Friday, April 19
Orem, UT
5:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
at
Utah Valley University
Lumberjacks Travel to Utah to Battle Wolverines
4/18/2024 4:30:00 PM | Softball
Stephen F. Austin vs. Utah Valley University
Date: Friday, April 19th Doubleheader & Saturday, April 20th
Times: Friday: 5:00 & 7:30 p.m. CST, Saturday: 2:00 p.m. CST
Live Stream: ESPN+
Stadium: Wolverine Softball Field
Series: First Meeting
OREM, Utah. - The Stephen F. Austin's Softball Team (13-32, 6-11) travel to Utah for the second time this season in their second-to-last road conference series against the host Utah Valley University Wolverines (16-22, 9-7).
Last Weekend at a Glance for SFA:
The Lumberjacks will look to carry over their momentum from their series finale 2-0 win over the visiting Abilene Christian Wildcats in which Brooke Gainous pitched a complete game gem for SFA to secure the win and secure SFA's sixth conference win this season.
These 'Jacks Can Bat:
Madison Nguyen and Ellie Vance have formed a lethal hitting duo within the SFA lineup as both carry impressive hitting streaks into this weekend series against Utah Valley. Nguyen continues to be the model of consistency from her usual leadoff spot for SFA as she will carry a six-game hitting streak into Utah that has seen her record multiple hits in three of those six games while scoring three runs during that same span. Ellie Vance has been tearing the cover off the ball lately for SFA as she currently owns a three-game hitting streak and has recorded a hit in an impressive 10 of her last 11 games. Vance has recorded a pair of three-hit efforts in her last five games in a stretch that has seen her claim the team lead in batting average. Meanwhile, Hope Lusk and Kelby Robbins have formed a dynamic duo of their own as both have reached base safely in three of their last four games.
Walk O'Clock:
The Lumberjack lineup has no trouble forcing pitchers to run up their pitch count and layoff some tough pitches as they have recorded 117 walks a team this season, which is good for second most in the WAC. So far this season, all 17 Lumberjack hitters that have recorded a walk have recorded multiple walks, while three different 'Jacks have over double-digit walks on the year. Lexi Benson continues to show unmatched patience at the plate as she has drawn a team-high 18 free passes this year, while Mallory Webb and Mikaelah Burkland have displayed excellent discipline as well as both have recorded 11 walks this year.
Wheeling and Dealing:
The Lumberjack pitching staff continues to keep opposing offenses at bay as they have recorded the third-lowest ERA in the WAC this season. The 'Jacks starting rotation of Alexis Telford, Brooke Gainous, and Aydenne Brown has been one of the best in the WAC this season as all three starters own an era under four. Brooke Gainous coming off her best pitching performance this season owns the lowest era on the team at a sparkling 3.39 mark. A large part of Gainous's success in the circle this season is her unparalleled command as she has issued just 10 walks in 72.1 innings pitched this season. Alexis Telford is coming off an equally impressive start of her own as she allowed just two runs (one earned) in seven full innings in the series opener against ACU where she recorded her second-highest strikeout total this season. Telford has tossed a team-leading seven complete games this season for SFA and has struck out 59 hitters in 94 innings this season while recording a solid 3.50 era on the year. Aydenne Brown has been a true workhorse for the Lumberjacks this season as she has pitched a team-high 96.2 innings while striking out 81 batters in those 96.2 innings and limiting hitters to just a .237 batting average against, all while pitching to the tune of a 3.62 era this season. Brown has struck out at least five hitters in four of her last five starts while the SFA pitching staff as a whole has punched out 193 batters this season good for second most in the WAC.
Sneaky Sources of Stolen Bases:
Speed is the name of the game with the SFA lineup as nine different Lumberjacks have swiped at least one base this season. Madison Nguyen has been the definition of perfection on the basepaths as she is a dazzling 10-10 on stolen bases this season while Mallory Webb has been equally difficult to get out on the basepaths as she has stolen seven bases of her own so far. Nguyen and Webb pulled off a gutsy double steal in the series finale against ACU that helped SFA gain a critical insurance run in an eventual 2-0 win. Ellie Vance's hot streak of hitting has given her plenty of opportunities for stolen bases this season as she has swiped six bases this year. Lexi Benson, Chloe Reneau, and Kaylee Paul have formed a terrific trio as each has three stolen bases on the year, while Kylie Bishop, Brittany Coe, and Ja'Aira Fletcher have formed an effective trio of their own as they each have a stolen base as well on the campaign.
