‘Jacks Drop Two to Lopes

Friday, April 26

Nacogdoches, TX

1:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

15-35, 8-13

Grand Canyon University

40-10, 18-3

Grand Canyon

Stephen F. Austin

4/26/2024 8:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (15-36, 8-14) fell in the Friday afternoon doubleheader to the visiting Grand Canyon University Lopes (41-10, 19-3) as GCU claimed the opening game 1-0, and the second game 5-0 over SFA.

Game 1: GCU 1, SFA 0

The opening game of the Friday afternoon doubleheader offered a heated pitching duel between Alexis Telford of SFA and Hailey Hudson of GCU. Both pitchers brought their best stuff to the ballpark in game one as neither team was able to score a run in the first seven innings of the game, forcing extra innings at SFA Softball Field. The SFA defense backed Telford up and helped force extra innings as in the top of the seventh with a runner on for the Lopes, the SFA defense turned a nifty 4-6-3 double play to end the top of the seventh and force extra innings. The eighth inning featured a scoreless inning by both sides to force a ninth inning in which the Lopes were able to scratch across a run in the top of the ninth to take a 1-0 lead, which they would not relinquish in an eventual 1-0 win over SFA.

SFA recorded three hits in game one of the doubleheader with two of the three hits going for extra bases. Hope Lusk (1-3, 2B) smacked her fourth double of the season as she sent a rocket to left center that split the gap, while Mikaelah Burkland (1-3, 2B, BB) crushed her fifth double of the season off the very top of the left center field wall to tie Emily Land for the team lead in doubles this season. Chloe Reneau (1-4) rounded out the top hitters for SFA as she has recorded a hit in four of her last five games. Meanwhile, Ellie Vance (0-3, BB) and Kylie Bishop (0-0, BB) both drew free passes on the afternoon for the Lumberjacks.

Alexis Telford drew the start in the circle for game one of the doubleheader and continued to be a workhorse for SFA this season as she pitched nine innings allowing just one run and only issuing two walks while striking out four batters on the day and throwing 134 pitches. Kelby Robbins drew the start at first base in game one and recorded a season-high 12 putouts at first to lead all Lumberjacks.

Game 2: GCU 5, SFA 0

The second game of the doubleheader saw Brooke Gainous draw the start in the circle for SFA and Meghan Golden for GCU. Following a scoreless first inning by both sides, the Lopes would strike first in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. GCU would add on three more runs on a three-run home run in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 4-0. The Lopes would add on one more run in the top of the seventh to hold a 5-0 lead, which would be the final run scored by both sides as GCU claimed a 5-0 win in game two. The SFA defense turned their second double play of the day in the top of the seventh as they turned a rare 6-2-5 double play to end a bases-loaded threat for GCU.

Madison Nguyen (1-3) and Chloe Reneau (1-3) both recorded singles hitting in the first and second spots for SFA respectively. Lexi Benson (0-2, BB) drew her team-leading 19th walk of the season while Alex Dubose (1-1, 2B, HBP) smoked a double to deep left field that bounced off the base of the wall for her first double of the season to round out the hitting for SFA.

Brooke Gainous drew the start in the circle for SFA in game two and pitched six innings allowing four runs, while striking out two hitters and inducing 10 flyouts and six groundouts from the Lopes on the afternoon. Kayla Palomino pitched one inning of relief for SFA and induced two groundouts from the Lopes. The dynamic defensive duo of Emily Land and Alex Dubose remained busy in this one as both tied for the team lead in putouts with four apiece in game two.

The Lumberjacks will be back in action tomorrow, April 27th for the series finale game against the Lopes with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. CST at SFA Softball Field. Following the conclusion of the game, be sure to stick around for the senior day festivities as the Lumberjacks will honor their eight graduating seniors. 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.