Ladyjacks Hold Third-Seeded McNeese Scoreless for 10 Innings Thursday at Southland Tournament

Thursday, May 9

Natchitoches, La.

6:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

35-21

#3 McNeese

30-29

McNeese

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Ladyjacks Hold Third-Seeded McNeese Scoreless for 10 Innings Thursday at Southland Tournament

5/9/2019 11:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

SFA softball’s pitching staff tosses 14 consecutive innings of scoreless ball Thursday at 2019 Southland Tournament

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

Bracket | Southland Tournament Central

NATCHITOCHES, La. – For 10 full innings, the SFA softball team played near-flawless defense and did not allow a run in the 2019 Southland Conference Softball Tournament's back draw semifinal game against third-seeded McNeese Thursday night at Lady Demon Diamond in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Following 14 consecutive innings of scoreless pitching by the Ladyjacks (35-21) Thursday, the Cowgirls (30-29) connected on an 11th-inning two-run home run and added another score in the frame to claim a 3-0, extra-inning win after three hours and 20 minutes of play.

Junior right-handed starter Ashley Kriesel posted seven strikeouts in the opening three innings and Southland Freshman of the Year Kassidy Wilbur struck out four in relief, allowing just one hit in her first four innings on the rubber.

"It's been an amazing year with these amazing young women," head coach Nicole Dickson said following the game. "This team never quit, every player did their part. We had an all-in, 100-percent effort attitude and energy tonight. This program is moving swiftly in a direction that can and will break boundaries, and we will be back next season even stronger. I'm thankful, blessed and proud to coach this team and work with this staff representing this university."

SFA got a leadoff single to third base from sophomore designated player Bryana Novegil in the bottom of the first and then a two-out double up the middle from freshman right fielder Alex Hedspeth in the bottom of the fourth, but that would be it for the Ladyjacks offensively in regulation innings. In the bottom of the eighth, SFA loaded the bases with just one out but wasn't able to drive anybody home. A leadoff walk drawn by freshman pinch hitter Cassidy Tucker led to a Novegil single up the middle before senior third baseman Lauren Becker successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt. After senior first baseman and Southland Hitter of the Year Margarita Corona was intentionally walked, Wilbur reached on a fielder's choice as senior shortstop Emily Wolfe was thrown out at home plate. Moments later, Hedspeth reached on a fielder's choice as McNeese made its second-straight play at the dish.

Staving off the Cowgirls in the top of the ninth after McNeese got a runner in scoring position with two outs, the Ladyjacks collected a pair of hits in the bottom of the inning. Junior second baseman Lindsay Gregory led off with a single up the middle and junior left fielder Madison Clements singled to left field following a Cowgirl double play, but SFA couldn't manufacture a run before loading the bases once again in the bottom of the 10th.

McNeese was limited to a two-out double in the top of the 10th, before Novegil collected her third hit of the night on a leadoff single to right field. After Becker laid down a sacrifice bunt, Corona was once again intentionally walked and Wilbur drew a second consecutive walk to load the bases with just one out. However, another fielder's choice at home plate by the Cowgirls and a lineout thwarted the Ladyjacks' opportunities.

A leadoff single by McNeese shortstop Cori McCrary and a steal in the top of the 11th set up Cowgirl center fielder Toni Perrin, who took a 2-2 pitch over the left center field wall. Her two-run shot breaking the 0-0 tie before left fielder Justyce McClain recorded a sacrifice fly to left field, giving McNeese a 3-0 lead. A groundout would end the top portion of the inning with the Cowgirls earning three runs on a trio of hits.

Clements drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the 11th but that was all SFA would be able to get.

Novegil finished the contest 3-for-6 at the plate, while Wilbur (20-15) took the loss after tossing seven full innings in relief. Kriesel threw the first four frames with no walks and only three hits allowed.

First baseman Alexandria Saldivar went 2-for-4 for McNeese as McClain and right fielder Kaylee Lopez both posted 2-for-5 performances. Right-handed starter Saleen Flores went eight and 2/3 innings with six walks, no strikeouts and six hits allowed, before right-hander Alexsandra Flores (13-12) didn't allow a hit and struck out a pair over the the final two innings to pick up the win.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks will learn of their national postseason fate Sunday night following NCAA Regional and National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) selections.

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

-SFA-