Wednesday, April 24
Monroe, La.
6 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
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Photo by: SFA Athletics
Ladyjacks Erase One-Run Deficit, Reach 30-Win Plateau with 8-2 Road Rout at ULM
4/24/2019 10:32:00 PM | Softball
SFA Softball secures second-straight 30-win season for the first time in 30 years, clinches just second back-to-back 30-win campaign in its NCAA Division I era
MONROE, La. – Despite not scoring until the fourth inning, the SFA softball team erased a 1-0 deficit Wednesday night at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and cruised to an 8-2 victory late to secure its second-straight 30-win campaign. The Ladyjacks (30-17) clinched their first back-to-back 30-win season in 30 years (1988-89) and just the second of the program's NCAA Division I era by lining 14 hits and scoring seven runs in the final two innings of play.
After the host Warhawks (9-38) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning, SFA tied the game up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a Madison Clements RBI single before scoring a trio of runs on four hits in the sixth and adding four runs in the seventh.
"Tonight the game was much closer than the scoreboard showed at the end," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the triumph. "We played from behind through four innings, finally evening it up at 1-1. We maintained our composure in adversity, getting out of several bases-loaded jams. (Brittany) Crawford, (Margarita) Corona and (Emily) Wolfe all had great at bats and our outfield made big-time plays on defense. (Ashley) Kriesel was locked in, attacking hitters and closing the game when her number was called."
"We needed a game like tonight, we needed adversity and pressure," continued coach Dickson. "We needed to play from behind and we needed to trust our pitching staff in relief to close out a game."
Following a leadoff single, stolen base and sacrifice bunt, Louisiana-Monroe shortstop Jayden Mount singled through the left side to put the home team ahead 1-0. The Ladyjacks would remain scoreless until the top of the fourth when redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford singled to right center field with one out and left fielder Clements brought her home on a two-out RBI single to center field. Remaining knotted up at one apiece entering the sixth, SFA broke the tie after Crawford led off the inning with single to right center field.
After one-out singles from Clements and freshman pinch hitter Cassidy Tucker, a bunt, sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil drove in a pair of runs on a single as the Ladyjacks took their first lead of the non-conference affair. Senior third baseman Lauren Becker would then reach on a fielder's choice for an RBI, allowing senior shortstop Emily Wolfe to score and give SFA a 4-1 advantage.
ULM made it a two-run contest in the bottom of the sixth, recording just one hit in the inning but scoring on a two-out Brie Wrobel RBI walk. However, the Ladyjacks responded with four runs on three hits in the top of the seventh. Following a Warhawk throwing error, Crawford singled to left field and junior catcher Bailey Richards laid down a sacrifice bunt before Wolfe connected on a two-out two RBI single to right field. With Wolfe's hit giving SFA a 6-2 lead, a pair of walks led to an RBI single to the shortstop from senior first baseman Margarita Corona. Moments later, freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth drew a bases loaded RBI walk to stretch the Ladyjacks' lead to 8-2.
Junior right-handed pitcher Ashley Kriesel notched her second save of the season after entering the circle in relief with two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. Kriesel (11-6) retired all four batters faced and struck out one to secure SFA's 30th win of 2019 and close out regular season non-conference play 16-10.
Corona finished the game 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Crawford went 3-for-4 with three runs scored Wolfe 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs. Clements was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur picked up her 17th win of the season and improved to 17-11 on the year after getting the start and striking out three in five and 2/3 innings of work.
Wilbur limited ULM to just four hits as Warhawk reliever Murphy Williams (1-11) took the loss after giving up three earned runs, walking four and striking out just one in two and 2/3 innings on the rubber. ULM starter Adrianna Chavarria tossed four and 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and an earned run and striking out four.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to the friendly confines of SFA Softball Field and Nacogdoches this weekend after three weeks away from home, hosting Northwestern State in a three-game Southland series, Friday and Saturday, April 26-27. SFA will take on the visiting Lady Demons in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, April 27, before holding senior day Saturday, April 27 with game three of the series at 12 p.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-
After the host Warhawks (9-38) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning, SFA tied the game up at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a Madison Clements RBI single before scoring a trio of runs on four hits in the sixth and adding four runs in the seventh.
