Friday, February 9
Huntsville, TX
10:30 a.m.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
Wichita State University
A New Era of SFA Softball Begins at Bearkat Classic
2/8/2024 1:25:00 PM | Softball
HUNTSVILLE, Texas- Stephen F. Austin's Softball Team start their 2024 campaign when they get set to participate in the Bearkat Classic hosted by Sam Houston State from February 9th to the 11th. Over the course of the weekend, SFA will open up their season against Wichita State, before playing consecutive games against UNLV, and closing out the tournament against the host Sam Houston Bearkats.
Stephen F. Austin at a Glance:
SFA will begin their much-anticipated season as they begin a new era of SFA softball under newly hired Head Coach Jeff Jackson who comes to SFA from Odessa College. In six seasons overseeing the Odessa Wranglers Softball Program, Coach Jackson compiled a 175-58 record with his last season being the most successful in program history. Odessa went 54-6 last season that saw the Wranglers set new school records for wins (54), winning percentage (88.7%), RBI's (556), and walks (211), while finishing third in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament, which was the best finish in program history. Preceding his time at Odessa, Coach Jackson spent three seasons as Head Coach of Ranger College Softball where he led a massive turnaround for Ranger College where they went from finishing last in the NTJCAC to the #12 team in the nation. Coach Jackson started coaching softball after three years as a baseball assistant. Before becoming the head softball coach, he spent two years as the assistant baseball coach at Ranger under head coach Josh Blakley. He began his coaching career at McMurry University in Abilene, TX after spending four seasons as the team's catcher under head coaches Lee Driggers and John Byington.
The new coaching regime is not the only big change to the SFA Softball Program, as the Ladyjacks will look to replace their 2023 graduating class that saw seniors Gaby Garcia, Mackenzie Bennett, Camryn Middlebrook, Reagyn Parrish, and Sydnee Hebert all graduate. Last season, all five seniors played significant parts in helping the 'Jacks finish the season with a 30-24 record, a 15-9 record in WAC Conference play, and make it all the way to the WAC semifinals before losing a nailbiter to Seattle 10-9 in extra innings. Mackenzie Bennett displayed her excellent hitting abilities in her senior season as she hit for a .367 average to lead all 'Jacks, while clubbing 12 homeruns and drove in a team-leading 49 RBI's last season. Camryn Middlebrook recorded the second highest average last season with her impressive .325 batting average, where she also hit 11 doubles, four homeruns, and drove in 24 runners. Sydnee Hebert finished her senior season hitting for a solid .287 average, while smacking three homeruns, driving in 20 runners, and drawing the second most walks in the WAC with 36 free passes. Raegyn Parrish offered versatility for SFA last season as she contributed on both the mound and in the batter's box as she hit two homeruns, including one in the WAC Tournament against CBU, while also appearing as a reliever for the 'Jacks. However, no loss will be felt more than that of Gaby Garcia who etched her name into SFA history by setting both the single-season home-run record and the all-time career home-run record for SFA last season, in route to crushing a team-high 18 homeruns, which was second most in the WAC, driving in 43 runners, and putting the cherry on top of her dominant season with a .315 average.
While the team may have lost some of their best power hitters what SFA lacks in power this season they will more than make up for in speed as this season will still offer plenty of excitement as SFA figures to be one of the top base stealing teams in the WAC. Leading the charge on the basepaths for SFA will be Mallory Webb who swiped 15 bases last season good for fourth most in the WAC. In addition to her stellar base running, Webb hit for a .286 average driving in six runners and drawing 12 walks, while also being named to the 2023 WAC All-Tournament Team. However, Webb will not be alone on the basepaths as fellow teammate Madison Nguyen stole 12 bags of her own last season good for eighth most by any player in the WAC, while adding on 14 RBI's and hitting for a .263 average. Lexi Benson will look to build off her superb junior season in the box that saw her bat for a .310 average, while adding nine doubles, 10 homeruns, and driving in 29 runners, Benson figures to have plenty of opportunities to drive in runners this season hitting in the middle of the SFA lineup. One of the most intriguing transfers to the SFA lineup this season is Amiah Galcatcher who comes to SFA after two seasons at Grayson College. While playing for the Grayson College Vikings, Galcatcher was an imposing force in the batter's box as she hit 34 homeruns, drove in 119 runners, and hit for an average over .430 in two seasons at Grayson.
