on a pair of hits in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead. Following a leadoff single to center field by USC Upstate third baseman Kayla Hussey, a walk and a successful sacrifice bunt, Spartan left fielder Brittany Case singled down the left field line for two RBI and advanced to second on the throw as pinch runner Savannah Grigsby and center fielder Makenna Helton reached home plate.

USC Upstate made it a 3-0 game in the top of the seventh when relief catcher Elisa Cecchetti led off the inning with a solo home run down the left field line.

Registering just a single in the bottom of the second and fourth innings, SFA got two on in the final frame when freshman right fielder Cassidy Tucker singled to center field and Clements singled up the middle. However, with two outs already on the board a groundout ended the game.

Sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil was the only other Ladyjack batter to record a hit, connecting on a single to left field in the bottom of the fourth. Wilbur (7-5) took the loss inside the circle after tossing a complete game and walking just one of 26 total batters faced.

USC Upstate's Case finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI, while right-handed Biggerstaff (8-0) earned the complete game win on the rubber.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to game action at the Purple & Gold Challenge late Saturday afternoon when SFA takes on host and 10th-ranked LSU at 5 p.m. Sunday, the Ladyjacks will wrap up non-conference tournament play with a second game against the host Tigers at 11:30 a.m.

SFA is 3-1 against Power Five opponents this season and owns a 3-3 mark versus nationally-ranked opposition, while 1-1 in games with Southeastern Conference foes.

Both of SFA's games against 10th-ranked LSU will be streamed live on SEC Network+, while live statistics can be followed along via LSUSports.net. 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.

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

-SFA-