SFA Splits Doubleheader Against HCU

Sunday, March 30

Nacogdoches, TX

11:00 a.m.

Stephen F. Austin

15-18, 5-5

Houston Christian University

12-19, 5-6

Houston Christian

Stephen F. Austin

SFA Splits Doubleheader Against HCU

3/30/2025 6:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin softball team () finished their weekend series against the Houston Christian Huskies () with a Sunday doubleheader.

Game 1:

Game one of the doubleheader began slowly with both teams unable to score the first inning and a half. However, the 'Jacks offense exploded in the bottom of the second that started with a leadoff single from Lilly Bean that was followed by a two-run blast from Adelyn Beccera over the left center fence, 2-0. Jamie Varga followed with a single to right center, then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball with Kaylee Paul at the plate. Paul drew a walk which gave Mikaelah Burkland runners on the corners with one out. Burkland smoked an RBI single to left field which scored Varga, 3-0. Hope Lusk then stepped up to bat and hit a sacrifice fly out to right field to score Paul and advance Burkland to third, 4-0. Ellie Vance then reached base on a throwing error on the pitcher which allowed Burkland to score, 5-0.

SFA continued to pour it on in the bottom of the third that began with a leadoff single up the middle from Kelby Robbins. Becerra followed with an RBI double to right center to score Robbins, 6-0. Ella Hill then hit a single to center which advanced Becerra to third. Varga drew a walk to load up the bases for Burkland who hit a single to the shortstop that scored Becerra, 7-0. HCU got their first run of the series on the board in the top of the fourth, 7-1. The 'Jacks responded in the bottom of the fourth as Becerra hit her second home run of the game, 8-1. In the bottom of the sixth the 'Jacks looked to secure a series win with their second run-rule walk-off. Which is just what SFA did as Vance hit a leadoff single up the middle that brought up the dangerous Kyi'Marri Ester who smashed an RBI single to left center to end the game, 9-1.

Top Players of Game 1:

• Adelyn Becerra: 3-3, three runs, four RBIs, one 2B, two HR
• Mikaelah Burkland: 2-4, one run, two RBIs
• Ellie Vance: 1-4, one run, one RBI
• Reagan Hall: 6.0 IP, four hits, one run, fourth win

Game 2:

The series finale did not see near as many fireworks as the first two games. Brooke Gainous earned the start in the circle for the 'Jacks. HCU got on the board first with two runs in the second, but then both pitchers put up three scoreless innings after that.

SFA got their first run across in the bottom of the sixth inning as Lusk hit a single through the left side then advanced to second on a groundout by Vance. Ester stepped up to the plate with a runner on second and two outs and sent a pitch out to the fence in right center for her second RBI double of the day, 2-1. HCU increased their lead by tacking on two in the seventh which meant SFA needed three runs to send this game to extra innings. Becerra stepped up to leadoff the seventh and blasted her third home run of the day to straightaway center to cut the lead down to two. However, that was the only run the 'Jacks could get across as they fall in the series finale 4-2.

Top Players of Game 2:

• Adelyn Becerra: 1-3, one run, one RBI, one HR
• Kyi'Marri Ester: 1-2, one RBI, one 2B

SFA will play Texas Southern at the SFA Softball Field at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1st.

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