Boatright's Walk-Off Home Run Stuns No. 15 Texas
Texas State 9, No.
15/16 Texas 7
SAN MARCOS, Texas - In the second game against a nationally ranked
opponent at home, Texas State beat Texas 9-7 in dramatic fashion. Leah
Boatright went two-for-two with five RBI and two homeruns, including a walk off
homerun to win the game. The last time Texas State beat Texas at home was in
2006, ending a three year streak of losing to the Longhorns at home.
"We kept battling and we were able to
get a couple of runs at the end of the game off of their best pitcher and that
was huge for us," said head coach Ricci Woodard.
Texas State began the game by retiring
the first three Texas batters, two of them by strikeout. The Bobcats were able
to keep Texas from scoring in the second inning as well, leaving a Texas runner
on third. Chandler Hall had four strikeouts in the first three innings of work.
Texas State scored in the second inning
on a McKenzie Baack single up the middle, bringing in Haley Lemons. The Bobcats
followed that with a blooper over first base by Allyce Rother to score Jenna
Emery for another run.
The Bobcats had the opportunity to bring
in more runs with the bases loaded for Anna Hernandez, but Hernandez flied out
to left field.
Boatright then continued the hitting
attack with a two-run homerun in the third inning; her third homer of the year
and second in three games after hitting a grand slam on Sunday. It proved to be
essential for the Bobcats to get an early 4-0 lead.
"It was huge. They (Texas) didn't want
to have to use Blaire Luna at all tonight so getting the early lead forced them
to play their hands differently," said Woodard.
Hall allowed the first runs and hits by
Texas, after giving up back-to-back solo homeruns by Amy Hooks and Loryn
Johnson. Taylor Hoagland broke a UT hitting streak with 17 straight games.
Hall loaded the bases and gave up four
runs before coming out of the game. Anne Marie Taylor came in to pitch after
Hall.
"That's one of the hardest parts of the
job, trying to decide when to take the pitcher out or leave the pitcher in,"
said Woodard.
Taylor committed two illegal pitches in
the fifth inning that allowed Texas to score yet another run in the inning, but
eventually settled down and continued to pitch strong in the sixth and seventh
inning.
Tello hit a
sharp grounder in the sixth inning to the second baseman who fumbled it and
then tossed it into the Texas State dugout which scored two runs.
The
tying and winning run got on base for the Bobcats in the bottom of the seventh,
and Boatright hit her second homerun of the game to win the game. That was her third
in the past three games and fourth on the season. Boatright is now third in the
all time career standings for RBI's at Texas State.
"When
Leah got up there, she's been as confident as anybody and one swing of the bat
and the ball left the yard," said Woodard.
The
Bobcats now move to 14-13 on the season as they get ready to travel to
Southeastern Louisiana this weekend. Texas State plays a double header on
Saturday, March 27 beginning at 3:00pm. Sunday's single game is set for noon.
Nicholls 8, Southern
Miss 7
THIBODAUX, La. - Entering the bottom of
the seventh trailing by two runs to Southern Miss, Nicholls needed some
magic, and got it by tying the game and then using a RBI single by senior
Lyndsay Mesh to right field to prevail 8-7 on Wednesday night in the Colonel
Softball Complex.
The Colonels (15-9) and Golden Eagles
(12-11) exchanged leads four times in the game and were tied twice in the
contest that featured a total of 15 runs, 22 hits and four errors. All errors
were by Southern Miss.
"I'm so proud of our team for
staying the course and getting this win," said Head Coach Jenny Parsons.
"To get this win over a really good and well coached team is a big
confidence boost for us. I'm proud of the entire team and of Lyndsay Mesh for
stepping up and getting that hit."
Mesh's hit was her only hit of the
night, going 1-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored.
Southern Miss started the seesaw scoring
affair with a run in the bottom of the first, but Nicholls responded in the
bottom half of the first with two of its own with a two RBI single to right
center. Scoring on the play were senior Audrey Wood and Mesh.
Nicholls would add to its lead in the
bottom of the third via sophomore Kayla Watterson RBI single through the right
side that plated Wood to take the 3-1 advantage. Wood led off the inning with a
double, and finished the 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI.
The Golden Eagles evened the score in
the top of the fourth with a two-spot, but the Colonels responded with a run in
the bottom half to retake the lead, 4-3.
