Friday, April 5
Nacogdoches, TX
6:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
9-29, 2-8
4
vs
5
Tarleton State University
16-23, 4-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Tarleton St.
2
0
1
1
0
1
0
5
8
1
Stephen F. Austin
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
4
7
0
‘Jacks Lose Nailbiter to Texans
4/5/2024 11:08:00 PM | Softball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (9-29, 2-8) lost the first game of a three-game series against Tarleton State (16-23, 4-8) in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Texans at SFA Softball Field.
The opening game of the three-game series between Tarleton and Stephen F. Austin saw some early fireworks on offense for both teams. The Texans struck first in the top half of the first with a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. However, the Lumberjack bats got hot in the bottom of the first as Madison Nguyen led off with a leadoff single, and wasted no time getting into scoring position as she promptly stole second shortly after. Lexi Benson stepped in and made no mistake about it as she would send a liner back up the middle to score Nguyen from second and get SFA on the board trailing 2-1. However, SFA was not done scoring in the first as Kylie Bishop made her return to the SFA lineup and made her presence felt immediately as she would send a ball back up the middle in the same spot Benson hit hers, to score Benson and tie the game at two runs apiece. Ellie Vance would keep the SFA bats hot in the bottom of the first as she would line a ball into left field to score Bishop and give SFA a 3-2 lead heading into the second inning.
The Texans would score the next three runs of the game as they would score a run in third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The 'Jacks would not go down without a fight in this one as after Madison Nguyen would reach base on a fielder's choice, Hope Lusk would be entered as a pinch hitter and took full advantage of her opportunity as she would smoke a ball to right center field to score Madison Nguyen all the way from first and cut the Tarleton lead to 5-4 heading to the seventh inning.
The Texans threatened to score in the top of the seventh as they had runners on second and third with only one out, however, Aydenne Brown came into the game in relief of Telford and kept her composure as she worked out of the jam by getting a groundout and popout on the next two batters to keep the score 5-4 Tarleton heading to the bottom of the seventh. Unfortunately for SFA, they were unable to score the equalizing run in this one and ultimately fell 5-4 at home to the Texans.
The SFA offense continued their strong play at home as they recorded seven hits as a team in tonight's contest. Madison Nguyen (2-4, R, SB) continued her strong season at the plate as she led the team with a pair of hits from her usual leadoff spot, scoring a run, and staying perfect on stolen bases this season as she stole her fifth base of the campaign. Mikaelah Burkland (1-1, 2 BB) was efficient and effective in her at-bats tonight as she reached base in all three at-bats with a single and a pair of walks. Meanwhile, Ellie Vance (1-3, BB, RBI), Kylie Bishop (1-4, R, RBI), Lexi Benson (1-3, BB, R, RBI), and Hope Lusk (1-1, 2B, RBI) formed a dynamic hitting group for SFA tonight as all four recorded an RBI in tonight's game while both Benson and Vance drew walks.
Alexis Telford drew the start in the circle for SFA tonight and pitched 6.1 innings, issuing just one walk, while inducing seven flyouts and 10 groundouts from the Texans. Aydenne Brown entered as a reliever in the seventh and pitched two thirds of an inning, not allowing a run and working out of the jam in the top of the seventh. Kelby Robbins drew her first start of the season at first base tonight and looked comfortable all night as she led the team in putouts with 11, while the dynamic outfield trio of Mikaelah Burkland, Madison Nguyen, and Mallory Webb combined for seven putouts of their own. Meanwhile, in the infield Chloe Reneau and Kylie Bishop manning the left side of the infield for SFA, finished the game with three assists defensively each, while Ellie Vance added a pair of putouts to a strong defensive game for SFA.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action tomorrow, April 6th for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to conclude this three-game series with the Tarleton Texans. 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 between Tarleton and Stephen F. Austin saw some early fireworks on offense for both teams. The Texans struck first in the top half of the first with a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. However, the Lumberjack bats got hot in the bottom of the first as Madison Nguyen led off with a leadoff single, and wasted no time getting into scoring position as she promptly stole second shortly after. Lexi Benson stepped in and made no mistake about it as she would send a liner back up the middle to score Nguyen from second and get SFA on the board trailing 2-1. However, SFA was not done scoring in the first as Kylie Bishop made her return to the SFA lineup and made her presence felt immediately as she would send a ball back up the middle in the same spot Benson hit hers, to score Benson and tie the game at two runs apiece. Ellie Vance would keep the SFA bats hot in the bottom of the first as she would line a ball into left field to score Bishop and give SFA a 3-2 lead heading into the second inning.
