Softball: Feb. 15 Scoreboard
Southland Conference
McNeese State 13, DePaul 3 (6)
Southeastern Louisiana 12, Southern Mississippi 6
Stephen F. Austin 5, Houston 1
Central Arkansas 11, Mississippi Valley State 2 (5)
Houston Baptist 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 (6)
Sam Houston State 6, Texas-Arlington 4
Northwestern State 8, Jackson State 0 (5)
No. 9/11 Baylor 9, Northwestern State 2
South Dakota 6, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0
Murray State 11, Nicholls 3
Lamar at Mississippi State, Cancelled (Cold Weather)
McNeese State 13, DePaul 3 (6)
HOUSTON, Texas – McNeese softball captured the Houston Hilton Invitational with a 13-3, run-rule victory over DePaul Sunday. McNeese ended tournament play with a 4-1 record.
The Cowgirls (7-3) pounded out 14 hits including home runs by Hailey Drew, Bryanna Castro and Taylor Goree. McNeese also got doubles from Drew, Erika Piancastelli, Emily Vincent, Lauren Langner and Dakota Matiko.
Castro ended the game 3 for 3 with three RBI and scored three runs. Hailey Drew was 2 for 3 and also picked up three RBI.
Rachel Smith improved to 3-2 with the complete game victory. Smith gave up five hits, struck out three and walked two. Smith gave up one hit through four innings before giving up a double in the fifth. The Blue Devils picked up three more hits in the sixth.
McNeese scored at least one run in every inning with single runs in the first two, two in the third, fourth and fifth before putting an exclamation point on the game with five runs in the sixth.
After a ground out by Piancastelli for the first out of the game, the Cowgirl offensive outburst started with back-to-back doubles by Vincent and Drew.
Castro scored the second Cowgirls run after a single, stole third and came home on a Castro double to right center for a 2-0 lead.
Two more runs in the third came from a two-run homerun by Drew for a 4-0 lead. Goree gave McNeese a 6-0 lead in the fourth on another Cowgirl two run home run. The long ball is Goree’s first of the season and fifth career.
Langner reached base in the fifth with a single to center, stole second and scored on a Catron single. Catron added the second run of the inning when she scored on a sacrifice fly by Shelbi Hagler to extend the lead to 8-0.
With DePaul scored a run in the bottom of the inning to halt the early run-rule defeat.
The Cowgirls exploded for five runs on four hits in the sixth to take a 13-1 lead. A double by Piancastelli started the inning. She would come around to score on a RBI single off the bat of Tori Yanitor. Yanitor put herself into scoring position on a steal then scored on a double down the left field line by Langner. Castro cleared the bases with a three run home run, her first career long ball.
DePaul scored two more runs in the sixth but it wouldn’t be enough as the Cowgirls walked away with the victory.
McNeese will host Missouri State Friday in a 4 p.m. doubleheader as part of the UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajun Invitational. McNeese will take on Hofstra a noon and UL-Lafayette at 2:30 Sunday. Both of these games will be played in Lafayette.
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Southeastern Louisiana 12, Southern Mississippi 6
HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team racked up a season-high 16 hits on the way to a 12-6 victory over Southern Miss on the final day of the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic II Sunday at North Oak Park.
Southeastern improved to 4-3 overall with the win. The Lady Lions broke out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and provided junior Taylor Bishop (2-1) plenty of offense for her to pick up her second win of the year. Southern Miss (5-4) lost for the first time in the tournament. The Lady Lions, USM and Houston Baptist all tied for the Lion Classic II title with only one loss apiece.
Senior second baseman Vanessa Eng and sophomore catcher Lacey Fritz each homered in the win for SLU. Freshman third baseman Sydney Booker tied a single-game school record with two triples, matching the mark set by freshman outfielder Kinsey Nichols in Saturday’s 14-1 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Prior to Nichols and Booker accomplishing the feat, the last Lady Lion with multiple triples in a game was Southeastern Athletics Hall of Famer Voncia Bookman in 1993.