However, the lead would not hold as
Southern Miss kept on swinging hot bats and put two runs in the books in the
top of the fifth to take the 5-4 lead.
Nicholls scored a run in the bottom of
the sixth on a double another RBI double by Wood that plated senior Lacey Gros
to even the score, 5-5, heading into the last frame.
In the last frame, Southern Miss jumped
out and took a 7-5 lead, requiring a comeback in the bottom half by the
Colonels to get the win or send the game into extra innings.
The Colonels got its first run in the
seventh via a RBI double by senior Natalie Travasos that scored sophomore Tsade
Joubert who was pinch running for Watterson. After the double, sophomore Mandy
Granger singled up the middle to plate Travasos to even the score, 7-7.
Nicholls went on to load the bases with
two outs in the seventh, and Mesh delivered the game ender.
Getting the win for the Colonels in the
circle was Gros, improving to 8-3 on the season as she relieved Wood in the
third inning. Gros surrendered four runs - all earned - but stayed the course
and guide the team to victory.
The Colonels will be back in action this
weekend when they host conference foe Central Arkansas. The series is set to
start on Friday with a doubleheader set for 4 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin 7, Centenary 2
SHREVEPORT,
La. - Stephen F. Austin scored a run in each of the first four innings, then
put the game away with three runs in the fifth to take a 7-2 win at Centenary
Wednesday night.
The
victory is SFA's 11th in the last 13 games and improves the Ladyjacks to 14-8.
Centenary falls to 8-15 with the loss.
All
three Ladyjack pitchers threw in the game, combining to scatter six hits over
seven innings, and Bethany Brown and Ashley Struchtemeyer each homered, leading
a nine-hit performance by SFA.
Kendal
Harper got SFA out to a strong start with her one-out triple to left-center in
the top of the first. She would score on a wild pitch.
Centenary
got back-to-back, two-out doubles to put up a run in the bottom half.
The
Ladyjacks reclaimed the lead with a solo home run by Struchtemeyer in the top
of the second. The blast - her second of the season - went out over the
left-field wall.
The
Ladies responded in kind in the bottom half with a one-out bomb that chased
starter Lauren Luetge from the game in favor of Angela White.
Stephen
F. Austin went ahead for good in the third inning, when Brown homered to left.
White
(8-3) held Centenary scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings to pick
up the win, and Monika Covington came on for the final two frames, closing the
game out without allowing a hit.
The
Ladyjacks padded their lead in the fourth, when Struchtemeyer scored from first
on a double to center by Brittany Caruthers. Struchtemeyer had singled up the
middle with two out to get things started.
Stephen
F. Austin set the final margin with three runs in the fifth inning. Brown drew
a one-out walk then stole second before moving to third when Harper reached on
an error by the first baseman. Harper then stole second to give the 'Jacks two
runners in scoring position.
Jessica
Arana drew a walk on a wild pitch for ball four that allowed Brown to score and
Harper to take third. Krista Hallmark ran for Arana and promptly swiped second
to again give SFA two runners in scoring position. Briana Bishop brought both runners
home with a double to left-center.
Struchtemeyer
and Caruthers each went 2-for-3, and Harper was 2-for-4. Brown, Bishop and
Kayla Gutowski each hit safely once.
The
Ladyjacks will resume action this weekend with a three-game Southland
Conference series at McNeese State. The set will begin with a doubleheader on
Saturday, scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
Central Arkansas 6, Alcorn State 2
Alcorn State 3, Central Arkansas 0
LORMAN,
Miss - Central Arkansas split a double-header with Alcorn State at ASU's
Softball Field on Wednesday afternoon. The Bears (13-17) took the first game
6-2 but the Lady Braves (8-11) rebounded to take the nightcap 3-0.
Central
Arkansas outhit ASU 8-5 in game one. Freshman Kelsie Armstrong (10-7) picked up
the win by striking out seven while allowing a walk. Jennie Hatch suffered the
loss, striking out six and allowing three earned runs.
The
Bears got on the board in the first when freshman right fielder Candice Gauntt
singled, stole second and scored on a base hit from junior first baseman
Shayleen Ristau.