The Texans would score the next three runs of the game as they would score a run in third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. The 'Jacks would not go down without a fight in this one as after Madison Nguyen would reach base on a fielder's choice, Hope Lusk would be entered as a pinch hitter and took full advantage of her opportunity as she would smoke a ball to right center field to score Madison Nguyen all the way from first and cut the Tarleton lead to 5-4 heading to the seventh inning.
The Texans threatened to score in the top of the seventh as they had runners on second and third with only one out, however, Aydenne Brown came into the game in relief of Telford and kept her composure as she worked out of the jam by getting a groundout and popout on the next two batters to keep the score 5-4 Tarleton heading to the bottom of the seventh. Unfortunately for SFA, they were unable to score the equalizing run in this one and ultimately fell 5-4 at home to the Texans.
The SFA offense continued their strong play at home as they recorded seven hits as a team in tonight's contest. Madison Nguyen (2-4, R, SB) continued her strong season at the plate as she led the team with a pair of hits from her usual leadoff spot, scoring a run, and staying perfect on stolen bases this season as she stole her fifth base of the campaign. Mikaelah Burkland (1-1, 2 BB) was efficient and effective in her at-bats tonight as she reached base in all three at-bats with a single and a pair of walks. Meanwhile, Ellie Vance (1-3, BB, RBI), Kylie Bishop (1-4, R, RBI), Lexi Benson (1-3, BB, R, RBI), and Hope Lusk (1-1, 2B, RBI) formed a dynamic hitting group for SFA tonight as all four recorded an RBI in tonight's game while both Benson and Vance drew walks.
Alexis Telford drew the start in the circle for SFA tonight and pitched 6.1 innings, issuing just one walk, while inducing seven flyouts and 10 groundouts from the Texans. Aydenne Brown entered as a reliever in the seventh and pitched two thirds of an inning, not allowing a run and working out of the jam in the top of the seventh. Kelby Robbins drew her first start of the season at first base tonight and looked comfortable all night as she led the team in putouts with 11, while the dynamic outfield trio of Mikaelah Burkland, Madison Nguyen, and Mallory Webb combined for seven putouts of their own. Meanwhile, in the infield Chloe Reneau and Kylie Bishop manning the left side of the infield for SFA, finished the game with three assists defensively each, while Ellie Vance added a pair of putouts to a strong defensive game for SFA.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action tomorrow, April 6th for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader to conclude this three-game series with the Tarleton Texans. 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: M. Dunbar (3-4)
L: Telford, Alexis (3-11)
S: K. Daniel (1)
Batting:
2B: T. Trull 1 ; K. Wallace 1 ; Ka. Hill 1
3B: Ke. Hill 1
HR: K. Schaefer 1
RBI: T. Trull 2 ; K. Schaefer 1 ; K. Wallace 1 ; Ka. Hill 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ke. Hill 2 ; T. Trull 1 ; K. Schaefer 1 ; K. Wallace 1
SB: Ke. Hill 2
CS: K. Wallace 1
Batting:
2B: Lusk, Hope 1
RBI: Lusk, Hope 1 ; Benson, Lexi 1 ; Bishop, Kylie 1 ; Vance, Ellie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nguyen, Madison 2 ; Benson, Lexi 1 ; Bishop, Kylie 1
SB: Nguyen, Madison 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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OF/IF
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/ 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
