SFA’s Bats Power Lumberjacks to Victory over Thunderbirds

Saturday, March 16

Cedar City, UT

3:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

7-22, 0-2

Southern Utah University

12-10, 2-0

Stephen F. Austin

Southern Utah

SFA’s Bats Power Lumberjacks to Victory over Thunderbirds

3/16/2024 9:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

ST. GEORGE, Utah. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (8-22, 1-2) won the series finale against the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds (12-11, 2-1) by a final score of 7-2 this afternoon thanks to a season-high 15 hits and a pair of homeruns from Alexis Telford and Ellie Vance.

The series finale of the three-game set between SFA and Southern Utah pitted Emily Delgado of the Thunderbirds against Aydenne Brown of the Lumberjacks on the bumps for their respective schools. After a scoreless first inning for both schools, the Lumberjacks broke the ice in this one early as Amiah Galtacher would send a liner back up the middle to begin the top of the second. Veronica Cully would come in as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a fielder's choice, before dual-threat player Alexis Telford, who drew the start at first base today, dumped a single into the outfield to score Cully from second and give SFA an early 1-0 lead. The Thunderbirds would break through in the bottom of the second and take the lead off a two-run homerun with the 2-1 lead holding until the top of the fifth inning.

Chloe Reneau would single to lead off the top of the fifth, advancing to second on a fielder's choice, before coming around to score on a Brittany Coe RBI single to tie the game at two runs apiece. However, the Lumberjacks weren't done scoring in the top of the fifth as following an Amiah Galcatcher double, and a Hope Lusk walk, Alexis Telford would knock her second RBI single of the day into left field to give the 'Jacks a 3-2 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth. SFA would tack on another run in the top of the sixth, as Chloe Reneau would reach first off of an error, with Reneau showing off her blazing speed shortly after as she would subsequently steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch. Lexi Benson stepped in with Reneau standing on third and took full advantage of the RBI opportunity as she sent a bullet through the left side to score Reneau and extend the SFA lead to 4-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth.

The top of the seventh offered some more offensive fireworks for SFA as they would extend their lead to 7-2 off a pair of homeruns from Ellie Vance and Alexis Telford, who both recorded their first homeruns of the season. Following an Emily Land leadoff double to begin the seventh, Ellie Vance would send a rocket to the outfield and Vance would turn on the burners right out of the batter's box as she would hit an inside-the-park homerun to score both she and Land and extend SFA's lead to 6-2. Alexis Telford stepped in looking for another hit and she made sure there was never any doubt about her homerun as she launched a towering flyball that easily cleared the outfield fences to stake SFA to a 7-2 lead. Aydenne Brown had little trouble cleaning up the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the seventh as SFA would eventually win 7-2 over Southern Utah for their first conference win this season.

A whopping 10 different Lumberjacks recorded hits today, in route to a season-high 15 hits for SFA to end their first road conference series on an extremely high note. Chloe Reneau (3-5, 2 R, SB) and Alexis Telford (3-4, R, 3 RBI, HR) led the way offensively for SFA but they were far from the only ones who experienced great success at the plate today. Ellie Vance (1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR), Amiah Galcatcher (2-3, 2B), and Emily Land (1-1, 2B, R) joined Telford in the extra base party for SFA. Meanwhile, Madison Nguyen (1-5), Lexi Benson (1-3, RBI, BB), Brittany Coe (1-3, R, RBI), Mallory Webb (1-2, BB, SB), and Arwin Callaway (1-2) all got into the hitting frenzy against the Thunderbirds, as the Lumberjacks showcased not only their hitting ability but also their discipline today as they struck out just one time on the afternoon and drew three walks courtesy of Lexi Benson, Mallory Webb, and Hope Lusk (0-0, BB).

Aydenne Brown continues to be a nuisance for opposing hitters as she pitched the full seven innings today, allowing just four hits and two runs scattered over seven innings, while striking out another nine hitters and not issuing a walk in another pitching masterpiece from Brown, who picked up a win in her second consecutive outing and her fourth of the season. Brittany Coe was a busy bee defensively for SFA as she led the team with nine putouts today, while Arwin Callaway and Chloe Reneau combined for three putouts and two assists defensively.

The Lumberjacks will enjoy some time at home next week as they kick-off a four-game homestand against the University of Houston on Tuesday, March 19th. First pitch for the Tuesday midweek game against the Cougars is set for 5:00 p.m. CST at SFA Softball Field.