A
trio of Lady Brave base hits to start the fourth set up Adrianna Harrington's
two-run single, giving ASU a 2-1 lead.
Central
Arkansas took advantage of two errors and had four hits during a five-run top
of the seventh. Senior left fielder Sarah Garcia connected on a three-run
double that scored Melanie Bryant, Preslie Long and Melissa Bryant. Garcia
scored after an error that let Gauntt reach first. Sophomore center fielder
Kasey Britt followed with a hit, scoring Gauntt.
Garcia
led the Bears at the plate by going 2-for-3. Gaunt scored twice.
In
game two, Alcorn's Amy Blakeney limited UCA to four hits while striking out two
for the win. Freshman Bradie Baker (2-3) started for the Bears and gave up a
run, a hit, two walks and struck out one in the first inning. Sophomore Kelley
Martino gave up six hits, two runs, two walks and struck out five in five
innings of relief.
Right
fielder Jasmine Hall led the Lady Braves by going 2-for-3 with a RBI-singles in
the first and fifth innings. First baseman Rachel Morris also went 2-for-3 and
knocked in a run in the second.
Freshman
Lindsey Barsoum had two hits and two stolen bases for the Bears.
Central
Arkansas will travel to Thibodaux, La. for a three-game Southland Conference
series with Nicholls beginning on Friday.
No. 12/13 LSU 11, Southeastern
Louisiana 0 (5 innings)
HAMMOND,
La. - Southeastern Louisiana sophomore Jordan Logan, senior Chelsea Takacs and
senior Amber Freeman each collected hits, but the top four hitters in LSU's
order combined for 11 hits as the No. 12 Tigers defeated the Lady Lions, 11-0,
in non-conference softball action in front of a season-high 406 fans Wednesday
evening at North Oak Park.
The
Lady Lions (5-15) dropped their fifth straight game. LSU (28-4) extended its
current winning streak to 23 games.
LSU
jumped out to a 1-0 lead off Southeastern starter Kati Morse (0-5) in the
bottom of the first inning. After Morse retired the first two batters, Rachel
Mitchell lined an opposite field home run over the left field fence to give the
Tigers the early advantage.
An
RBI single by Ashley Applegate and a two-run base hit by Mitchell highlighted a
four-run LSU third inning. Errors by Logan and junior Katie Duhe led to the
inning's fourth run and a 5-0 LSU lead.
Southeastern
got its first base runner in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman Michelle
Duhe drew a two-out walk off LSU starter Brittany Mack (7-2). Logan followed
with an infield single, but Duhe was gunned out trying to advance to third to
end the inning.
LSU
added a run in the top of the fifth inning off senior Catherine Gunther. Anissa
Young reached on a double and later scored on an infield single by Courtney
Hollier to push the lead to 6-0.
Southeastern
mounted its best threat in its half of the fifth inning. Singles by Takacs and
Freeman gave the Lady Lions runners at first and second with two outs. Mack
recovered to keep Southeastern off the board, retiring Duhe to end the frame.
LSU
broke open the game with five runs in the sixth inning. A two-run double by
Applegate and a three-run home run by Young put the Tigers up, 11-0.
Mack
retired Southeastern in order to enforce the mercy rule and preserve the win.
Southeastern
will be back in action on Saturday, opening a three-game series with defending
Southland Conference champion Texas State with a 3 p.m. doubleheader. Live
stats for the series will be available at www.LionSports.net.
Southern 7, Northwestern State 3
BATON
ROUGE - Despite Tiffany Ward's 2-for-2, two RBI effort for Northwestern State,
Southern's Lanaya Jenkings cooled off the Lady Demon bats with a complete-game
five hitter in a 7-3 win over NSU Wednesday afternoon.
Northwestern
dropped to 15-13 on the season as Southern jumped to 5-19 with the home win,
avenging a 9-4 loss at the Lady Demon Diamond earlier this season.
Southern
put itself ahead early with a run in each of the second and third innings
before the Lady Demons cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth. Leslie Johnson hit a
two-out single, followed by Tiffany Ward who drove her in with a triple to
right field.
The
Lady Jags answered with a run of their own in the frame thanks to an RBI by
Gailyn Thibeaux after Southern put the first three batters on to load the
bases.