The Ladyjacks return their dynamic pitching duo of Brooke Gainous and Alexis Telford this season as both threw over 100 innings for SFA last season. Gainous, who was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team, compiled a 14-10 record last season while sporting a solid 3.25 ERA where she threw 157.1 innings and appeared in 37 games for the 'Jacks, drawing a start in 23 of them. Telford was equally dominant in the circle for SFA last season as she wrapped up last season with a 10-9 record, pitching to the tune of a 3.30 ERA, and appeared in 25 games for the Ladyjacks drawing a starting nod in 18 of them. Aydenne Brown will look to form a three-headed pitching monster for SFA this season as she enters her first year in the Pineywoods coming off a season where she started 20 games for the New Mexico State Aggies, throwing 96.2 innings and showcasing her wipeout pitches as she struck out 95 hitters on the season for the Aggies. The SFA defense figures to give Telford, Gainous, and Brown plenty of help this season as last season Webb finished with 81 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage while Benson also finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage finishing last season with 60 putouts. Joining Lexi Benson and Mallory Webb in the field will be Hope Lusk, Madison Nguyen, and Kelby Robbins who all recorded fielding percentages over .975 last season.
Stephen F. Austin vs. Wichita State
Dates/Times: Friday, February 9th at 10:30 a.m. CST, and Saturday February 10th at 3:30 p.m. CST
Field: Bearkat Softball Complex
Series: Wichita State Leads 3-2
Shockers at a Glance:
The Wichita State begin their 2024 season coming on the heels of a historic 2023 season that saw them win 44 games good for second most in school history. The historic season was capped off with the Shockers winning the American Athletic Conference and marked the third time in school history they have won 40+ games. Due to the success from last season, Wichita State opens up this season receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 as they enter year 13 with Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner at the helm of the team. The Shockers were voted the preseason favorite by the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll that saw Wichita State receive eight first place votes and 80 points total. With great recognition comes a harder schedule as the Shockers schedule this season includes match-ups against no. 1 Oklahoma, no. 5 Clemson, no. 9 Arkansas State, and no. 18 Nebraska as Wichita State will draw seven top-25 teams this season.
The Shockers are led by Addison Barnard who has 69 career homeruns at Wichita State, which is most in Shocker History as well as American Athletic Conference history. In fact, Barnard is the only active Division I player with 60+ HR's and 50+ SB's for her career, while ranking second among NCAA Division I active players in career homeruns as her 69 long bombs are just four behind current leader Tiare Jennings of Oklahoma. Not shockingly, Barnard was tabbed a Preseason First Team All-American by Softball America and the no. 17 player on the Preseason Top 100 list, while being ranked as the no. 3 ranked outfielder. However, the Shockers offer more than just Barnard on their team as they will bring back their entire pitching staff that saw three different pitchers win double-digit games for Wichita State in Lauren Howell (18 wins), Alex Aguilar (15 wins), and Alison Cooper (11 wins). To top it all off, the Shocker defense was an elite unit last season as they recorded a .984 fielding percentage as a team, good for third best in the NCAA and the highest fielding percentage in school history.
The last time SFA and Wichita State saw each other was in 2015, which saw the Ladyjacks claim a 6-3 win over the Shockers in the Getterman Classic held in Waco.
Stephen F. Austin vs. UNLV
Dates/Times: Friday, February 9th at 1:00 p.m. CST, and Saturday, February 10th at 10:30 a.m. CST
Field: Bearkat Softball Complex
Series: First Meeting
Rebels at a Glance:
The UNLV Rebels enter the 2024 season coming off a 23-27 overall record with a 9-13 Mountain West Conference record last season as the Rebels will look to return to their winning ways as they are just two years removed from a 43-win season in 2022. The Rebels are led by Head Coach Kristie Fox who is entering her seventh year at the helm of the Rebels as she has helped lead the Rebels to a winning season in six of her seven seasons with last season being the first time in her coaching career at UNLV the team did not finish at least 10 games over .500. Fox became one of the youngest head coaches in the nation when she was hired as Head Coach of the UTA Mavericks in 2012, but she helped lead the Mavericks to five consecutive conference tournament appearances from 2012-2017 before accepting the job to head the UNLV Softball Program.
The Rebel offense is powered by Maddie Schmidt and Ariana Martinez who have teamed up to form a dynamic duo for UNLV. Both Schmidt and Martinez were named to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team based off their stellar performances last season. Last season, Schmidt hit for a .331 average recording 49 hits, and going a perfect 21-for-21 on stolen bases for the Rebels. Martinez formed a nice compliment to Schmidt's speed last season as she displayed her power by hitting for an impressive .370 batting average while leading the team in doubles (16), homeruns (12), and RBI's (54) in route to being a 2023 All-Conference First Team nominee. Skyler Shaw rounds out the top three for the Rebels as she looks to replicate the season she had last year when she hit for a team-leading .411 average while striking out a team-low 17 times last season.
This match-up will feature the first time these two programs have seen each other as SFA looks to gain some early season momentum against the Rebels.
Stephen F. Austin vs. Sam Houston State
Dates/Times: Sunday, February 11th at 3:30 p.m. CST
Field: Bearkat Softball Complex
Series: Sam Houston Leads 80-69
Bearkats at a Glance
The host Sam Houston Bearkats begin a new era of softball as well as they will enter their first season in the Conference USA after playing their final season in the WAC last season. In their final year in the WAC, the Bearkats finished the season 22-35, going 12-12 in conference play, and qualifying for the WAC postseason tournament. Sam Houston is guided by Head Coach Garrett Valis who has been with the Kats since 2016 and is entering his sixth season as manager of the Bearkats.
Sam Houston despite moving to a new conference will retain a very similar team to last season as they will see 15 letterwinners and nine position players return this season. The Bearkats roll out almost their entire starting lineup from last season who are headlined by Brodie Quinlan who led the Bearkats in homeruns (seven), RBI's (30), and tied for the team lead in doubles with nine. Joining Quinlan in the offensive charge are Tricia Yarotsky, who hit for a .253 average last season with four homeruns and 18 RBI's while starting in all 54 games for Sam Houston, and Julia Herzinger who hit for a .280 average with four long balls and 18 driven in last season. Hannah Scheaffer looks to build off her solid season last season for Sam Houston as last season saw her hit for a .285 average, with three homeruns and driving in 27 while only striking out 14 times. Schaeffer was selected to the preseason All-CUSA Team as she enters her senior season and looks to have a firm grasp on the backstop position for Sam Houston this season. Meanwhile, Daryn Grams looks to fill the void left at the top of the pitching order for Sam Houston after previous ace Emma Guindon graduated following the conclusion of last season. Grams pitched to the tune of a 3.71 ERA, throwing 102 innings and finishing with a 7-7 record while pitching in 30 games for Sam Houston.
This storied rivalry continues into another season both teams will get an opportunity to play each other on their home turf. Although the Bearkats hold the series lead over SFA, the Ladyjacks have won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools with the most recent game seeing the Ladyjacks defeat the Bearkats 5-2 on their home field.
Stephen F. Austin at a Glance:
SFA will begin their much-anticipated season as they begin a new era of SFA softball under newly hired Head Coach Jeff Jackson who comes to SFA from Odessa College. In six seasons overseeing the Odessa Wranglers Softball Program, Coach Jackson compiled a 175-58 record with his last season being the most successful in program history. Odessa went 54-6 last season that saw the Wranglers set new school records for wins (54), winning percentage (88.7%), RBI's (556), and walks (211), while finishing third in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament, which was the best finish in program history. Preceding his time at Odessa, Coach Jackson spent three seasons as Head Coach of Ranger College Softball where he led a massive turnaround for Ranger College where they went from finishing last in the NTJCAC to the #12 team in the nation. Coach Jackson started coaching softball after three years as a baseball assistant. Before becoming the head softball coach, he spent two years as the assistant baseball coach at Ranger under head coach Josh Blakley. He began his coaching career at McMurry University in Abilene, TX after spending four seasons as the team's catcher under head coaches Lee Driggers and John Byington.
The new coaching regime is not the only big change to the SFA Softball Program, as the Ladyjacks will look to replace their 2023 graduating class that saw seniors Gaby Garcia, Mackenzie Bennett, Camryn Middlebrook, Reagyn Parrish, and Sydnee Hebert all graduate. Last season, all five seniors played significant parts in helping the 'Jacks finish the season with a 30-24 record, a 15-9 record in WAC Conference play, and make it all the way to the WAC semifinals before losing a nailbiter to Seattle 10-9 in extra innings. Mackenzie Bennett displayed her excellent hitting abilities in her senior season as she hit for a .367 average to lead all 'Jacks, while clubbing 12 homeruns and drove in a team-leading 49 RBI's last season. Camryn Middlebrook recorded the second highest average last season with her impressive .325 batting average, where she also hit 11 doubles, four homeruns, and drove in 24 runners. Sydnee Hebert finished her senior season hitting for a solid .287 average, while smacking three homeruns, driving in 20 runners, and drawing the second most walks in the WAC with 36 free passes. Raegyn Parrish offered versatility for SFA last season as she contributed on both the mound and in the batter's box as she hit two homeruns, including one in the WAC Tournament against CBU, while also appearing as a reliever for the 'Jacks. However, no loss will be felt more than that of Gaby Garcia who etched her name into SFA history by setting both the single-season home-run record and the all-time career home-run record for SFA last season, in route to crushing a team-high 18 homeruns, which was second most in the WAC, driving in 43 runners, and putting the cherry on top of her dominant season with a .315 average.
