Saturday, April 20
Abilene, Texas
12 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
29-17, 0
5
at
6
Abilene Christian
10-28, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Stephen F. Austin
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
5
11
1
Abilene Christian
0
0
2
0
0
3
0
0
1
6
10
0
Photo by: SFA Athletics
Ladyjacks Keep Bats Hot, Line 11 Hits Saturday in Abilene
4/20/2019 4:38:00 PM | Softball
Softball goes to extra innings for third time in Southland Conference play, Madison Clements collects second career home run
ABILENE, Texas – Wrapping up a three-game Southland Conference series in Abilene, Texas, Saturday afternoon, the SFA softball team continued its hot hitting by lining 11 hits in an extra-inning affair. Playing their third extended conference game of 2019, the Ladyjacks (29-17, 14-7 Southland) used a five-run, five-hit fifth inning to take a 5-2 lead on host Abilene Christian (10-28, 3-18 Southland) but a trio of runs by the Wildcats in the bottom of the sixth ended up sending the game to extra innings.
ACU, who recorded 10 hits of its own, got a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the series finale in walk-off fashion.
"Today we fought ourselves for the first four innings," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "We lacked emotional maturity and got flustered, it showed in our body language and performance. However, we refocused in the later half of the contest and played hard but it wasn't enough today. Give credit to ACU, they played a hard-fought game and never quit. We made some excellent defensive hustle plays and still hit the ball hard at times."
"This team has what it takes, pitching, hitting and defense, but it's going to take 100% effort every play from every one of our team members and staff moving forward," coach Dickson added. "Our expectations remain high and today just allows us to refocus on how we can get better as a unit. I still believe our best softball is still in front of us. It's time to finish strong and fight together the next few weeks."
SFA had a strong start at the plate once again, collecting a pair of hits in the opening inning and getting runners in the corners with only one out. However, a Wildcat double play quickly ended the frame without the Ladyjacks bringing anybody across home plate. Despite notching two more hits in the top of the second, SFA remained scoreless before ACU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
Following a leadoff walk, a one-out RBI double to center field by Wildcat left fielder Linsey Tomlinson scored the first run of the afternoon. A pair of steals then led to a two-out Ladyjack error, which allowed pinch runner Blakeli Brookreson to reach home plate from second base.
After a quiet fourth, SFA's offense erupted in the top of the fifth. A one-out solo shot by junior left fielder Madison Clements made it a one-run game at 2-1 and sparked a five-hit, five-run fifth-inning rally. Clements' second home run of her collegiate career, which landed beyond the right field wall, was followed by a bunt single by senior shortstop Emily Wolfe and a single through the right side by sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil. A hit by pitch loaded the bases before senior first baseman Margarita Corona tied things up at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly to left field for an RBI.
The Ladyjacks' first lead of the day came when freshman designated player Cassidy Tucker connected on a two-out RBI single to right field as SFA increased its advantage to 5-2 moments later on a two RBI double to right center field by redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford.
Keeping ACU hitless in the bottom of the fifth, the Ladyjacks could not hold the Wildcats from scoring three runs on a trio of hits in the bottom of the sixth. Gaining all three runs with two outs on the board, ACU made it 5-3 when relief pitcher Samantha Bradley singled to center field for an RBI. The very next at bat, the Wildcats knotted things up at 5-5 on a two RBI double to right center field by shortstop Kaitlyn Huseman.
Both teams were only able to manage a hit in the seventh, forcing extra innings of play. After ACU got a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats had a runner in scoring position with only one out. That's when senior third baseman Lauren Becker flashed her glove and made a diving catch on a ball smoked down the left field line. Becker's full-extension snag nearly turned a double play and set up a Clements throw from left field to junior catcher Lindsay Gregory for the final out of the inning.
SFA was unable to post a hit in two extra innings and only got one base runner on due to a two-out walk in the top of the ninth. Contrarily, ACU registered a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth and before loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth. A one-out walk, hit by pitch and Kayla Keeling single to center field gave the Wildcats base runners at all stops with just one out. A fielder's choice out at home plate held off ACU from scoring before right fielder Blair Clayton smacked a two-out single to right center field for the walk-off RBI as Tomlinson scored the game-winning run.
Clements finished the game 3-for-4 with her RBI and run scored, while Corona went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Novegil turned in a 2-for-5 performance at the plate with a run as junior right-handed pitcher Ashley Kriesel (11-6) took the loss after striking out one and walking one in one and 1/3 innings of work. Freshman starting right-hander Kassidy Wilbur went seven and 1/3 innings on the rubber, racking up seven strikeouts but walking six.
Clayton finished 3-for-5 for the Wildcats with her walk-off RBI and a run scored. Bradley went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run as Keeling was 2-for-4. Bradley (4-17) also picked up the win inside the circle after tossing four and 2/3 innings in relief and earning a strikeout. Starter Calie Burris threw the first four and 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs without a strikeout.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will step out out of Southland action for the final time of the regular season Wednesday, April 24, when SFA travels to Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana-Monroe for a 6 p.m. tilt. Next weekend, the Ladyjacks return to the friendly confines of SFA Softball Field and Nacogdoches for their final regular season home series against Northwestern State.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.
-SFA-
ACU, who recorded 10 hits of its own, got a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the series finale in walk-off fashion.
