SFA Falls in Season Finale to CBU

Saturday, May 4

Riverside, CA

6:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

15-38, 8-16

California Baptist University

30-23, 17-7

Stephen F. Austin

California Baptist

SFA Falls in Season Finale to CBU

5/4/2024 9:20:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Stephen F. Austin Softball team (16-39, 9-17) lost in the final game of their regular season 4-1 against the California Baptist Lancers (30-23, 17-7), with SFA falling just short of making the WAC Tournament.

The rubber match of the series against the Lancers and Lumberjacks saw a scoreless first three innings posted by both sides. However, the fourth inning saw both offenses break the ice as SFA would strike first in the top of the fourth as Kylie Bishop led off the top of the fourth as she laced a double down the left field line, with Hope Lusk entering as a pinch runner and later advancing to third on a groundout. Emily Land stepped in and came through in the clutch for SFA as she lined a ball through the left side to score Lusk and put SFA ahead 1-0. The Lancers would respond instantly in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homerun to claim their first lead of the game at 2-1. CBU would add on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and held a 4-1 lead going to the sixth inning. That would put an end to the scoring for the regular season finale for both schools as CBU would come away with a 4-1 win on their senior day.

Chloe Reneau (2-4) and Madison Nguyen (2-3) hitting in the first and second spots today for SFA respectively both experienced great success at the plate as both recorded a pair of singles. Kylie Bishop (1-3, 2B) smoked her third double of the season, paving the way for Hope Lusk (0-0, R) to score her second run of the season. Emily Land (1-3, RBI) recorded her second straight game with an RBI and picked up her 14th RBI of the season. Meanwhile, Mikaelah Burkland drew her 14th walk of the season as she has now reached base safely in five of her last six games, while Chloe Reneau has recorded a hit in five of her last six games and has reached base safely in nine of her last 10 games.

Aydenne Brown drew the start in the regular season finale for SFA and pitched four innings, striking out a pair of hitters, while inducing seven flyouts and three groundouts from CBU. Brooke Gainous came in of relief of Brown in the fifth inning and pitched two scoreless innings as she forced three flyouts and three groundouts from the Lancers. Alex Dubose, Mallory Webb, and Ellie Vance formed an effective trio defensively for SFA as they all three tied for the team lead in putouts with three each, while Vance stuffed the stat sheet by posting three assists as well.

The Lumberjacks season comes to a conclusion with today's loss as they will finish the 2024 season with a 16-39 record, and a 9-17 conference record. The Lumberjacks will say goodbye to their seven graduating seniors in Madison Nguyen, Emily Land, Aydenne Brown, Brittany Coe, Lexi Benson, Mallory Webb, and Alex Dubose, whom we wish nothing but the best in their future endeavors and thank them for their contributions to the SFA Softball program over their careers.