While the team may have lost some of their best power hitters what SFA lacks in power this season they will more than make up for in speed as this season will still offer plenty of excitement as SFA figures to be one of the top base stealing teams in the WAC. Leading the charge on the basepaths for SFA will be Mallory Webb who swiped 15 bases last season good for fourth most in the WAC. In addition to her stellar base running, Webb hit for a .286 average driving in six runners and drawing 12 walks, while also being named to the 2023 WAC All-Tournament Team. However, Webb will not be alone on the basepaths as fellow teammate Madison Nguyen stole 12 bags of her own last season good for eighth most by any player in the WAC, while adding on 14 RBI's and hitting for a .263 average. Lexi Benson will look to build off her superb junior season in the box that saw her bat for a .310 average, while adding nine doubles, 10 homeruns, and driving in 29 runners, Benson figures to have plenty of opportunities to drive in runners this season hitting in the middle of the SFA lineup. One of the most intriguing transfers to the SFA lineup this season is Amiah Galcatcher who comes to SFA after two seasons at Grayson College. While playing for the Grayson College Vikings, Galcatcher was an imposing force in the batter's box as she hit 34 homeruns, drove in 119 runners, and hit for an average over .430 in two seasons at Grayson.
The Ladyjacks return their dynamic pitching duo of Brooke Gainous and Alexis Telford this season as both threw over 100 innings for SFA last season. Gainous, who was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team, compiled a 14-10 record last season while sporting a solid 3.25 ERA where she threw 157.1 innings and appeared in 37 games for the 'Jacks, drawing a start in 23 of them. Telford was equally dominant in the circle for SFA last season as she wrapped up last season with a 10-9 record, pitching to the tune of a 3.30 ERA, and appeared in 25 games for the Ladyjacks drawing a starting nod in 18 of them. Aydenne Brown will look to form a three-headed pitching monster for SFA this season as she enters her first year in the Pineywoods coming off a season where she started 20 games for the New Mexico State Aggies, throwing 96.2 innings and showcasing her wipeout pitches as she struck out 95 hitters on the season for the Aggies. The SFA defense figures to give Telford, Gainous, and Brown plenty of help this season as last season Webb finished with 81 putouts and a 1.000 fielding percentage while Benson also finished with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage finishing last season with 60 putouts. Joining Lexi Benson and Mallory Webb in the field will be Hope Lusk, Madison Nguyen, and Kelby Robbins who all recorded fielding percentages over .975 last season.
Stephen F. Austin vs. Wichita State
Dates/Times: Friday, February 9th at 10:30 a.m. CST, and Saturday February 10th at 3:30 p.m. CST
Field: Bearkat Softball Complex
Series: Wichita State Leads 3-2
Shockers at a Glance:
The Wichita State begin their 2024 season coming on the heels of a historic 2023 season that saw them win 44 games good for second most in school history. The historic season was capped off with the Shockers winning the American Athletic Conference and marked the third time in school history they have won 40+ games. Due to the success from last season, Wichita State opens up this season receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Softball Top 25 as they enter year 13 with Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner at the helm of the team. The Shockers were voted the preseason favorite by the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll that saw Wichita State receive eight first place votes and 80 points total. With great recognition comes a harder schedule as the Shockers schedule this season includes match-ups against no. 1 Oklahoma, no. 5 Clemson, no. 9 Arkansas State, and no. 18 Nebraska as Wichita State will draw seven top-25 teams this season.
The Shockers are led by Addison Barnard who has 69 career homeruns at Wichita State, which is most in Shocker History as well as American Athletic Conference history. In fact, Barnard is the only active Division I player with 60+ HR's and 50+ SB's for her career, while ranking second among NCAA Division I active players in career homeruns as her 69 long bombs are just four behind current leader Tiare Jennings of Oklahoma. Not shockingly, Barnard was tabbed a Preseason First Team All-American by Softball America and the no. 17 player on the Preseason Top 100 list, while being ranked as the no. 3 ranked outfielder. However, the Shockers offer more than just Barnard on their team as they will bring back their entire pitching staff that saw three different pitchers win double-digit games for Wichita State in Lauren Howell (18 wins), Alex Aguilar (15 wins), and Alison Cooper (11 wins). To top it all off, the Shocker defense was an elite unit last season as they recorded a .984 fielding percentage as a team, good for third best in the NCAA and the highest fielding percentage in school history.
The last time SFA and Wichita State saw each other was in 2015, which saw the Ladyjacks claim a 6-3 win over the Shockers in the Getterman Classic held in Waco.
Stephen F. Austin vs. UNLV
Dates/Times: Friday, February 9th at 1:00 p.m. CST, and Saturday, February 10th at 10:30 a.m. CST
Field: Bearkat Softball Complex
Series: First Meeting
Rebels at a Glance:
The UNLV Rebels enter the 2024 season coming off a 23-27 overall record with a 9-13 Mountain West Conference record last season as the Rebels will look to return to their winning ways as they are just two years removed from a 43-win season in 2022. The Rebels are led by Head Coach Kristie Fox who is entering her seventh year at the helm of the Rebels as she has helped lead the Rebels to a winning season in six of her seven seasons with last season being the first time in her coaching career at UNLV the team did not finish at least 10 games over .500. Fox became one of the youngest head coaches in the nation when she was hired as Head Coach of the UTA Mavericks in 2012, but she helped lead the Mavericks to five consecutive conference tournament appearances from 2012-2017 before accepting the job to head the UNLV Softball Program.
The Rebel offense is powered by Maddie Schmidt and Ariana Martinez who have teamed up to form a dynamic duo for UNLV. Both Schmidt and Martinez were named to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team based off their stellar performances last season. Last season, Schmidt hit for a .331 average recording 49 hits, and going a perfect 21-for-21 on stolen bases for the Rebels. Martinez formed a nice compliment to Schmidt's speed last season as she displayed her power by hitting for an impressive .370 batting average while leading the team in doubles (16), homeruns (12), and RBI's (54) in route to being a 2023 All-Conference First Team nominee. Skyler Shaw rounds out the top three for the Rebels as she looks to replicate the season she had last year when she hit for a team-leading .411 average while striking out a team-low 17 times last season.
This match-up will feature the first time these two programs have seen each other as SFA looks to gain some early season momentum against the Rebels.
Stephen F. Austin vs. Sam Houston State
Dates/Times: Sunday, February 11th at 3:30 p.m. CST
Field: Bearkat Softball Complex
Series: Sam Houston Leads 80-69
Bearkats at a Glance
The host Sam Houston Bearkats begin a new era of softball as well as they will enter their first season in the Conference USA after playing their final season in the WAC last season. In their final year in the WAC, the Bearkats finished the season 22-35, going 12-12 in conference play, and qualifying for the WAC postseason tournament. Sam Houston is guided by Head Coach Garrett Valis who has been with the Kats since 2016 and is entering his sixth season as manager of the Bearkats.
Sam Houston despite moving to a new conference will retain a very similar team to last season as they will see 15 letterwinners and nine position players return this season. The Bearkats roll out almost their entire starting lineup from last season who are headlined by Brodie Quinlan who led the Bearkats in homeruns (seven), RBI's (30), and tied for the team lead in doubles with nine. Joining Quinlan in the offensive charge are Tricia Yarotsky, who hit for a .253 average last season with four homeruns and 18 RBI's while starting in all 54 games for Sam Houston, and Julia Herzinger who hit for a .280 average with four long balls and 18 driven in last season. Hannah Scheaffer looks to build off her solid season last season for Sam Houston as last season saw her hit for a .285 average, with three homeruns and driving in 27 while only striking out 14 times. Schaeffer was selected to the preseason All-CUSA Team as she enters her senior season and looks to have a firm grasp on the backstop position for Sam Houston this season. Meanwhile, Daryn Grams looks to fill the void left at the top of the pitching order for Sam Houston after previous ace Emma Guindon graduated following the conclusion of last season. Grams pitched to the tune of a 3.71 ERA, throwing 102 innings and finishing with a 7-7 record while pitching in 30 games for Sam Houston.
This storied rivalry continues into another season both teams will get an opportunity to play each other on their home turf. Although the Bearkats hold the series lead over SFA, the Ladyjacks have won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools with the most recent game seeing the Ladyjacks defeat the Bearkats 5-2 on their home field.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF/P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF/IF
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball2.1.24 | Axe 'Em Insider Ep. 24 x Softball
Friday, February 02
Softball - Stephen F. Austin - 02/22/2017: Stephen F. Austin
Wednesday, February 22
Softball - Stephen F. Austin - 02/22/2017: Stephen F. Austin
Wednesday, February 22
SFA Completes Epic Comeback: SFA Softball
Thursday, May 12