Sixth Sense Defense:
The SFA defense has a knack for making spectacular plays on defense to back up their dominating pitching this season. That trend only continued last week when SFA's Madison Nguyen was named a finalist for WAC Top Play of the Week in which Nguyen fully extended for a diving catch in shallow left field to rob the UTA Mavericks of a hit. In the weekend series against ACU, the SFA defense pulled a couple more defensive gems out of their hats. Ellie Vance's defensive contributions have been just as large as her offense has been this season as she added another diving stop from her second base spot to her season total, this time Vance made a diving stop in the infield and threw a dart home to Brittany Coe from her knees to gun down a would-be run for ACU. Mikaelah Burkland followed suit of Vance in the fifth inning as she hauled in a flyball to right field, and immediately threw a laser all the way to third base to the awaiting glove of Kylie Bishop to turn a nifty doubleplay and nab a would-be advancing runner for ACU in the process.
Track the WAC Stats:
Ellie Vance and Madison Nguyen have kicked their bats into another gear since the start of conference play as the two have combined for 35 hits in conference so far. Vance sports a team-leading .375 batting average with 18 hits and 21 total bases, while Nguyen has been equally effective as she has 17 hits and 19 total bases so far in conference play, and the two have combined for nine stolen bases. Hope Lusk, Alexis Telford, and Ellie Vance have come through in big moments for SFA as they have all recorded five RBIs in conference play. Meanwhile, Alexis Telford, Aydenne Brown, and Brooke Gainous all sport eras under three so far in conference play.
Keeping Up with the 'Jacks: Season Stats Edition:
Ellie Vance continues to torment opposing pitchers as she leads the team in batting average with her .313 mark, while Lexi Benson continues to provide the pop in the SFA lineup as she has recorded nine extra-base hits this year while leading the team with her team-high OPS (.777) and slugging percentage (.400) numbers this season. Madison Nguyen has recorded a team-high 43 hits this season while also leading the team in total bases with 45. Emily Land continues to be a double threat for SFA as she leads the team with five doubles this season, while Lexi Benson has gone triple crazy with her team-leading six triples on the year. Lexi Benson and Emily Land are tied for the team lead in RBIs with 12, while both Benson and Nguyen have scored 15 runs each this season.
Wolverines at a Glance:
The Utah Valley Wolverines will continue their five-game homestand this weekend when they play host to the Lumberjacks. So far this season, the Wolverines carry a 7-7 home record while owning a 9-7 conference record. The Wolverines have faced a flurry of power five opponents this season as they have played matches against softball powerhouses Oklahoma, Washington, and Nebraska while also drawing matches against Arizona State and Oregon State. The Wolverines will look to bounce back from their most recent midweek game that saw them fall 10-5 to Utah State at home on Tuesday evening. The Wolverines are led by Head Coach Cody Thomson who is entering his third season as head coach of the Wolverines Softball Program, Thomson previously spent 12 years as a full-time assistant with the University of Utah Softball Program.
Megan Gibbs has terrorized opposing pitchers this season in multiple ways as she leads the Wolverines in nearly every major offensive statistical category. Gibbs owns a team-leading .385/1.212/.750 slash line this season while also leading the team in hits (40), homeruns (11), RBIs (36), total bases (78), and on-base percentage (.462%). Rachael Brown has formed a solid compliment to Gibbs as she has crushed five homeruns and four doubles this season while holding a .368 batting average. Halle Morris and Angelique Mann have formed a dynamic duo of their own as they have combined for 19 doubles and five homeruns this season while both have over 20 runs driven in on the year.
Halle Morris has been a dual-threat player for UVU this season as she sports a team-leading 4.41 era while surpassing the century mark in innings pitched as she has thrown 104.2 innings and struck out a team-high 59 hitters. Avery Sapp has thrown six complete games this season while punching out 40 hitters in 70.1 innings, while Payge Armendariz rounds out the Wolverines top arms as she has pitched 46.1 innings with 27 strikeouts on the season.
Nice to Meet You:
This weekend will feature the first time in these two programs' history that they will square off with each other despite the fact SFA is entering their third year in the WAC for softball while Utah Valley is in their 11th season in the WAC. The Lumberjacks will look to kick off their season series history against Utah Valley on a high note while trying to gain ground in a competitive WAC Softball field as playoffs loom near.