Nichols also tripled in Sunday’s win, as the Lady Lions tied a single-game school record with three triples as a team. Junior outfielder Katie Lacour was the catalyst for the SLU offense, finishing 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Booker also scored three runs, while Eng led SLU with four RBI. Senior shortstop Megan Moore and junior designated player Amber Sather each had two hits and an RBI, as SLU was productive throughout the lineup.
The Lady Lions jumped all over USM pitcher Danielle Block (0-2) in the bottom of the first inning. Lacour led off the game with a single and scored one out later when Booker laced a triple into the left centerfield gap. Booker would later score on an RBI single by Moore. Following that, Eng smoked a shot over the right field fence to chase Block from the game. The Alvin, Texas native’s first career home run at SLU gave the Lady Lions a 5-0 cushion.
USM came back to pull closer in the top of the second inning. A two-run RBI single by Michelle Stringer pulled the Golden Eagles within three at 5-2.
Bishop and USM reliever Shelbee Rodgers settled down for the next several innings until the Lady Lions got back on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lacour led off the frame with a single, then Nichols ripped her third triple of the season over USM centerfielder Kalyn Christofferson to score Lacour and raced home when the relay throw sailed wide. Later in the inning, Booker would single and later score on an RBI groundout by Eng to push the SLU lead to 8-2.
USM got back into the game in the top of the fifth inning. Right fielder Sarah Evans drilled a line drive grand slam over the right field fence to cut the SLU lead to 8-6.
Southeastern ended the road team’s comeback hopes in the bottom of the fifth inning. Booker plated the first two runs of the frame with an opposite-field triple, then later scored when Sather snuck a single through the right side to give SLU a 11-6 lead. Fritz put the final run on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, as she powered her first home of the season over the left field fence to provide the final 12-6 margin.
After playing the first seven games at home, Southeastern will play its next 10 games on the road. The swing starts on Wednesday with a 1 p.m. contest at Alcorn State.
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Stephen F. Austin 5, Houston 1
HOUSTON, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin softball team scored five runs in the seventh inning to close out the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational with a 5-1 victory over the University of Houston on Sunday afternoon at Cougar Softball Stadium. The Ladyjacks finished the tournament with a 2-3 record and are now 4-6 overall on the year.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, SFA posted a big number to put away the Cougars (6-6). Autumn Holloway started things off with a single up the middle and later scored on a Houston error to even things at 1-1. Heather Hollingsworth, who reached on the Cougar miscue, moved to third after a Taylor LeFlore single and a Shalie Day walk.
With the bases loaded and just one out, Taylor Fraccastoro watched four balls go by to earn a bases loaded RBI walk. Hollingsworth ran home to give SFA its first lead of the game, 2-1. In the next at-bat, Katelyn Standley ripped a two-run single down the right field line to bring pinch runners Lora Blackwell and Annie Mehringer to the plate.
Lindsay Campbell continued the RBI streak by lacing a single to the gap in right center. Fraccastoro touched home on the base hit, capping the five-run inning and extending the Ladyjack lead to 5-1.
Freshman Callee Guffey (2-2) finished a great outing in the circle with a clean seventh inning to preserve the SFA victory. She tossed the full seven innings, surrendered just one run on three hits, walked four, struck out five and picked up her second collegiate winning decision.
The Ladyjacks outhit the Cougars 7-3, with all seven hits coming at the hands of a different player. SFA also displayed better defense in the contest, committing just one error to Houston’s four.
Up next, the Ladyjacks will open their home slate with Texas Southern on Wednesday at SFA Softball Field. The home opener will begin at 3:00 p.m.
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Central Arkansas 11, Mississippi Valley State 2 (5)
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team returned to the field early on Sunday morning, taking on Mississippi Valley State in the Mardi Gras Classic, hosted by Louisiana-Lafayette. The Bears got the offense going early, and coasted to an easy 11-2 victory.
