Lumberjacks Pitching Remains Red Hot in Series Finale Win

Sunday, March 24

Nacogdoches, TX

10:00 a.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-25, 2-4

Utah Tech

11-17, 4-2

Utah Tech

Stephen F. Austin

Lumberjacks Pitching Remains Red Hot in Series Finale Win

3/24/2024 1:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (9-25, 2-4) won the series finale 3-1 over the Utah Tech Trailblazers (11-17, 4-2) in a chilly Sunday morning matchup thanks to another outstanding pitching performance from the SFA pitching staff.

The series finale of the three-game weekend series saw Alexis Telford draw the start in the circle for SFA while Attlyn Johnston got the start for the Trailblazers. The Trailblazers struck first in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lumberjacks would find their stride offensively in the bottom of the third as following a Madison Nguyen single, and Lexi Benson reaching base, Alexis Telford would step in and drive in Nguyen from second as Nguyen showed incredible hustle to score from second on an infield hit to tie the game at one apiece after three full innings.

The bottom of the fourth inning saw the 'Jacks keep their bats hot as following a Kaylee Paul walk, Hope Lusk would send a rocket into left center field to score Paul from first while advancing to third on the throw to give SFA a 2-1 lead. Mikaelah Burkland followed that up by sending a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Lusk from third and giving the Lumberjacks a critical insurance run by extending the SFA lead to 3-1 after four innings. That would be all the offense SFA would need in this one as Alexis Telford pitched a third straight gem from the SFA pitching staff as she allowed just a single run over seven innings to secure the 3-1 win for SFA.

Madison Nguyen (3-4, R) delivered another vintage performance at the plate today as she slapped three consecutive singles from her typical leadoff spot to lead all 'Jacks in hits for the game. Lexi Benson (1-4) and Kelby Robbins (1-2, HBP) joined Nguyen in the singles column today, while Hope Lusk (1-2, R, BB, RBI, 2B) stuffed the statsheet by reaching base in both of her at-bats while driving in the winning run for SFA. Mikaelah Burkland (0-1, BB, RBI) and Alexis Telford (RBI), showing off her valuable versatility to this SFA lineup, both joined Lusk in the RBI department, while Kaylee Paul (0-1, 2 BB, R) and Brittany Coe (0-1, BB) both drew free passes of their own in today's game.

Alexis Telford continued to showcase how deadly this SFA pitching staff is as she allowed just one run over seven flawless innings, allowing just three hits and not issuing a single walk, while striking out five hitters on the day and not allowing a run after the first inning. SFA's pitching staff allowed just three runs over the three-game weekend series as they continue to keep opposing offenses at bay. Alex Dubose drew the start at first today and continued her fantastic defensive season as she recorded a team-high 11 putouts, while Brittany Coe drawing the start behind the dish recorded a solid five putouts and one assist of her own, as she nabbed a would-be base stealer in the top of the third inning on a perfect throw to Chloe Reneau at shortstop. Meanwhile, the dynamic infield trio of Kelby Robbins, Hope Lusk, and Chloe Reneau combined for four putouts and nine assists on the afternoon.

The Lumberjacks will hit the road for their next series as they continue conference play when they travel to Seattle for a three-game weekend series with the Seattle University Redhawks. The series kicks off with a doubleheader on Friday, March 29th before the series wraps up on Saturday, March 30th. The doubleheader on Friday has first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. CST for game one, with the second game starting approximately 30 minutes after the first game, and the game for Saturday has a start time of 3:00 p.m. CST.