"Tonight the game was much closer than the scoreboard showed at the end," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the triumph. "We played from behind through four innings, finally evening it up at 1-1. We maintained our composure in adversity, getting out of several bases-loaded jams. (Brittany) Crawford, (Margarita) Corona and (Emily) Wolfe all had great at bats and our outfield made big-time plays on defense. (Ashley) Kriesel was locked in, attacking hitters and closing the game when her number was called."
"We needed a game like tonight, we needed adversity and pressure," continued coach Dickson. "We needed to play from behind and we needed to trust our pitching staff in relief to close out a game."
Following a leadoff single, stolen base and sacrifice bunt, Louisiana-Monroe shortstop Jayden Mount singled through the left side to put the home team ahead 1-0. The Ladyjacks would remain scoreless until the top of the fourth when redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford singled to right center field with one out and left fielder Clements brought her home on a two-out RBI single to center field. Remaining knotted up at one apiece entering the sixth, SFA broke the tie after Crawford led off the inning with single to right center field.
After one-out singles from Clements and freshman pinch hitter Cassidy Tucker, a bunt, sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil drove in a pair of runs on a single as the Ladyjacks took their first lead of the non-conference affair. Senior third baseman Lauren Becker would then reach on a fielder's choice for an RBI, allowing senior shortstop Emily Wolfe to score and give SFA a 4-1 advantage.
ULM made it a two-run contest in the bottom of the sixth, recording just one hit in the inning but scoring on a two-out Brie Wrobel RBI walk. However, the Ladyjacks responded with four runs on three hits in the top of the seventh. Following a Warhawk throwing error, Crawford singled to left field and junior catcher Bailey Richards laid down a sacrifice bunt before Wolfe connected on a two-out two RBI single to right field. With Wolfe's hit giving SFA a 6-2 lead, a pair of walks led to an RBI single to the shortstop from senior first baseman Margarita Corona. Moments later, freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth drew a bases loaded RBI walk to stretch the Ladyjacks' lead to 8-2.
Junior right-handed pitcher Ashley Kriesel notched her second save of the season after entering the circle in relief with two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. Kriesel (11-6) retired all four batters faced and struck out one to secure SFA's 30th win of 2019 and close out regular season non-conference play 16-10.
Corona finished the game 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Crawford went 3-for-4 with three runs scored Wolfe 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs. Clements was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur picked up her 17th win of the season and improved to 17-11 on the year after getting the start and striking out three in five and 2/3 innings of work.
Wilbur limited ULM to just four hits as Warhawk reliever Murphy Williams (1-11) took the loss after giving up three earned runs, walking four and striking out just one in two and 2/3 innings on the rubber. ULM starter Adrianna Chavarria tossed four and 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and an earned run and striking out four.
Up Next…
The Ladyjacks return to the friendly confines of SFA Softball Field and Nacogdoches this weekend after three weeks away from home, hosting Northwestern State in a three-game Southland series, Friday and Saturday, April 26-27. SFA will take on the visiting Lady Demons in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, April 27, before holding senior day Saturday, April 27 with game three of the series at 12 p.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-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilbur, Kassidy (17-11)
L: Williams,Murphy (1-11)
S: Kriesel, Ashley (2)
Batting:
RBI: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Becker, Lauren 1 ; Corona, Margarita 1 ; Hedspeth, Alex 1 ; Clements, Madison 1 ; Wolfe, Emily 2
SH: Corona, Margarita 1 ; Gregory, Lindsay 1 ; Richards, Bailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Novegil, Bryana 1 ; Trosclair, Taylor 1 ; Crawford, Brittany 3 ; Clements, Madison 1 ; Wolfe, Emily 2
Batting:
2B: Kreps,Korie 1
RBI: Mount,Jayden 1 ; Wrobel,Brie 1
SH: Kreps,Korie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McKay,Sydney 2
SB: McKay,Sydney 3 ; Shaw,Megan 1
Game Leaders
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2
RBI
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AB
3
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2
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2
RBI
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Players Mentioned
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/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
Friday, February 02
Softball - Stephen F. Austin - 02/22/2017: Stephen F. Austin
Wednesday, February 22
Softball - Stephen F. Austin - 02/22/2017: Stephen F. Austin
Wednesday, February 22
SFA Completes Epic Comeback: SFA Softball
Thursday, May 12
