Ladyjacks Score 11-6 Victory over Lady Lions Friday Night in Hammond

Friday, March 8

Hammond, La.

5 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

12-10, 0-1

Southeastern Louisiana

12-9, 1-0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Stephen F. Austin	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	3
Southeastern La.	0	0	1	2	4	0	X	7	7	0

Triniti_Kendzior_at_SoutheasternLouisiana2019

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Ladyjacks Score 11-6 Victory over Lady Lions Friday Night in Hammond

3/9/2019 12:37:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SFA begins Southland play with impressive offensive performance at Southeastern Louisiana, picks up road win behind Triniti Kendzior’s four RBI

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

HAMMOND, La. – Beginning Southland Conference action at North Oak Park in Hammond, Louisiana, the SFA softball team lined 16 hits in a doubleheader with Southeastern Louisiana and picked up an 11-6 victory Friday night. The Ladyjacks (13-10, 1-1 Southland) erupted for eight runs on seven hits in the top of the sixth inning during the nightcap, collecting 11 RBI in the contest and getting four RBI from sophomore designated player Triniti Kendzior.

"We're proud of our team's maturity and focus to be able to bounce back in the second game tonight," head coach Nicole Dickson commented after the win. "(Ashley) Kriesel did a great job keeping us in the game and working the zone from the rubber. Players like (Triniti) Kendzior and (Bryana) Novegil really stepped up for us tonight and (Alex) Hedspeth was solid with runs scored in both games. Also, freshman pinch hitter Mackenzie Bennett had a big-time quality at bat for us."

Game Two | Win | SFA 11 – Southeastern Louisiana 6
The Lady Lions (12-10, 1-1 Southland) struck first in the nightcap, scoring in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. Following a leadoff single from catcher Ella Manzer and a pair of stolen bases by pinch runner Anna Rodenberg, an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by designated player Alli McCoy brought Rodenberg across the dish.

The home team's advantage would not remain for long as SFA scored a trio of runs in the top of the third to go up 3-1. Junior catcher Lindsay Gregory led off the inning with a single through the left side, before a successful sacrifice bunt by senior third baseman Lauren Becker preceded a two-out Southeastern Louisiana fielding error. Moments later freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth knocked in an RBI single to left field, knotting up the score at one apiece. After senior first baseman Margarita Corona was walked, Kendzior singled to right center field for a pair of RBI.

Southeastern Louisiana made it a one-run game in the bottom of the fourth when McCoy connected on an RBI groundout, before tying up the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a Lindsey Rizzo RBI single up the middle.

The Ladyjacks' big sixth inning began with a Kendzior single, followed by a groundout and a single through the left side from junior left fielder Madison Clements. Gregory broke the 3-3 tie with an RBI single to right field, allowing freshman pinch runner Kaelyn Roberts to score from third. Following a hit-by-pitch, freshman pinch hitter Mackenzie Bennett stepped to the plate and rocked a two RBI double to left center field. SFA went ahead 8-3 when sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil singled to left center for two RBI. Still with just one out recorded, Novegil advanced to second on a wild pitch and Hedspeth singled to center field before Corona laid down a sacrifice bunt for Novegil to reach home plate. Kendzior then smacked a high-arching deep ball over the left field wall for two more runs. Her first home run of the season and second of her career giving the Ladyjacks a commanding 11-3 lead.

Extending the game and escaping a run-rule affair, the Lady Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Third baseman Mima Doucet hit a one-out solo dinger over left field to make 11-4 before right fielder Madisen Blackford collected a two-out RBI double to right center field. Southeastern Louisiana's final run of the night came on a Bobbi Smith two-out RBI single up the middle.

Despite Smith stealing both second and third, freshman right-handed relief pitcher Kassidy Wilbur ended the inning with a strikeout. Wilbur then retired three of four Lady Lion batters in the bottom of the seventh to seal the triumph.

Kendzior finished the game 3-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored, while both Hedspeth and Gregory went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI. Junior right-handed starter Ashley Kriesel (4-3) claimed the win inside the circle after tossing five and 2/3 innings and striking out four.

Madisen Blackford led Southeastern Louisiana in the contest with a 2-for-3, one RBI and one run scored performance as shortstop Rizzo went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run. Lady Lion right-handed reliever Briahna Bennett (1-2) took the loss in the circle after pitching one and 1/3 innings and giving up two hits and two earned runs with a pair of strikeouts.

"Going into tomorrow, we need to execute pitches and attack hitters," added coach Dickson. "We had tight strike zones tonight and we were having to rely on our defense to make plays and our offense to pick us up. Conference series are a whole new ball game, and the Southland is loaded this year. I'm excited to be on this journey with these ladies."

Game One | Loss | Southeastern Louisiana 7 – SFA 1
The host Lady Lions tallied seven hits and capitalized on a trio of SFA errors in the first game of the Southland opening series, scoring six runs in the bottom half of the fourth and fifth innings.

The Ladyjacks held a 1-0 lead after one inning of play as a leadoff double by Hedspeth ricocheted off the left center field wall and eventually led to an RBI hit-by-pitch from Clements, following a successful sacrifice bunt and a pair of walks.

The home team would knot things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third when a walk, wild pitch and base-advancing groundout preceded an RBI single up the middle by first baseman Rebecca Skains. A pair of Ladyjack errors led to two Southeastern Louisiana runs in the bottom of the fourth as the Lady Lions led off the frame with a McCoy single, followed by a stolen base, walk and bases-advancing groundout. Pinch runner Amberlyn Alfano and Madisen Blackford were both able to reach home and make it a 3-1 game when a two-out SFA fielding error extended the inning.

Southeastern Louisiana posted four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 7-1 after collecting two hits and benefiting from a third Ladyjack miscue. A walk and sacrifice bunt preceded a Doucet bunt single and an SFA throwing error, which allowed pinch runner Rodenberg to score. After a fielder's choice and a walk, Madisen Blackford took a 1-0 pitch deep over left center field for a trio of runs. Her first home run of the season giving the Lady Lions a 7-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

SFA was held without hit in the final three innings of the contest as Southeastern Louisiana right-handed hurlers Alley McDonald and Shelby Sitzman retired 10 consecutive batters.

Hedspeth went 1-for-4 in the opener with a run scored, while Novegil, Corona, Wilbur and senior shortstop Emily Wolfe were all 1-for-2. Wilbur (7-7) went the distance in the circle, facing 32 total batters in the loss and striking out four.

The Lady Lions' Doucet finished the game 3-for-4 as Madisen Blackford was 1-for-2 with three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Righty reliever McDonald (3-3) claimed the win on the rubber, tossing four and 1/3 innings in relief and striking out four while giving up just two hits.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will wrap up their Southland opening three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at 12 p.m., before returning to Texas' oldest town next weekend for a trio of games against defending conference tournament champion McNeese.

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

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