Shawntall
Steamer, 3-for-4, led off the fifth with a triple to right field before
Jennifer Honore singled to center to extend Southern's lead to 3-1 and scored
another insurance run in the fifth.
The
Lady Demons threatened late, scoring two in the sixth to cut SU's lead to 4-3.
Kayla Cole doubled to right field to advance Stormi Stech to third, who led off
the inning with a walk. Stech scored when Johnson grounded out to the left
side, allowing Cole to advance to third. Ward then drove in Cole with a double
to right field.
Southern
answered with three of their own in the sixth to put the game away, holding
Northwestern scoreless in the final frame.
Jenkins
got the win in the circle for Southern after tossing all seven innings,
allowing just five hit and three runs.
"They
threw a good pitcher and we struggled," second-year head coach Donald Pickett
said.
Kelee
Grimes (2-3) took home the loss after giving up five hits and two runs in just
2.1 innings pitched. Brooke Boening relieved Grimes in the third, tossing three
innings. After a dominating 16-strikeout performance against Sam Houston last
weekend, the freshman was hoping for a similar performance, but gave up seven
hits and five runs in her three innings.
"Our
pitching struggled," Pickett said. "Kelee and Brooke didn't bring their 'A'
games today. They have to get more consistent and they can't give up the
numbers they did and expect us to win. They didn't come out and set the tone."
Kaity
Holloway threw the final two outs for Northwestern, a team that relies on
steady pitching to win ballgames.
"We
have to be consistent on the rubber," Pickett said. "If we can't do that, we
probably won't win because they set the tone for us. They have to come out and
do their best for us to be a complete team."
The
Lady Demons return to action this weekend with a three-game series at Texas
A&M-Corpus Christi starting with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. The
series wraps up Sunday with an 11 a.m. contest before the Lady Demons open up a
five-game home stand April 2 against UT Arlington.
Houston Baptist 1, Sam Houston
State 0
HOUSTON
- First baseman Sara Corcoran blasted a solo home run to left field in the
bottom of the sixth inning to give Houston Baptist a 1-0 non-conference
softball victory over Sam Houston State Wednesday afternoon.
The
game was stopped due to rain after the sixth inning and the second game of the
scheduled double header was canceled.
Houston
Baptist (8-14) totaled only six hits but got an outstanding pitching
performance from Kristi Malpass. The right-hander allowed Sam Houston only one
hit and walked only one batter while striking out six Bearkats. Malpass faced
only 21 batters in her six innings.
Second
baseman Mandy Gegen's bunt in the third inning produced the lone hit for Sam
Houston State (12-19). Gegen reached second on an error and stole third base
with two outs. But the next batter flew out to center field to end the inning.
In
the fourth inning, first baseman Amy Brown walked and eventually reached third
base but was thrown out at home on a ground ball.
Morgan
Mikulin (8-12) took the loss despite striking out six Huskie batters.
North Texas 2, UT Arlington 0
ARLINGTON,
Texas - In a contest that was originally scheduled to be played at North Texas,
the Mavericks and Mean Green agreed to play their non-conference matchup at
Allan Saxe Field due to expected rain in the Denton area. UT Arlington beat the
rain but could not come up with the win as they dropped a 2-0 decision.
In
support of the third annual Strikeout Cancer Game, both UT Arlington and North
Texas sported blue t-shirts. All proceeds generated from the charity game were
donated to the American Cancer Society.
Prior
to the start of the game, the first pitch was thrown by ovarian cancer survivor
Cynthia Rupp who is the mother of Danielle Rupp, who was a four-year
letterwinner for the Mean Green from 2004-07
Teri
Lyles (7-8) came up short, throwing 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits
while striking out two.
The
Mean Green plated solo runs in the second and sixth innings. UNT's solo run in
the second came off the bat of Mallory Cantler who homered to left center.
North Texas plated their second run in the sixth frame following back-to-back
hits.
Erica
LeFlore and Samantha Chumchal were the only Mavericks to record hits in the
contest. LeFlore led off the third inning with a shot down the left field line
while Chumchal connected on a two-out single down the right field line in the
seventh.
UT
Arlington will have a rematch over North Texas when they host their own
Strikeout Cancer Game on May 5 at 6 p.m.
The
Mavs get back into conference action this weekend with a double-header against
UTSA on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m.