Date: Friday, April 19th Doubleheader & Saturday, April 20th
Times: Friday: 5:00 & 7:30 p.m. CST, Saturday: 2:00 p.m. CST
Live Stream: ESPN+
Stadium: Wolverine Softball Field
Series: First Meeting
OREM, Utah. - The Stephen F. Austin's Softball Team (13-32, 6-11) travel to Utah for the second time this season in their second-to-last road conference series against the host Utah Valley University Wolverines (16-22, 9-7).
Last Weekend at a Glance for SFA:
The Lumberjacks will look to carry over their momentum from their series finale 2-0 win over the visiting Abilene Christian Wildcats in which Brooke Gainous pitched a complete game gem for SFA to secure the win and secure SFA's sixth conference win this season.
These 'Jacks Can Bat:
Madison Nguyen and Ellie Vance have formed a lethal hitting duo within the SFA lineup as both carry impressive hitting streaks into this weekend series against Utah Valley. Nguyen continues to be the model of consistency from her usual leadoff spot for SFA as she will carry a six-game hitting streak into Utah that has seen her record multiple hits in three of those six games while scoring three runs during that same span. Ellie Vance has been tearing the cover off the ball lately for SFA as she currently owns a three-game hitting streak and has recorded a hit in an impressive 10 of her last 11 games. Vance has recorded a pair of three-hit efforts in her last five games in a stretch that has seen her claim the team lead in batting average. Meanwhile, Hope Lusk and Kelby Robbins have formed a dynamic duo of their own as both have reached base safely in three of their last four games.
Walk O'Clock:
The Lumberjack lineup has no trouble forcing pitchers to run up their pitch count and layoff some tough pitches as they have recorded 117 walks a team this season, which is good for second most in the WAC. So far this season, all 17 Lumberjack hitters that have recorded a walk have recorded multiple walks, while three different 'Jacks have over double-digit walks on the year. Lexi Benson continues to show unmatched patience at the plate as she has drawn a team-high 18 free passes this year, while Mallory Webb and Mikaelah Burkland have displayed excellent discipline as well as both have recorded 11 walks this year.
Wheeling and Dealing:
The Lumberjack pitching staff continues to keep opposing offenses at bay as they have recorded the third-lowest ERA in the WAC this season. The 'Jacks starting rotation of Alexis Telford, Brooke Gainous, and Aydenne Brown has been one of the best in the WAC this season as all three starters own an era under four. Brooke Gainous coming off her best pitching performance this season owns the lowest era on the team at a sparkling 3.39 mark. A large part of Gainous's success in the circle this season is her unparalleled command as she has issued just 10 walks in 72.1 innings pitched this season. Alexis Telford is coming off an equally impressive start of her own as she allowed just two runs (one earned) in seven full innings in the series opener against ACU where she recorded her second-highest strikeout total this season. Telford has tossed a team-leading seven complete games this season for SFA and has struck out 59 hitters in 94 innings this season while recording a solid 3.50 era on the year. Aydenne Brown has been a true workhorse for the Lumberjacks this season as she has pitched a team-high 96.2 innings while striking out 81 batters in those 96.2 innings and limiting hitters to just a .237 batting average against, all while pitching to the tune of a 3.62 era this season. Brown has struck out at least five hitters in four of her last five starts while the SFA pitching staff as a whole has punched out 193 batters this season good for second most in the WAC.
Sneaky Sources of Stolen Bases:
Speed is the name of the game with the SFA lineup as nine different Lumberjacks have swiped at least one base this season. Madison Nguyen has been the definition of perfection on the basepaths as she is a dazzling 10-10 on stolen bases this season while Mallory Webb has been equally difficult to get out on the basepaths as she has stolen seven bases of her own so far. Nguyen and Webb pulled off a gutsy double steal in the series finale against ACU that helped SFA gain a critical insurance run in an eventual 2-0 win. Ellie Vance's hot streak of hitting has given her plenty of opportunities for stolen bases this season as she has swiped six bases this year. Lexi Benson, Chloe Reneau, and Kaylee Paul have formed a terrific trio as each has three stolen bases on the year, while Kylie Bishop, Brittany Coe, and Ja'Aira Fletcher have formed an effective trio of their own as they each have a stolen base as well on the campaign.