"Today we fought ourselves for the first four innings," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "We lacked emotional maturity and got flustered, it showed in our body language and performance. However, we refocused in the later half of the contest and played hard but it wasn't enough today. Give credit to ACU, they played a hard-fought game and never quit. We made some excellent defensive hustle plays and still hit the ball hard at times."
"This team has what it takes, pitching, hitting and defense, but it's going to take 100% effort every play from every one of our team members and staff moving forward," coach Dickson added. "Our expectations remain high and today just allows us to refocus on how we can get better as a unit. I still believe our best softball is still in front of us. It's time to finish strong and fight together the next few weeks."
SFA had a strong start at the plate once again, collecting a pair of hits in the opening inning and getting runners in the corners with only one out. However, a Wildcat double play quickly ended the frame without the Ladyjacks bringing anybody across home plate. Despite notching two more hits in the top of the second, SFA remained scoreless before ACU took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
Following a leadoff walk, a one-out RBI double to center field by Wildcat left fielder Linsey Tomlinson scored the first run of the afternoon. A pair of steals then led to a two-out Ladyjack error, which allowed pinch runner Blakeli Brookreson to reach home plate from second base.
After a quiet fourth, SFA's offense erupted in the top of the fifth. A one-out solo shot by junior left fielder Madison Clements made it a one-run game at 2-1 and sparked a five-hit, five-run fifth-inning rally. Clements' second home run of her collegiate career, which landed beyond the right field wall, was followed by a bunt single by senior shortstop Emily Wolfe and a single through the right side by sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil. A hit by pitch loaded the bases before senior first baseman Margarita Corona tied things up at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly to left field for an RBI.
The Ladyjacks' first lead of the day came when freshman designated player Cassidy Tucker connected on a two-out RBI single to right field as SFA increased its advantage to 5-2 moments later on a two RBI double to right center field by redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford.
Keeping ACU hitless in the bottom of the fifth, the Ladyjacks could not hold the Wildcats from scoring three runs on a trio of hits in the bottom of the sixth. Gaining all three runs with two outs on the board, ACU made it 5-3 when relief pitcher Samantha Bradley singled to center field for an RBI. The very next at bat, the Wildcats knotted things up at 5-5 on a two RBI double to right center field by shortstop Kaitlyn Huseman.
Both teams were only able to manage a hit in the seventh, forcing extra innings of play. After ACU got a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats had a runner in scoring position with only one out. That's when senior third baseman Lauren Becker flashed her glove and made a diving catch on a ball smoked down the left field line. Becker's full-extension snag nearly turned a double play and set up a Clements throw from left field to junior catcher Lindsay Gregory for the final out of the inning.
SFA was unable to post a hit in two extra innings and only got one base runner on due to a two-out walk in the top of the ninth. Contrarily, ACU registered a two-out double in the bottom of the eighth and before loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth. A one-out walk, hit by pitch and Kayla Keeling single to center field gave the Wildcats base runners at all stops with just one out. A fielder's choice out at home plate held off ACU from scoring before right fielder Blair Clayton smacked a two-out single to right center field for the walk-off RBI as Tomlinson scored the game-winning run.
Clements finished the game 3-for-4 with her RBI and run scored, while Corona went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Novegil turned in a 2-for-5 performance at the plate with a run as junior right-handed pitcher Ashley Kriesel (11-6) took the loss after striking out one and walking one in one and 1/3 innings of work. Freshman starting right-hander Kassidy Wilbur went seven and 1/3 innings on the rubber, racking up seven strikeouts but walking six.
Clayton finished 3-for-5 for the Wildcats with her walk-off RBI and a run scored. Bradley went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run as Keeling was 2-for-4. Bradley (4-17) also picked up the win inside the circle after tossing four and 2/3 innings in relief and earning a strikeout. Starter Calie Burris threw the first four and 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs without a strikeout.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will step out out of Southland action for the final time of the regular season Wednesday, April 24, when SFA travels to Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana-Monroe for a 6 p.m. tilt. Next weekend, the Ladyjacks return to the friendly confines of SFA Softball Field and Nacogdoches for their final regular season home series against Northwestern State.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack softball throughout the 2019 season.
-SFA-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bradley, S. (4-17)
L: Kriesel, Ashley (11-6)
Batting:
2B: Crawford, Brittany 1
HR: Clements, Madison 1
RBI: Corona, Margarita 1 ; Tucker, Cassidy 1 ; Crawford, Brittany 2 ; Clements, Madison 1
SH: Becker, Lauren 1
SF: Corona, Margarita 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Becker, Lauren 1 ; Kendzior, Triniti 1 ; Clements, Madison 1 ; Wolfe, Emily 1
HBP: Becker, Lauren 1 ; Hedspeth, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Tomlinson, L 1 ; Bradley, S. 1 ; Huseman, K. 1
RBI: Tomlinson, L 1 ; Clayton, B. 1 ; Bradley, S. 1 ; Huseman, K. 2
SH: Tomlinson, L 1 ; Burris, C. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Belch, K. 1 ; Tomlinson, L 1 ; Brookreson 1 ; Clayton, B. 1 ; Duhart, L. 1 ; Bradley, S. 1
SB: Tijerina, B 1 ; Tomlinson, L 1 ; Brookreson 1
CS: Johnson, A. 1
HBP: Tomlinson, L 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
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OF
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/ SoftballINF
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/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
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