Lumberjacks Drop Two at the Battle on the Bayou

Friday, February 21

Monroe, LA

11:00 a.m.

Stephen F. Austin

4-8

Eastern Illinois University

4-7

SFA

E ILLINOIS

Lumberjacks Drop Two at the Battle on the Bayou

2/21/2025 8:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

MONROE, La.- The Stephen F. Austin softball team (4-9) continued their tournament schedule at the Battle on the Bayou with Eastern Illinois (4-7) and a rematch with ULM (5-7).

Game 1:

Eastern Illinois got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning and then tacked on another run in the fourth, 3-0. SFA responded in the top of the fifth as Kaylee Paul drew a leadoff walk that was followed by a Mikaelah Burkland single up the middle and a sacrifice bunt from Hope Lusk. Ellie Vance stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third with one out and hit an RBI single to second base, 3-1. Vance then stole second and Ella Hill walked to load up the bases. After a wild pitch and throwing error by the EIU catcher, Burkland and Vance came in to score which tied the game up at 3-3.

The Panthers added on one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, 4-3. SFA loaded up the bases in the top of the sixth with a chance to tie the game and possibly take the lead but left all three on base. The 'Jacks tried to make another seventh inning comeback, but after getting two runners on base, they were unable to bring anyone home as EIU won the game 4-3.

Top Players of Game 1:

• Ellie Vance: 2-4, one run, one RBI, one stolen base
• Mikaelah Burkland: 1-3, one run
• Jordyn Ages: 6.0 IP, six hits, one earned run

Game 2:

In their second game of the day, the 'Jacks faced off against the Warhawks in a rematch of Thursday's nights game. The Warhawks got on the board in the bottom of the second with three runs. ULM added one run in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a commanding 6-0 lead.

However, the Lumberjacks would not go away quietly as Hill drew a leadoff walk, followed by a walk from Kyi'Marri Ester and then a single from Malia Jones to load up the bases. Lainee Ballin stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and recorded an RBI after she was hit by a pitch, 6-1. Paul then hit a two RBI single to left field to score Ester and Chloe Reneau, 6-3. That was the end of the comeback as the Warhawks got two more outs to end the game with a 6-3 win.

Top Players of Game 2:

• Laniee Ballin: 1-2, one RBI
• Kaylee Paul: 1-3, two RBI
• Malia Jones: 1-1

SFA will be back tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. for their final game of the tournament against Southern.

TICKET INFORMATION

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