The Bears (6-5) jumped out to a 5-0 lead on three hits in the bottom of the first. Third baseman Sam Forrest drew a walk to open the inning, and right fielder Briana Whisenhunt was hit by a pitch to bring second baseman Sarah Bigej to the plate. The Happy Valley, Oregon native opened the floodgates, roping a double to left-center to plate Forrest and Whisenhunt. After Bigej moved to third on a flyout, left fielder Hannah Stirton brought her in with a single through the left side to make it 3-0 Central Arkansas with just one out. Stirton moved into scoring position with a stolen base and designated player Lindsay Elliott drew a walk to set the table for shortstop Tori Seasor, who picked up her first two collegiate RBI with a double down the left field line to drive in Stirton and Elliot.
Central Arkansas continued their offensive output immediately in the bottom of the second, as Forrest led off the inning with a home run over the scoreboard in right field to make it 6-0 Bears. Whisenhunt followed with a single up the middle and Bigej moved her to third with a double down the right field. A wild pitch scored Whisenhunt, before catcher Jessie Taylor brought in Bigej with a single up the middle. Later in the inning, first baseman Ashley Boswell joined the party, picking up an infield single to score pinch runner Hayley Parker and push the Central Arkansas lead to 9-0.
Mississippi Valley (1-10) cut into the Central Arkansas lead in the top of the third. Catcher Brianna Johnson and second baseman Brandi Williams opened the inning with a pair of walks, before center fielder Omeshia Moffett loaded the bases with an infield single following a strikeout. Leftfielder Natalia Covarrubias delivered for the Devilettes, lacing a double to center to drive in Johnson and Williams and cut the UCA lead to 9-2.
Central Arkansas answered in the bottom of the fourth to take an 11-2 lead. Elliot drew a one out walk to start the rally and moved to second on a ground out. Pinch hitter Tylor Dodson drew another walk and the Bears' second pinch hitter, Brianna McArthur roped a double to left field to plate both runners.
Central Arkansas starter Kylee Studioso made quick work of MVSU in the top half of the fifth, setting the Devilettes down in order to end the game. Studioso (5-2) picked up her sixth complete game of the season, allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Haley Young (0-7) took the loss for MVSU, allowing five runs on two hits and two walks while retiring just one Central Arkansas batter. Sydney Coe surrendered five runs on six hits and three walks in three innings of work, while Rebekah Clinton gave up one run on one hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. She was the only Devilette pitcher to record a strikeout.
The Central Arkansas offense was led by Bigej, who went 2-for-3with a double, two runs, and two RBI, and Seasor , who was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. MVSU was led by Covarruvias, who went 1-for-2 with a double and a pair of RBI.
Central Arkansas returns home on Wednesday, playing host to Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 5:00 PM.
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Houston Baptist 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 0 (6)
HAMMOND, La. – HBU went 7-for-7 in stolen bases and used a solid outing by junior hurler Shannon O’Connor to run-rule Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 8-0 in six innings, Sunday morning on the final day of the Lion Classic II. HBU went 3-1 in the tournament.
Cecilia Bauer, Victoria Granchelli, and Nicole Shedd all had two hits to lead HBU (3-7). Libby Brown and Shedd had two RBIs apiece. Melissa Herman did not have a registered at-bat, as she was walked four times. O’Connor allowed four hits and three walks while striking out four in the complete-game shutout. The seven stolen bases were three shy of the program record of 10, set against Wiley on March 20, 2001.
Tires Jacobs went 2-for-3 to lead UAPB (0-11), while Jasmine Hardwrick and Makay Hunter had a hit apiece. Hunter started in the circle and took the loss, as she allowed six hits, seven runs (three earned), and six walks in 3.2 innings. Shanice Murry relieved Hunter and gave up five hits, one run, and two walks with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings.
V. Granchelli led off the bottom of the second with a triple, but was out on the next play, as she tried to score on a grounder by Shedd.
HBU had a three-run bottom of the third to break the scoreless tie. Bauer led off the inning with an infield single. She stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Herman walked and stole second to put two runners in scoring position with only one out. Brown singled up the middle bringing home both runs. Brown stole second and later scored on an RBI single by Shedd. The Lady Lions got out of the inning with a fielder’s choice to keep the deficit three.
