Nguyen Powers Lumberjacks to Split with Northwestern State

Tuesday, February 27

Natchitoches, LA

3:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

4-12

Northwestern State University

9-9

Stephen F. Austin

Northwestern State

Nguyen Powers Lumberjacks to Split with Northwestern State

2/27/2024 8:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (5-12, 0-0) took a short trip east to sister town Natchitoches and came away with a split in the doubleheader against the Northwestern State Lady Demons (9-10, 0-0) in the Lady Demons home opener. Northwestern State won game one of the doubleheader, before SFA bounced back by winning the nightcap game.

Game 1: Northwestern State 8, SFA 0

The first game of the doubleheader saw Alexis Telford draw the start in the circle following a busy weekend of pitching at the UNT Invite. Telford would pitch 3.1 innings for the 'Jacks, with Kayla Palomino coming in as a reliever and pitching the final 1.1 innings of game one. The first half of the game was a pitching duel as neither team scored a run over the first three innings. However, the Lady Demons in their home opener of the season provided some fireworks for their fans as they would score seven runs in the bottom of the fourth, before adding another run in the fifth to institute the run-rule and take game one of the doubleheader by a final score of 8-0.

Kylie Bishop and Kelby Robbins both recorded hits for SFA, however, Kenzie Seely brought her best stuff to the ballpark against SFA as she kept the SFA offense quiet in game one of the doubleheader. Lexi Benson continues her fantastic defensive season as she led the Lumberjacks with six putouts, while Brittany Coe finished second with four putouts of her own. However, the highlight of the day for SFA was Mallory Webb who continues to flash her almost unlimited range in center field. Webb added another web gem to her collection as she robbed Taylor Williams of a hit on a sinking line drive to left center by sacrificing her body to layout and make a fantastic diving catch in shallow left center field.

Game 2: SFA 3, Northwestern State 1

The night cap of the doubleheader saw reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week Aydenne Brown on the bump against the Lady Demons. Both teams posted two scoreless innings to begin the game, before Northwestern State loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, however, Brown did a fantastic job navigating traffic and limiting damage as she allowed just one run, but the Lady Demons still held a slim 1-0 lead heading into the fourth. The fourth inning saw both schools post a donut in the score column, as Aydenne Brown got in and out of trouble in the bottom of the fourth as she worked out of another bases loaded jam to keep the game 1-0 in favor of Northwestern State.

The top of the fifth saw the Lumberjacks work some two-out magic to take a late lead against the Lady Demons. Following Mikaelah Burkland reaching first on a fielder's choice, Chloe Reneau sent a liner back up the middle to move Burkland to second and give the 'Jacks a pair of runners on-base in the fifth. Brittany Coe was able to follow suit of Burkland and Reneau as she was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Madison Nguyen, who was 2-2 prior to this at-bat. Nguyen would build off her fantastic game as she would send a base knock to left field, her third straight hit of the game, that plated both Reneau and Burkland to give SFA their first lead of the night at 2-1. Despite the Lady Demons putting some traffic on the basepaths for the third consecutive inning, Aydenne Brown showcased the same calm, cool, and collectedness she put on display against Minnesota as she worked out of runners on second and third in the bottom of the fifth by forcing a groundout to poach another scoring opportunity away from Northwestern State.

The top of the seventh saw the Lumberjacks get a critical insurance run as Mallory Webb led off the inning with a 10-pitch walk, before Chloe Reneau reached base for the second consecutive time to give SFA some momentum in the top of the seventh. Madison Nguyen stepped in with Webb on third and Reneau on second, and continued her dominant game as she was able to drive in Webb to extend SFA's lead to 3-1 and record her third RBI of the game in the process. Brooke Gainous came in as a reliever in the sixth inning for Aydenne Brown and made sure the Lady Demons had no thoughts of a comeback as she pitched two scoreless innings to help secure the save and the Lumberjacks fifth win of the season.

The saying goes that three is the magic number, and Madison Nguyen proved how magical the number three can be tonight as she recorded three hits, and drove in all three runs for SFA as she almost single handily powered SFA to a win in the nightcap of the double header. Mallory Webb continues to form a potent hitting duo with Nguyen on the basepaths as she recorded a hit and a walk of her own in tonight's game. Nguyen has now reached base safely in five of her last six games, while Webb has reached safely in four of her last six, with the two combining for 16 hits, 10 RBIs, and a pair of walks over their last six contests. Kelby Robbins recorded a base hit as well, while Arwin Callaway worked a walk in her lone at-bat of the evening.

Aydenne Brown continues to stack solid pitching performances and is backing up her WAC Pitcher of the Week nomination, as she has now claimed a win in back-to-back appearances and has allowed just three runs over her last 13 innings pitched. Brown finished tonight's contest by allowing just one run over five innings, throwing 95 pitches and inducing 10 flyouts and four groundouts from the Lady Demons. Brooke Gainous was phenomenal in her relief appearance as she pitched two spotless innings, allowing just two hits and no walks and locking down her first save of the season in the process.

Mikaelah Burkland led the defensive effort in the second game as she recorded a team-high four putouts, with Chloe Reneau, Lexi Benson, and Alex Dubose following closely behind as each of them had three putouts apiece. All in all, the Lumberjack defense played another error-free game as they have now recorded zero errors in four of their last five contests.

The Lumberjacks will put an end to their crazy travel schedule as they will get to enjoy this weekend at home when they get set to host the Houston Christian University Huskies at SFA Softball Field for a Friday, March 1st doubleheader, before wrapping up the three-game series on Saturday, March 2nd. The double header on Friday kicks-off with first pitch of game one set for 3:00 p.m. CST, and game two beginning approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, while Saturday's game has first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST.