Ladyjacks Close Out Second-Straight 30-Win Campaign at NISC Nacogdoches Regional

Friday, May 17

Nacogdoches, Texas

6 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

36-23

McNeese

32-31

McNeese

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Ladyjacks Close Out Second-Straight 30-Win Campaign at NISC Nacogdoches Regional

5/17/2019 10:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SFA out-hits McNeese 6-4 in Postseason NISC Nacogdoches Regional back draw final, gets another 2-for-3 outing from Brittany Crawford

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

NISC Regional Bracket | NISC Nacogdoches Regional Central
Postseason NISC Tournament Central | About the Postseason NISC

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The SFA softball program's 2019 journey came to an end Friday evening at SFA Softball Field in Nacogdoches but not before the Ladyjacks matched their most wins in a single season since 1991 and captured their first national postseason tournament victory in the school's NCAA Division I era. Hosting its first national regional since becoming a Division I program, SFA out-hit McNeese in the 2019 Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) back draw final and got another 2-for-3 performance from redshirt sophomore outfielder Brittany Crawford. However, the visiting Cowgirls (32-31) scored a trio of runs and held the host Ladyjacks (36-23) to just one in a 3-1 affair to advance to the NISC Nacogdoches Regional championship Saturday.

An SFA error in the fourth inning and a pair of runs on a double in the sixth gave McNeese a 3-0 lead that would hold, despite the Ladyjacks scoring in the bottom of the sixth.

"Once again we had a terrific outing in the circle, this time from Jordan Llinas," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "We didn't finish how we wanted but you can't take anything away from these ladies and this program. Our team with our culture here at SFA is building something special."

"Thank you to our seniors for leaving it better than when you found it, you have a lot of accomplishments to be proud of," added coach Dickson. "I am excited about our youth, excited about our future. These young players gained valuable postseason experience and are hopefully hungry to come back next year and fight for a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament birth. Thank you to my staff and everyone who helped run a great event at our home venue. This program is special and great things are coming."

Much like the Ladyjacks' earlier game against Middle Tennessee there was just one combined hit through the opening two innings and no runs were scored through the first three frames, before the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. A one-out single up the middle from Cowgirl right fielder Kaylee Lopez led to a single through the right side by designated player Aubree Turbeville. Center fielder Toni Perrin then flied out to right field and an SFA error allowed pinch runner Taylor Edwards to score from second base for the first run of the evening.

The Ladyjacks would get two on with just one out in the bottom of the fifth but couldn't bring anybody across the dish as McNeese used a two-hit, two-run sixth to build a three-run advantage. A leadoff walk in the top of the sixth was followed by a Cowgirl sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice, before catcher Demi Boudreaux singled and first baseman Alexandria Saldivar connected on a two RBI double to left field. SFA made it a two-run contest at 3-1 in the bottom of the frame after right fielder Crawford hit a one-out single to the pitcher and advanced to second on a McNeese error. Crawford would advance to third on a wild pitch, allowing sophomore second baseman Bryana Novegil to take a 1-0 pitch to left center field for a two-out RBI double.

Senior first baseman Margarita Corona ended her historic Ladyjack career with a two-out double to left center field in the bottom of the seventh, but it would be all the offense for SFA in the frame.

Crawford finished the evening 2-for-3 with a run, while Novegil was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Junior right-handed starter Jordan Llinas went six full innings and struck out six with just four hits and two earned runs allowed. Freshman right-hander Kassidy Wilbur tossed the final inning in relief, needing to face only four batters.

Saldivar turned in a 1-for-3, two RBI performance as Turbeville was 1-for-2 with a walk. Righty Caroline Settle (9-9) picked up the complete game win inside the circle after striking out one and allowing just one walk and an earned run.

For their stellar performances at the Postseason NISC Nacogdoches Regional, Corona, junior shortstop Lindsay Gregory and junior pitcher Ashley Kriesel were named to the regional's all-tournament team.

The Cowgirls and UT Arlington (32-26) will take on each other Saturday at 10 a.m. for the 2019 NISC Regional crown and a spot at the NISC Tournament's championship site in Fort Collins, Colorado. Should McNeese win, an if necessary game between the two teams will take place at 1 p.m.

Saturday's Postseason NISC Nacogdoches Regional championship game(s) will be streamed live online via the Southland Digital Network and through the Southland app, available on Roku, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire. Live statistics can be followed at SFAJacks.com.

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

-SFA-