Saturday, April 6
Nacogdoches, TX
12:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
10-29, 3-8
2
vs
1
Tarleton State University
16-24, 4-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
R
H
E
Tarleton St.
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
9
1
Stephen F. Austin
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
8
1
Déjà Vu! Vance & Nguyen’s Heroics Power SFA to Doubleheader Sweep
4/6/2024 9:29:00 PM | Softball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (11-29, 4-8) swept the Saturday afternoon doubleheader against visiting Tarleton State (16-25, 4-10) in thrilling fashion as SFA claimed consecutive walk-off wins on Saturday to claim a series win over the Texans at home.
Game 1: SFA 2, Tarleton State 1
The opening game of the doubleheader to close out the three-game series offered a sneak peek of what both wins would look like today for SFA. After a scoreless first inning for both sides, the 'Jacks jumped on the board in the bottom of the second as Lexi Benson would lead off the inning with a single, followed by Ellie Vance and Emily Land reaching base in consecutive at-bats to load the bases for Hope Lusk. Lusk showed incredible patience in her at-bat as she drew a walk to score Benson from third and give SFA an early 1-0 lead. However, that would be all the scoring for either side until the top of the seventh as game one turned into a heated pitching duel between Aydenne Brown of SFA and Kynlee Marquez of Tarleton. The Texans would scratch a run across in the top of the seventh to send the game into extras. Extra innings would provide no shortage of entertainment, however, as the SFA defense made a highlight reel defensive play in each extra inning to keep the game tied and allow them to walk it off at home.
In the top of the eighth inning with runners on first and second for Tarleton, Ellie Vance made a diving stop to knock down a hot shot headed for right field, and was able to gather the ball and throw the runner out at first while sitting down to end the top of the eighth and keep the game tied at one. The top of the ninth featured another SFA infielder making another superb defensive play as Chloe Reneau made a diving stop of her own on a groundball headed up the middle and threw the runner out from her knees to end the top of the ninth. The top of the 10th saw the SFA outfield get into the defensive action as Madison Nguyen caught a flyball in left field, and proceeded to throw a dart home to Emily Land who proceeded to apply the tag on the advancing Tarleton runner coming home from third to turn a nifty 7-2 double play and get SFA out of the top of the 10th inning and keep the score tied at one run apiece. The top of the 11th saw Ellie Vance make another gold-glove caliber play from second base as she would make another diving stop on another ball headed for right field and threw the runner out at first from her knees to strand a runner at third for the Texans and keep the game 1-1 heading to the bottom of the 11th.
The Lumberjack offense would finally break the ice in the bottom of the 11th as Lexi Benson would once again lead off the inning with a single before Kylie Bishop would draw a walk to advance Benson to second for SFA and put a pair of runners on-base. Ellie Vance came to the plate and put the cherry on top of her fantastic opening game as she would send a line drive back up the middle to score Alex Dubose from second, and give SFA a thrilling 2-1 walk-off win to open up the doubleheader.
The SFA offense kept the bats hot at home in this one as they totaled eight hits as a team in game one of the doubleheader. Ellie Vance (2-5, RBI) and Lexi Benson (2-4, 2 R, BB) formed a dynamic hitting duo for SFA as both recorded a pair of singles, while Kylie Bishop (1-4, 2B) continues to make her triumphant return to the SFA lineup as she recorded a double for the 'Jacks. Joining Vance, Benson, and Bishop in the hitting party were Mikaelah Burkland (1-4, BB), Kelby Robbins (1-5), and Emily Land (1-2, BB), while Hope Lusk (0-0, BB, RBI) drew an RBI walk for the Lumberjacks to get the scoring started.
