Stephen F. Austin
16-15, 5-3
Southern Utah University
5-18, 2-6
Lexi Benson Smashes Two Home Runs as Lumberjacks Soar Past Thunderbirds
4/1/2023 11:00:00 PM | Softball
The Lumberjack bats got going early in this one as Camryn Middlebrook led off with a single through the right side, followed by Lexi Benson's two-run homer to straightaway center, 2-0. Southern Utah scored one run in the bottom of the first to cut the lead down to one. The second started very similar to the first with Kelby Robbins leading off the inning with a double, followed by another two-run homer to right center slammed by Sydney Carithers, 4-1. Then Benson stepped up for her second at-bat of the game and smashed her second home run over the center field fence to put the Jacks up by four runs. The 'Jacks bats were on fire in the third inning which started with three singles from Mackenzie Bennett, Gaby Garcia and Mikaelah Burkland to load up the bases. Robbins hit a grounder to the shortstop who threw it to the catcher to keep SFA from scoring, but the throw was short and pulled the catcher off the bag which allowed another run to score for the 'Jacks, 6-1. Carithers stepped into the box with bases loaded looking to extend the SFA lead, and she does just that with a single that hits off of the shortstop's glove and scores two more runs, 8-1. Mallory Webb drove in the next run off of a double down the left field line, 9-1. Benson recorded her third RBI of the game off of a single to left center which scored Webb, 10-1. Sydnee Hebert hit the fourth home run for the 'Jacks with a three-run bomb over the left field fence to put SFA up 13-1. Bennett scored the final run for SFA when she smashed a solo shot to left field for the fifth home run for SFA and extend the lead to 14-1.
Bennett went a perfect 4-4 from the plate with an RBI, a double and a home run. Benson followed Bennett with three hits and led the team with four RBIs and two home runs. Carithers tied with Benson with four RBIs, she recorded two hits and one home run. Brooke Gainous picked up her seventh win of the season with her sixth complete game of the season, as she allowed six hits, four runs, and struckout three batters.
SFA will be head to Houston for a Tuesday evening doubleheader matchup with the Houston Cougars. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. on April 4th.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gainous, Brooke (6-4)
L: K. Winston (2-7)
Batting:
2B: Middlebrook, Camryn 1 ; Hebert, Sydnee 1 ; Bennett, Mackenzie 1 ; Robbins, Kelby 2 ; Webb, Mallory 1
HR: Benson, Lexi 2 ; Hebert, Sydnee 1 ; Bennett, Mackenzie 1 ; Carithers, Sydney 1
RBI: Benson, Lexi 4 ; Hebert, Sydnee 3 ; Bennett, Mackenzie 1 ; Robbins, Kelby 1 ; Carithers, Sydney 4 ; Webb, Mallory 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Middlebrook, Camryn 2 ; Benson, Lexi 3 ; Hebert, Sydnee 1 ; Bennett, Mackenzie 1 ; Berryhill, Emily 1 ; Garcia, Gaby 1 ; Burkland, Mikaelah 1 ; Robbins, Kelby 1 ; Carithers, Sydney 2 ; Webb, Mallory 1
SB: Benson, Lexi 1
CS: Middlebrook, Camryn 1 ; Reneau, Chloe 1
HBP: Middlebrook, Camryn 1 ; Lusk, Hope 1
Batting:
2B: E. Gonzalez 2
RBI: E. Gonzalez 3 ; R. Nielson 1
SF: R. Nielson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: J. Sepulveda 1 ; A. Laub 2 ; M. Lopez 1
SB: M. Lopez 1