The Huskies put a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open, 7-0. Bauer drew a one-out walk, stole second – her third of the game – and advanced to third on an outfield fly. Herman also walked and stole second. Brown reached base safely on another UAPB error, which allowed Bauer to cross home and Herman to advance to third, increasing the Huskies’ lead to 4-0. V. Granchelli followed with a two-run single to left and advanced all the way to third on an error, giving HBU a 6-0 advantage. The Lady Lions changed pitchers, but Shedd gave Murry a rude welcome, as she tripled to right, bringing home V. Granchelli.
HBU threatened to put the run-rule in effect and end the game in the bottom of the fifth with bases loaded with Huskies, but Murry got an inning-ending strikeout without any damage.
Laci Belovsky hit a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth and later scored on an RBI single by Orsak, ending the game via run-rule.
HBU competes in its final regular season tournament, the Samford Tournament, Feb. 20-22.
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Sam Houston State 6, Texas-Arlington 4
ARLINGTON, Texas – Four Bearkats each produced two hits as the Sam Houston State softball team completed its weekend at the Maverick Invitational with a 6-4 victory over host UT-Arlington Sunday.
The win gave the SHSU women a 4-1 record for the weekend. Sam Houston’s only loss came at the hands of unbeaten Ohio State 4-3 in extra innings.
Sunday Jessica Slater, Peyton Webb and Sarah Allison all went 2-for-4 at the plate. Tiffany Castillo collected two hits in three at bats.
Webb and Castillo both hit home runs. Both were solo shots, Castillo’s coming in the third inning and Webb’s in the seventh.
The Kats opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first as Jennie Kieval walked with the bases loaded and Castillo brought in the second tally with a single.
Sam Houston extended its lead to 5-0 in the third on an RBI double by Allison, a sacrifice fly by Kieval and Castillo’s homer.
Haley Baros was the winning pitcher in relief. Taylor Neal started the game and pitched two-and-a-third innings.
Next action for the Bearkats is Wednesday in College Station where Sam Houston will take on No. 2 ranked Oregon at the Texas A&M softball field.
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Northwestern State 8, Jackson State 0 (5)
No. 9/11 Baylor 9, Northwestern State 2
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Northwestern State (2-8) split action on Day 2 of the NHDDC Lady Demon Classic highlighted by an 8-0 win against Jackson State (2-7) in the day’s opener. In the victory, NSU erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the second, led by Brittany Virgoe’s grand slam – a ball that just stayed fair down the left field line.
Northwestern State fell in the nightcap, 9-2 to No. 9 Baylor (9-0). However, possibly the highlight of the day came in the sixth inning when Baylee Shephard drew a bases loaded walk. Natalie Landry, who advanced to third on the play, raced for home, catching the Lady Bears off guard for the steal.
“We’re trying to extend the game at that point,” seventh-year head coach Pickett said. “We needed another run. They left the plate open. I think they had a little miscommunication with their defense and Natalie is a heads up base runner. She did a really good job.”
During the two-day tournament, the Lady Demons posted two wins over Jackson State and two losses to Baylor. NSU outscored the Tigers, 20-2 while being outscored 20-2 by the Lady Bears.
Against Jackson State, Baylee Gray notched her first victory of the season, tossing five innings while striking out an impressive seven batters, allowing just one hit while shutting out the Tigers (2-7).
“She threw really well today,” Pickett said. “I think yesterday she may have been trying to press a little bit and overthrew. Today, she trusted her stuff and moved the ball well. When we’re doing that, it makes it a lot harder for them to get anything done on offense.”
Four different Lady Demons secured hits on the day including Sidney Salmans who finished 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot.
Cassandra Barefield began the second inning with a walk and advanced to third on a Kellye Kincannon double to left center field. Natalie Landry brought Barefield home with an RBI single. Kincannon came home on a Hailee Rhodes fielder’s choice followed by a Sidney Salmans’ RBI. After a Micayla Sorosiak walk, the stage was set for Virgoe’s grand slam.
“She’s a special player,” Pickett said of Virgoe. “We need our seniors to play well and we’ve got some good ones. Once the season settles in, I think they’ll all start playing like they can.”
Baylor jumped out early against the Lady Demons, scoring four runs in the first inning and two runs in the second helped by a combined eight hits in the two frames.