Aydenne Brown was a workhorse in the circle for SFA in game one as she pitched another gem for the Lumberjacks to keep the Tarleton offense at bay. Brown ended the game throwing an astounding 10 innings, allowing just one run and striking out six hitters, while throwing a jaw-dropping 155 pitches in the win. Brown continues to rack up the punchouts as she has now struck out at least five batters in five of her last six starts for SFA. Kayla Palomino came in of relief of Brown in the 11th inning and grabbed her first win of the season as she forced three straight groundouts from the Texans to set up SFA for the walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the 11th.
Game 2: SFA 3, Tarleton 2
Game two started off almost identically as game one did for both sides as following a scoreless first inning by both teams, the SFA offense found their stride in the bottom of the second as Lexi Benson would yet again lead off the inning with a single and would promptly steal second. Ellie Vance would send a base hit through the left side to advance Benson to third, which allowed Emily Land to send a flyball to centerfield plenty deep enough to allow Benson to tag up from third and score to give SFA an early 1-0 lead. The Texans would waste no time responding to the SFA run as Tarleton would score a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead over SFA.
The 'Jacks promptly answered back in the bottom of the fourth as Ellie Vance and Emily Land reached base on consecutive at-bats to put a pair of runners on for Mikaelah Burkland. Burkland would continue her strong stretch of hitting recently as she would send a bullet through the right side of the infield to score Vance from second and tie the game at two runs apiece heading to the fifth inning. Neither team would be able to scratch across a run in the fifth or sixth inning. Tarleton would threaten to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning as they put runners on second and third with two outs, however, Brooke Gainous remained calm, cool, and collected as she struck out the next Tarleton hitter to strand a pair of runners and set SFA up for a second straight walk-off win.
Alexis Telford lead off the bottom of the seventh with a critical eight-pitch walk, before Mallory Webb would pinch run for Telford and showed off her blazing speed as she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Madison Nguyen would step into the box looking for her third hit of the game, and made no mistake about it as she would shoot a ball into centerfield to score Webb from third and give SFA a second straight dramatic walk-off win and their first conference series win of the season.
Madison Nguyen (3-4, RBI) continues to be a machine in the SFA lineup as she recorded her fourth game this season with three hits in a single game, while providing the walk-off winner for SFA. However, Nguyen wasn't the only Lumberjack to have success at the plate in game two of the doubleheader as Lexi Benson (1-3, R), Ellie Vance (1-3, R), Emily Land (1-2, RBI), and Mikaelah Burkland (1-3, RBI) all recorded hits as well for SFA, while Alexis Telford (0-0, BB) drew the critical walk in the seventh that proved to be the winning run for SFA. Benson has been unstoppable at the plate recently as she is now on a five-game hitting streak, while she has reached base safely in 10 of her last 11 games. Vance has been equally hot at the dish for SFA as she ends the weekend carrying a six-game hitting streak and has also reached base safely in 10 of her last 11 contests. Mikaelah Burkland also experienced a successful weekend of hitting as she will carry a three-game hitting streak into next week and has reached safely in five of her last six games.
Brooke Gainous drew the start in the circle for SFA and displayed her usual consistent self as she pitched all seven innings, allowing just two runs and issuing just a single walk, while striking out five to secure her third win of the season. Gainous has allowed two or less runs in four of her last five starts in the circle for SFA. Kelby Robbins and Mallory Webb formed an effective and efficient duo on defense as they both recorded six putouts apiece, while Brooke Gainous stayed busy on defense as well as she led the team in assists with three on the afternoon. Meanwhile, the SFA offense kept the Tarleton defense on their toes all game long as four different Lumberjacks recorded a stolen base in this one. Madison Nguyen was a force to be reckoned with on the basepaths today as she stole three bases in game two of the doubleheader and is still a perfect 8-8 on stolen bases this season. Lexi Benson stole her third base of the season, while Ellie Vance swiped her fifth, and Mallory Webb claimed her sixth of the season.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action on Tuesday, April 9th when they travel to Arlington to faceoff with WAC opponent UTA for a midweek doubleheader with the Mavericks. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CST, with 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
Game 1: SFA 2, Tarleton State 1
The opening game of the doubleheader to close out the three-game series offered a sneak peek of what both wins would look like today for SFA. After a scoreless first inning for both sides, the 'Jacks jumped on the board in the bottom of the second as Lexi Benson would lead off the inning with a single, followed by Ellie Vance and Emily Land reaching base in consecutive at-bats to load the bases for Hope Lusk. Lusk showed incredible patience in her at-bat as she drew a walk to score Benson from third and give SFA an early 1-0 lead. However, that would be all the scoring for either side until the top of the seventh as game one turned into a heated pitching duel between Aydenne Brown of SFA and Kynlee Marquez of Tarleton. The Texans would scratch a run across in the top of the seventh to send the game into extras. Extra innings would provide no shortage of entertainment, however, as the SFA defense made a highlight reel defensive play in each extra inning to keep the game tied and allow them to walk it off at home.