Sixth Sense Defense:
The SFA defense has a knack for making spectacular plays on defense to back up their dominating pitching this season. That trend only continued last week when SFA's Madison Nguyen was named a finalist for WAC Top Play of the Week in which Nguyen fully extended for a diving catch in shallow left field to rob the UTA Mavericks of a hit. In the weekend series against ACU, the SFA defense pulled a couple more defensive gems out of their hats. Ellie Vance's defensive contributions have been just as large as her offense has been this season as she added another diving stop from her second base spot to her season total, this time Vance made a diving stop in the infield and threw a dart home to Brittany Coe from her knees to gun down a would-be run for ACU. Mikaelah Burkland followed suit of Vance in the fifth inning as she hauled in a flyball to right field, and immediately threw a laser all the way to third base to the awaiting glove of Kylie Bishop to turn a nifty doubleplay and nab a would-be advancing runner for ACU in the process.
Track the WAC Stats:
Ellie Vance and Madison Nguyen have kicked their bats into another gear since the start of conference play as the two have combined for 35 hits in conference so far. Vance sports a team-leading .375 batting average with 18 hits and 21 total bases, while Nguyen has been equally effective as she has 17 hits and 19 total bases so far in conference play, and the two have combined for nine stolen bases. Hope Lusk, Alexis Telford, and Ellie Vance have come through in big moments for SFA as they have all recorded five RBIs in conference play. Meanwhile, Alexis Telford, Aydenne Brown, and Brooke Gainous all sport eras under three so far in conference play.
Keeping Up with the 'Jacks: Season Stats Edition:
Ellie Vance continues to torment opposing pitchers as she leads the team in batting average with her .313 mark, while Lexi Benson continues to provide the pop in the SFA lineup as she has recorded nine extra-base hits this year while leading the team with her team-high OPS (.777) and slugging percentage (.400) numbers this season. Madison Nguyen has recorded a team-high 43 hits this season while also leading the team in total bases with 45. Emily Land continues to be a double threat for SFA as she leads the team with five doubles this season, while Lexi Benson has gone triple crazy with her team-leading six triples on the year. Lexi Benson and Emily Land are tied for the team lead in RBIs with 12, while both Benson and Nguyen have scored 15 runs each this season.
Wolverines at a Glance:
The Utah Valley Wolverines will continue their five-game homestand this weekend when they play host to the Lumberjacks. So far this season, the Wolverines carry a 7-7 home record while owning a 9-7 conference record. The Wolverines have faced a flurry of power five opponents this season as they have played matches against softball powerhouses Oklahoma, Washington, and Nebraska while also drawing matches against Arizona State and Oregon State. The Wolverines will look to bounce back from their most recent midweek game that saw them fall 10-5 to Utah State at home on Tuesday evening. The Wolverines are led by Head Coach Cody Thomson who is entering his third season as head coach of the Wolverines Softball Program, Thomson previously spent 12 years as a full-time assistant with the University of Utah Softball Program.
Megan Gibbs has terrorized opposing pitchers this season in multiple ways as she leads the Wolverines in nearly every major offensive statistical category. Gibbs owns a team-leading .385/1.212/.750 slash line this season while also leading the team in hits (40), homeruns (11), RBIs (36), total bases (78), and on-base percentage (.462%). Rachael Brown has formed a solid compliment to Gibbs as she has crushed five homeruns and four doubles this season while holding a .368 batting average. Halle Morris and Angelique Mann have formed a dynamic duo of their own as they have combined for 19 doubles and five homeruns this season while both have over 20 runs driven in on the year.
Halle Morris has been a dual-threat player for UVU this season as she sports a team-leading 4.41 era while surpassing the century mark in innings pitched as she has thrown 104.2 innings and struck out a team-high 59 hitters. Avery Sapp has thrown six complete games this season while punching out 40 hitters in 70.1 innings, while Payge Armendariz rounds out the Wolverines top arms as she has pitched 46.1 innings with 27 strikeouts on the season.
Nice to Meet You:
This weekend will feature the first time in these two programs' history that they will square off with each other despite the fact SFA is entering their third year in the WAC for softball while Utah Valley is in their 11th season in the WAC. The Lumberjacks will look to kick off their season series history against Utah Valley on a high note while trying to gain ground in a competitive WAC Softball field as playoffs loom near.
Players Mentioned
OF/P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
OF/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
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