Northwestern State threatened in the fifth inning, as Brittney Jones and Hailee Rhodes reached on Baylor errors on with one out; however, a fielder’s choice and strikeout ended the frame.
Micaela Bouvier drew the loss, giving up four earned runs in 1 1-3 innings pitched while walking two more. Skylar Cagle tossed 2 2-3 innings in relief, giving up one run and four hits. Shelby Sells also saw action, escaping a bases loaded jam in the fifth before giving up a two-run home run in the sixth. Her final line included two runs and three hits in three innings pitched while striking out four.
Northwestern State concludes its five-game homestand on Wednesday when it welcomes ULM to the Lady Demon Diamond. First pitch is slated for 5 o’clock.
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South Dakota 6, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – South Dakota put together a five-run top of the third, and tacked on a run in the fourth en route to a 6-0 win over the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi softball team today on the final day of the Islanders Invitational at Chapman Field.
The Coyotes outhit the Islanders (0-9-1) 9-1 with sophomore Mackinzee Griebel picking up the Islanders' lone hit of the game in the fourth.
Katie Cochran went 2-for-3 to lead South Dakota (3-5-1), including a two-run home run in the third. Matley Jones went 2-for-4 and added a run and RBI.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Coyotes got on the board in the top of the third with five runs on six hits. Morgan Hancock led off the inning with a single to right field before Cochran hit a two-run home run over the left field wall. Yvon Minogue followed with a single through the right side before she advanced to second on a sacrifice ground out by Katie Dinning. With one out, Jones ripped a single to right field, and Allie Daly followed with a single to left field before advancing to second on the throw as Minogue crossed home plate. The Coyotes added two more runs with two outs after a ground out by Kayla Fields. Sydney Hancock hit a RBI single to left center to plate Jones before Shelby Keil reached on an Islanders' error and Daly came around to score. A&M - Corpus Christi pulled out of the inning as Griebel snagged a fly out in right field.
The Islanders posted their first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Griebel opened the frame with a shot to left field and landed on second after a ground out by Liz Carter. However, a ground out by Mickayla Cochran left Griebel stranded at second.
With two outs, the Coyotes added a run in the top of the fourth on two hits to extend their lead to 6-0. Ater Minogue reached on a fielder's choice she scored on a RBI single to right center by Jones.
The Islanders left four runners on base in the game while the Coyotes stranded six.
Carter (0-6) suffered the loss for the Islanders in seven innings. The sophomore, who earned her fifth start this season and her 36th career start in the Islanders' circle, allowed nine hits, six runs, five of them earned, while walking one and striking out three Coyotes. Her 36 career starts ranks her ninth in the Islanders' record books.
Rachel Cue (3-3) earned the win for South Dakota. She allowed just one hit and four walks in seven innings.
The Islanders will now take a break from tournament play to face UTSA on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in San Antonio. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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Murray State 11, Nicholls 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Nicholls State University softball team scored three runs in the first inning, but that would be all the offense the Colonels received as Murray State handed Nicholls an 11-3 loss on Sunday afternoon in the Samford Softball Classic.
The Colonels finished the weekend with a 1-3 record, dropping their overall mark to 6-4. Nicholls will return to the diamond on Tuesday, Feb. 17 as they host No. 24 South Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Nicholls tallied seven hits in the loss, led by Kayla Prater and Alexis Huss with two each. Huss drove in all three runs for the Colonels after she hit a 3-run home run in the opening frame. Huss leads the Colonels with two homers on the season.
Murray State answered in the top of the third with its own 3-run shot coming off the bat of Shelby Miller. In the fourth, the Racers started the inning with a triple and broke the tie with an RBI single. Miller then struck again, sending the first pitch she saw from Jackie Johnson over the right field wall for a 2-run homer.
Murray State (6-3) tacked on five more runs in the final three innings, including another 3-spot in the sixth inning to make the final.
Johnson was tagged with the loss, dropping her record to 2-2 on the year. She allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits and struck out three. Hannah Haydel pitched the final two innings, allowing three earned on four hits.
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