In the top of the eighth inning with runners on first and second for Tarleton, Ellie Vance made a diving stop to knock down a hot shot headed for right field, and was able to gather the ball and throw the runner out at first while sitting down to end the top of the eighth and keep the game tied at one. The top of the ninth featured another SFA infielder making another superb defensive play as Chloe Reneau made a diving stop of her own on a groundball headed up the middle and threw the runner out from her knees to end the top of the ninth. The top of the 10th saw the SFA outfield get into the defensive action as Madison Nguyen caught a flyball in left field, and proceeded to throw a dart home to Emily Land who proceeded to apply the tag on the advancing Tarleton runner coming home from third to turn a nifty 7-2 double play and get SFA out of the top of the 10th inning and keep the score tied at one run apiece. The top of the 11th saw Ellie Vance make another gold-glove caliber play from second base as she would make another diving stop on another ball headed for right field and threw the runner out at first from her knees to strand a runner at third for the Texans and keep the game 1-1 heading to the bottom of the 11th.
The Lumberjack offense would finally break the ice in the bottom of the 11th as Lexi Benson would once again lead off the inning with a single before Kylie Bishop would draw a walk to advance Benson to second for SFA and put a pair of runners on-base. Ellie Vance came to the plate and put the cherry on top of her fantastic opening game as she would send a line drive back up the middle to score Alex Dubose from second, and give SFA a thrilling 2-1 walk-off win to open up the doubleheader.
The SFA offense kept the bats hot at home in this one as they totaled eight hits as a team in game one of the doubleheader. Ellie Vance (2-5, RBI) and Lexi Benson (2-4, 2 R, BB) formed a dynamic hitting duo for SFA as both recorded a pair of singles, while Kylie Bishop (1-4, 2B) continues to make her triumphant return to the SFA lineup as she recorded a double for the 'Jacks. Joining Vance, Benson, and Bishop in the hitting party were Mikaelah Burkland (1-4, BB), Kelby Robbins (1-5), and Emily Land (1-2, BB), while Hope Lusk (0-0, BB, RBI) drew an RBI walk for the Lumberjacks to get the scoring started.
Aydenne Brown was a workhorse in the circle for SFA in game one as she pitched another gem for the Lumberjacks to keep the Tarleton offense at bay. Brown ended the game throwing an astounding 10 innings, allowing just one run and striking out six hitters, while throwing a jaw-dropping 155 pitches in the win. Brown continues to rack up the punchouts as she has now struck out at least five batters in five of her last six starts for SFA. Kayla Palomino came in of relief of Brown in the 11th inning and grabbed her first win of the season as she forced three straight groundouts from the Texans to set up SFA for the walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the 11th.
Game 2: SFA 3, Tarleton 2
Game two started off almost identically as game one did for both sides as following a scoreless first inning by both teams, the SFA offense found their stride in the bottom of the second as Lexi Benson would yet again lead off the inning with a single and would promptly steal second. Ellie Vance would send a base hit through the left side to advance Benson to third, which allowed Emily Land to send a flyball to centerfield plenty deep enough to allow Benson to tag up from third and score to give SFA an early 1-0 lead. The Texans would waste no time responding to the SFA run as Tarleton would score a pair of runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead over SFA.
