Friday, April 12
Nacogdoches, TX
6:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
12-31, 5-10
1
vs
2
Abilene Christian University
14-23, 6-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Abilene Christian
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
6
0
Stephen F. Austin
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
5
3
SFA Drops Series Opener to ACU
4/12/2024 9:30:00 PM | Softball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (12-31, 5-10) lost the first game of a three-game series against the Abilene Christian Wildcats (14-23, 6-9) in a 2-1 nail-biting loss.
The opening game of the three-game series offered a pitching duel between Alexis Telford for SFA and Lina Russo of ACU. Following a scoreless first inning for both sides, the Wildcats would strike first on a solo homerun in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Ellie Vance continues to make hard plays look routine on defense as in the top of the third inning, she would make another signature diving stop to knock down a ball headed for right field, and would glove flip the ball over to Kelby Robbins at first base to record the out and start the third inning with a bang defensively. The Lumberjacks would get the bats rolling in the bottom of the third as following back-to-back walks from Lexi Benson and Kelby Robbins, Ellie Vance would come through on offense as well as she shot a ball back up the middle to score Benson from second and knot the game up at one run apiece heading to the fourth inning. The Wildcats would break the tie in the top of the sixth with a run to take a 2-1 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth. That run would be the deciding factor in this one as the Wildcats would hold on for a 2-1 win in the series opener.
Ellie Vance (3-3, RBI) recorded her second three-hit effort in her last three games as she led the Lumberjacks with three hits on the evening. Vance has now recorded a hit in eight of her last nine games with three RBIs during that span. Madison Nguyen (1-4) extended her hitting streak to four games in tonight's game, while Kelby Robbins (1-2, BB) extended her own hitting streak to three games. The SFA lineup showed incredible patience in game one as they drew six walks as a team. In addition to Robbins, Hope Lusk (0-2, BB), Lexi Benson (0-2, R, BB), Sydney Blakeman (0-0, BB), and Mallory Webb (0-0, 2 BB) all drew free passes on the day.
Alexis Telford drew the start in the circle for SFA tonight and continues to stack superb pitching performances as she has allowed just two runs in her last 13 innings pitched. Telford struck out seven hitters tonight, which comes on the heels of a five-strikeout performance on Wednesday against UTA as she has struck out 12 batters in her last 13 innings thrown. The terrific outfield trio of Mallory Webb, Madison Nguyen, and Mikaelah Burkland remained busy tonight as the trio combined for eight putouts on the evening.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action tomorrow, April 13th for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to conclude this three-game series with the Wildcats. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. CST, with first pitch of the second game starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. You can watch all the action on ESPN+, as well as follow along on the SFA Softball social media accounts for all the updates or by keeping track with live stats provided on the SFA Athletics website.
The opening game of the three-game series offered a pitching duel between Alexis Telford for SFA and Lina Russo of ACU. Following a scoreless first inning for both sides, the Wildcats would strike first on a solo homerun in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Ellie Vance continues to make hard plays look routine on defense as in the top of the third inning, she would make another signature diving stop to knock down a ball headed for right field, and would glove flip the ball over to Kelby Robbins at first base to record the out and start the third inning with a bang defensively. The Lumberjacks would get the bats rolling in the bottom of the third as following back-to-back walks from Lexi Benson and Kelby Robbins, Ellie Vance would come through on offense as well as she shot a ball back up the middle to score Benson from second and knot the game up at one run apiece heading to the fourth inning. The Wildcats would break the tie in the top of the sixth with a run to take a 2-1 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth. That run would be the deciding factor in this one as the Wildcats would hold on for a 2-1 win in the series opener.
Ellie Vance (3-3, RBI) recorded her second three-hit effort in her last three games as she led the Lumberjacks with three hits on the evening. Vance has now recorded a hit in eight of her last nine games with three RBIs during that span. Madison Nguyen (1-4) extended her hitting streak to four games in tonight's game, while Kelby Robbins (1-2, BB) extended her own hitting streak to three games. The SFA lineup showed incredible patience in game one as they drew six walks as a team. In addition to Robbins, Hope Lusk (0-2, BB), Lexi Benson (0-2, R, BB), Sydney Blakeman (0-0, BB), and Mallory Webb (0-0, 2 BB) all drew free passes on the day.
Alexis Telford drew the start in the circle for SFA tonight and continues to stack superb pitching performances as she has allowed just two runs in her last 13 innings pitched. Telford struck out seven hitters tonight, which comes on the heels of a five-strikeout performance on Wednesday against UTA as she has struck out 12 batters in her last 13 innings thrown. The terrific outfield trio of Mallory Webb, Madison Nguyen, and Mikaelah Burkland remained busy tonight as the trio combined for eight putouts on the evening.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action tomorrow, April 13th for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to conclude this three-game series with the Wildcats. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m. CST, with first pitch of the second game starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. You can watch all the action on ESPN+, as well as follow along on the SFA Softball social media accounts for all the updates or by keeping track with live stats provided on the SFA Athletics website.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: L. Russo (5-9)
L: Telford, Alexis (4-12)
Batting:
HR: A. Miloch 1
RBI: R. White 1 ; A. Miloch 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Keliiholokai 1 ; A. Miloch 1
SB: I. Martinez 1
Batting:
RBI: Vance, Ellie 1
SH: Bishop, Kylie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benson, Lexi 1
CS: Benson, Lexi 1
HBP: Benson, Lexi 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
ss/pr
AB
1
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF/IF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ 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
