Llinas Strikes Out Five in Relief, Ladyjacks Keep 10th-Ranked Tigers Scoreless in Five Innings

Saturday, March 2

Baton Rouge, La.

5 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

12-8

No. 10 LSU

16-4

Stephen F. Austin

LSU

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Llinas Strikes Out Five in Relief, Ladyjacks Keep 10th-Ranked Tigers Scoreless in Five Innings

3/2/2019 8:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Junior righty throws four innings in relief, SFA limits one of nation’s top teams to one inning of runs

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

BATON ROUGE, La. – Take out one inning of play and the SFA softball team went toe-to-toe with one of the best programs in the nation Saturday evening inside Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Ladyjacks (12-8) got five strikeouts from junior right-handed pitcher Jordan Llinas and limited 10th-ranked LSU to just one inning of runs as SFA lined four hits in the contest.

A big six-hit, six-run third inning propelled the home team to a 6-0 win in the ninth game of the host Tigers' Purple & Gold Challenge. LSU (16-4) collected seven total hits in six offensive innings with starting right-hander Maribeth Gorsuch striking out seven Ladyjack batters and walking just one.

"Even though the scoreboard and win/loss column doesn't reflect it, we got better today," head coach Nicole Dickson commented after the game. "We are competing and playing hard and I'm proud of their effort. This team is moving in the right direction and these players care about each other and our program."

"There were bright moments from Madison Clements offensively all day today as well as Jordan Llinas entering in relief against LSU," continued coach Dickson. "Llinas held her own and fought for her team, she showed solid composure from the circle against a powerful offense. I also thought our middle infielders, (Emily) Wolfe and (Bryana) Novegil made excellent plays tonight. This group has been battled tested prior to starting conference play next week, we are right on track and I'm proud of every player representing our team."

After each team led off their portions of the opening inning with singles, all batters were retired in order in the second inning before a leadoff single from the Tigers' Savannah Stewart was followed by an Aliyah Andrews single. With two steals, LSU had runners on second and third with no outs when Tiger third baseman Amanda Sanchez double to left center field for two RBI. Moments later, designated player Shelbi Sunseri knocked out a two-run shot over right center field to give the home team a 4-0 lead.

Still with no outs recorded in the inning, Llinas entered the circle for SFA and struck out a pair of batters before LSU shortstop Amber Serrett hit a home run over the left center field wall for two more runs. The Tigers would get another single in the frame before a fly ball to left field ended the inning.

The Ladyjacks collected a pair of one-out singles in the top of the fifth off of the bats of redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford and junior North Texas transfer catcher Lindsay Gregory, but a LSU double play quickly ended SFA's chances.

In the top of the sixth, the Ladyjacks loaded the bases with one out after junior left fielder Madison Clements singled up the middle and both senior pinch hitter Shay Vegas and freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth reached on fielder's choices. However, once again a double play thwarted SFA from bringing anybody across home plate.

Starting junior Galveston College transfer righty Ashley Kriesel (3-3) took the loss after recording a trio of strikeouts in the opening two innings of play. Llinas allowed just one walk in four innings of relief work and limited the Tigers to two hits, including none after the third inning by retiring nine consecutive.

LSU's Andrews finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, while Gorsuch (5-0) earned the complete game win on the rubber.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will wrap up non-conference tournament play in Baton Rouge with a second game against the host Tigers Sunday at 11:30 a.m., before beginning Southland Conference play next weekend at Southeastern Louisiana.

SFA's Sunday tilt with No. 10 LSU will once again 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-