The 'Jacks promptly answered back in the bottom of the fourth as Ellie Vance and Emily Land reached base on consecutive at-bats to put a pair of runners on for Mikaelah Burkland. Burkland would continue her strong stretch of hitting recently as she would send a bullet through the right side of the infield to score Vance from second and tie the game at two runs apiece heading to the fifth inning. Neither team would be able to scratch across a run in the fifth or sixth inning. Tarleton would threaten to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning as they put runners on second and third with two outs, however, Brooke Gainous remained calm, cool, and collected as she struck out the next Tarleton hitter to strand a pair of runners and set SFA up for a second straight walk-off win.
Alexis Telford lead off the bottom of the seventh with a critical eight-pitch walk, before Mallory Webb would pinch run for Telford and showed off her blazing speed as she stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Madison Nguyen would step into the box looking for her third hit of the game, and made no mistake about it as she would shoot a ball into centerfield to score Webb from third and give SFA a second straight dramatic walk-off win and their first conference series win of the season.
Madison Nguyen (3-4, RBI) continues to be a machine in the SFA lineup as she recorded her fourth game this season with three hits in a single game, while providing the walk-off winner for SFA. However, Nguyen wasn't the only Lumberjack to have success at the plate in game two of the doubleheader as Lexi Benson (1-3, R), Ellie Vance (1-3, R), Emily Land (1-2, RBI), and Mikaelah Burkland (1-3, RBI) all recorded hits as well for SFA, while Alexis Telford (0-0, BB) drew the critical walk in the seventh that proved to be the winning run for SFA. Benson has been unstoppable at the plate recently as she is now on a five-game hitting streak, while she has reached base safely in 10 of her last 11 games. Vance has been equally hot at the dish for SFA as she ends the weekend carrying a six-game hitting streak and has also reached base safely in 10 of her last 11 contests. Mikaelah Burkland also experienced a successful weekend of hitting as she will carry a three-game hitting streak into next week and has reached safely in five of her last six games.
Brooke Gainous drew the start in the circle for SFA and displayed her usual consistent self as she pitched all seven innings, allowing just two runs and issuing just a single walk, while striking out five to secure her third win of the season. Gainous has allowed two or less runs in four of her last five starts in the circle for SFA. Kelby Robbins and Mallory Webb formed an effective and efficient duo on defense as they both recorded six putouts apiece, while Brooke Gainous stayed busy on defense as well as she led the team in assists with three on the afternoon. Meanwhile, the SFA offense kept the Tarleton defense on their toes all game long as four different Lumberjacks recorded a stolen base in this one. Madison Nguyen was a force to be reckoned with on the basepaths today as she stole three bases in game two of the doubleheader and is still a perfect 8-8 on stolen bases this season. Lexi Benson stole her third base of the season, while Ellie Vance swiped her fifth, and Mallory Webb claimed her sixth of the season.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action on Tuesday, April 9th when they travel to Arlington to faceoff with WAC opponent UTA for a midweek doubleheader with the Mavericks. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CST, with 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: Palomino, Kayla (1-1)
L: K. Daniel (3-6)
Batting:
2B: Ke. Hill 1 ; T. Trull 1 ; K. Wallace 1
RBI: J. Dickerson 1
SH: A. Germain 1 ; Ka. Hill 1
Base Running:
RUNS: B. Hernandez 1
Batting:
2B: Bishop, Kylie 1
RBI: Vance, Ellie 1 ; Lusk, Hope 1
SH: Reneau, Chloe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Benson, Lexi 2
CS: Fletcher, Ja'Aira 1
HBP: Bishop, Kylie 1 ; Land, Emily 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
OF/IF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ 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
