Saturday, March 15
Nacogdoches, TX
12:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
12-14, 2-3
5
vs
4
Lamar University
15-11, 3-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Lamar
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
4
5
1
Stephen F. Austin
0
0
1
2
0
0
2
5
9
3
‘Jacks Sweep Doubleheader to take the Series Against Lamar
3/15/2025 9:44:00 PM | Softball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin softball team (13-14, 3-3 SLC) finished off their series against Lamar (15-12, 3-3 SLC) with a doubleheader Saturday.
Game 1:
Brooke Gainous earned the start in the circle for the 'Jacks as they looked to even up the series against the Cardinals. After both teams put up a scoreless first inning, Lamar got on the board first in the second inning, 1-0. The next score came in the bottom of the third after Jamie Varga singled to second base, then stole second and advanced to third after a ground out from Kaylee Paul. This put a runner on first with two outs for Mikaelah Burkland who smoked a double to left center which scored Varga, 1-1.
The bottom of the fourth started with a leadoff walk from Adelyn Becerra, followed by a single from Lilly Bean, and another walk drawn by Kyi'Marri Ester to load the bases. Gabby Coffey stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a rocket to the shortstop which brought in Becerra and Sammy Hagman as the 'Jacks took a 3-1 lead. Lamar retook the lead in the top of the fifth as they scored three runs, 4-3. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh the Cardiac 'Jacks would not be denied as Varga hit a leadoff single then advanced to third after Burkland reached on an error. Ellie Vance stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs and hit a liner to the shortstop and beat out the throw to score Varga and tie the game at 4. After a stolen base from Vance and a walk drawn by Becerra, Lilly Bean stepped up with the bases juiced and a chance to walk-off the game which is exactly what she did when she hit a blooper to shallow center that dropped in front of the center fielder to score the winning run, 5-4.
Top Players of Game 1:
• Lilly Bean: 2-3, one RBI, walk-off hit
• Mikaelah Burkland: 1-3, one run, one RBI, one 2B
• Jamie Varga: 2-3, two runs
Game 2:
SFA continued their offensive momentum into the second game of the day with a leadoff double from Burkland who was then bunted over to third by Hope Lusk. Vance stepped up and smashed a double to left which scored Burkland, 1-0. Becerra then drew her fourth walk of the day to put runners on first and second with one out. Walk-off hero Bean then hit an RBI single to center field which scored Vance, 2-0.
Alyssa Arnall pinch ran for Bean and pulled off a double steal with Becerra which gave Ester runners on second and third. Ester took full advantage of the runners in scoring position by hitting a single through the left side which scored both Arnall and Becerra, 4-0. After Ester stole second and Chloe Reneau walked, Varga reached on a fielder's choice after Lamar threw out Ester at third. With two outs and runners on first and second, Paul hit an RBI single to left field which scored the fifth run of the inning for the 'Jacks, 5-0.
Lamar responded with two runs in the top of the second, 5-2. Burkland stepped up to the plate in the fourth and blasted a home run over the left center fence to give SFA a 6-2 lead. The 'Jacks would not stop there as they tacked on more runs in the fifth. After Reneau drew a walk, Varga hit a single to second base which sent Reneau to third. While Paul was in the batter's box, Varga and Reneau pulled off a double steal to bring in another run for the Lumberjacks, 7-2. Varga then advanced to third on a passed ball and was brought home by a sacrifice fly from Paul, 8-2. Lamar tried to mount a comeback in the seventh as they scored two runs, but that was all that SFA would allow as they secured an 8-4 win and their first Southland Conference series win.
Top Players of Game 2:
• Mikaelah Burkland: 2-4, two runs, one RBI, one 2B, one HR
• Ellie Vance: 2-3, one run, one RBI, one 2B, one walk
• Chloe Reneau: two walks, two runs
• Kyi'Marri Ester: 1-2, two RBIs, one walk, one stolen base
SFA will finish their home stand with a Battle of the Piney Woods on the diamond with Sam Houston on Wednesday, March 19th at 5:00 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Softball at the SFA Softball Field this season! Single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Softball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Game 1:
Brooke Gainous earned the start in the circle for the 'Jacks as they looked to even up the series against the Cardinals. After both teams put up a scoreless first inning, Lamar got on the board first in the second inning, 1-0. The next score came in the bottom of the third after Jamie Varga singled to second base, then stole second and advanced to third after a ground out from Kaylee Paul. This put a runner on first with two outs for Mikaelah Burkland who smoked a double to left center which scored Varga, 1-1.
