Ladyjacks Split Pair of 2-1 Affairs in Huntsville Saturday

Saturday, May 4

Huntsville, Texas

3 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

Sam Houston State

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Ladyjacks Split Pair of 2-1 Affairs in Huntsville Saturday

5/4/2019 9:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

SFA softball locks up top four seed for next week’s Southland Tournament, gets home runs from Lindsay Gregory and Lauren Becker

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

SFA (34-18, 18-8 Southland) at Sam Houston State (30-21, 21-5 Southland)
Sunday, May 5 | 12 p.m. | Bearkat Softball Complex | Huntsville, Texas
Live Stats

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A 2-for-2, two RBI outing from junior second baseman Lindsay Gregory and nine strikeouts from junior pitcher Ashley Kriesel propelled the SFA softball team to a 2-1 road victory over league-leader Sam Houston State Saturday afternoon in the two team's Southland Conference series opener. The first game of a postponed doubleheader from Friday, the Ladyjacks (34-18, 18-8 Southland) needed only Gregory's two hits to secure their 34th win of the season and lock up a top four seed for next week's Southland Tournament.

Despite a solo shot from senior third baseman Lauren Becker, the host Bearkats (30-21, 21-5 Southland) took game two of the doubleheader by an identical score of 2-1 to secure at least a share of the regular season conference title and the top seed for the Southland Tournament.

"Both of today's games were hard fought," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the doubleheader. "Both teams were relentless all day and we found a way to win game one with solid defensive plays from middle infielders Emily Wolfe and Lindsey Gregory. Ashley Kriesel controlled Sam Houston State's batters and worked ahead of the count, while Gregory had a stellar performance at the plate all day and competed in big moments."

"Game two we ended up on the other end of an emotional game, we just couldn't put together quality at bats and didn't capitalize with runners on," continued coach Dickson. "One thing I know about my team is that they are fighters and these players care. We are always better the second time we see a pitcher as well. Our goal tomorrow is to score early and often, in order to prepare us and get our best team to the tournament. I'm thankful to lead this team and staff, and we will do our jobs to get the players ready. I'm even more proud to know my players take ownership and realize that this is their team. Their special season coming."

Game One | Win | SFA 2 – Sam Houston State 1
After all six outs of the opening inning of play were recorded via strikeouts, the Ladyjacks pounced on the host Bearkats in the top of the second inning. Redshirt sophomore center fielder Brittany Crawford led off the frame with a hit by pitch before senior third baseman Lauren Becker successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt. That's when Gregory began her day inside the Bearkat Softball Complex with an RBI double to center field, giving SFA a 1-0 lead when Crawford reached home plate.

In the top of the fourth inning with two outs, Gregory stepped to the plate and cranked out her second home run of the season to give the Ladyjacks a 2-0 advantage. Her solo shot cleared the left field fence and came on a 2-2 pitch as SFA would be held hitless for the remainder of the game.

A one-out solo home run from Sam Houston State designated player Taylor Fuselier made it a one-run contest in the bottom of the fifth but Kriesel would limit the home team to just one hit in the final two innings of play.

Allowing just four hits across the seven innings, right-handed Kriesel (13-6) notched her ninth complete game win of 2019 by striking out nine and walking just one. Gregory finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk.

The Bearkats' all-time strikeout leader, right-hander Lindsey McLeod (18-8), struck out a game-best 15 but walked three and allowed two earned runs in taking the loss.

Game Two | Loss | Sam Houston State 2 – SFA 1
The home team and right-handed starting pitcher Regan Dunn held the Ladyjacks hitless for four and 1/3 innings as the Bearkats lined nine hits and took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the opening inning on a two-run homer.

Following a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt, Sam Houston State second baseman Malia Brooke teed off on a 0-0 one-out pitch and took it high over the left field wall to give the Bearkats their lone runs of the game. Freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth reached base on a Sam Houston State fielding error in the top of the opening inning but SFA would not get another runner on base until the top of the fifth, while the Bearkats collected six hits in that time.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Kassidy Wilbur singled to right field with one out in the top of the fifth before sophomore pinch hitter Marisa Arriaga hit a two-out single up the middle. Gregory would be walked to load the bases, bringing up senior first baseman Margarita Corona. A battle at the plate would ensue with Corona fouling off six-straight pitches before nearly connecting on a grand slam, her fly-out to center field coming a mere 10 feet from the wall.

Wilbur and the Ladyjack defense would keep Sam Houston State from bringing across another run in the bottom of the fifth and the sixth after the Bearkats got a base runner on third in the fifth and recorded two singles in the sixth.

Becker led off the seventh with her first home run of the season and the third of her SFA career, a hard-hit shot that flew down the left field line and made it a one-run game at 2-1. However, a strikeout by reliever McLeod, a groundout and a fly-out ended any chances of the Ladyjacks tying things up.

Becker was 1-for-3 in the game with an RBI and a run scored, while Wilbur (19-12) took the loss after striking out four in the full six innings.

Sam Houston State leadoff batter and center fielder Megan McDonald went 3-for-3 with a run and a walk as first baseman Ashley Goetz was 2-for-2. Dunn (9-5) claimed the win inside the circle after striking out four and allowing just two hits in four and 2/3 innings of work. McLeod earned her third save of the season with a pair of strikeouts over the final two and 1/3 innings.

Up Next…
Sunday's series-deciding game three at Sam Houston State is slated for 12 p.m. Live statistics of the decisive third game in the Prison City can be followed by visiting GoBearkats.com. As usual, in-game updates will be made available via SFA softball's Twitter account, @SFA_Softball.

With a Nicholls extra-inning win over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday night, the Ladyjacks will be either the No. 3 seed or the No. 4 seed for next week's Southland Tournament depending on Sunday's result.

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

-SFA-