The bottom of the fourth started with a leadoff walk from Adelyn Becerra, followed by a single from Lilly Bean, and another walk drawn by Kyi'Marri Ester to load the bases. Gabby Coffey stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a rocket to the shortstop which brought in Becerra and Sammy Hagman as the 'Jacks took a 3-1 lead. Lamar retook the lead in the top of the fifth as they scored three runs, 4-3. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh the Cardiac 'Jacks would not be denied as Varga hit a leadoff single then advanced to third after Burkland reached on an error. Ellie Vance stepped up to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs and hit a liner to the shortstop and beat out the throw to score Varga and tie the game at 4. After a stolen base from Vance and a walk drawn by Becerra, Lilly Bean stepped up with the bases juiced and a chance to walk-off the game which is exactly what she did when she hit a blooper to shallow center that dropped in front of the center fielder to score the winning run, 5-4.
Top Players of Game 1:
• Lilly Bean: 2-3, one RBI, walk-off hit
• Mikaelah Burkland: 1-3, one run, one RBI, one 2B
• Jamie Varga: 2-3, two runs
Game 2:
SFA continued their offensive momentum into the second game of the day with a leadoff double from Burkland who was then bunted over to third by Hope Lusk. Vance stepped up and smashed a double to left which scored Burkland, 1-0. Becerra then drew her fourth walk of the day to put runners on first and second with one out. Walk-off hero Bean then hit an RBI single to center field which scored Vance, 2-0.
Alyssa Arnall pinch ran for Bean and pulled off a double steal with Becerra which gave Ester runners on second and third. Ester took full advantage of the runners in scoring position by hitting a single through the left side which scored both Arnall and Becerra, 4-0. After Ester stole second and Chloe Reneau walked, Varga reached on a fielder's choice after Lamar threw out Ester at third. With two outs and runners on first and second, Paul hit an RBI single to left field which scored the fifth run of the inning for the 'Jacks, 5-0.
Lamar responded with two runs in the top of the second, 5-2. Burkland stepped up to the plate in the fourth and blasted a home run over the left center fence to give SFA a 6-2 lead. The 'Jacks would not stop there as they tacked on more runs in the fifth. After Reneau drew a walk, Varga hit a single to second base which sent Reneau to third. While Paul was in the batter's box, Varga and Reneau pulled off a double steal to bring in another run for the Lumberjacks, 7-2. Varga then advanced to third on a passed ball and was brought home by a sacrifice fly from Paul, 8-2. Lamar tried to mount a comeback in the seventh as they scored two runs, but that was all that SFA would allow as they secured an 8-4 win and their first Southland Conference series win.
Top Players of Game 2:
• Mikaelah Burkland: 2-4, two runs, one RBI, one 2B, one HR
• Ellie Vance: 2-3, one run, one RBI, one 2B, one walk
• Chloe Reneau: two walks, two runs
• Kyi'Marri Ester: 1-2, two RBIs, one walk, one stolen base
SFA will finish their home stand with a Battle of the Piney Woods on the diamond with Sam Houston on Wednesday, March 19th at 5:00 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Softball at the SFA Softball Field this season! Single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.
FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Softball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gainous, Brooke (2-5)
L: E. Wardlaw (2-2)
Batting:
2B: C. Wilson 1 ; T. Brandon 1 ; A. Blakely 1
RBI: J. Sepulveda 1 ; S. Windham 1 ; R. Brannon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: J. Sepulveda 1 ; T. Brandon 1 ; A. Blakely 1 ; K. Amos 1
Batting:
2B: Burkland, Mikaelah 1 ; Reneau, Chloe 1
RBI: Burkland, Mikaelah 1 ; Vance, Ellie 1 ; Bean, Lilly 1 ; Coffey, Gabby 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Burkland, Mikaelah 1 ; Becerra, Adelyn 1 ; Hagman, Sammy 1 ; Varga, Jamie 2
SB: Vance, Ellie 1 ; Varga, Jamie 1
CS: Coffey, Gabby 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
1b/ph
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballC/1B
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
OF/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball2B
/ SoftballSS
/ 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
