Southland Conference

Softball: Feb. 8 Scoreboard

2/8/2015 6:51:45 PM

Southland Conference

Abilene Christian 14, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7
Lamar 7, Eastern Kentucky 4
Nicholls 3, UT Martin 2
Central Arkansas 9, UIW 0 (5)
Pittsburgh 7, Sam Houston State 6
Wichita State 9, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 8
Texas-Arlington 3, Southeastern Louisiana 2
No. 10/11 Baylor 3, Stephen F. Austin 0
No. 3/4 Alabama 4, McNeese State 0
Loyola Marymount 8, Northwestern State 5
Loyola Marymount 4, Northwestern State 1
Eastern Illinois 7, UIW 4
Florida International 7, Houston Baptist 0
 
Abilene Christian 14, Arkansas-Pine Bluff  7
RUSTON, La. - A nine-run first inning ignited by a two-out home run by freshman shortstop Peyton Hedrick helped Abilene Christian softball score its first victory of the season Sunday as the Wildcats went on to double up Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 14-7, at the Lady Techster Invitational hosted by Louisiana Tech.
 
The victory snapped a season-opening, four-game losing streak for the 1-4 Wildcats, while the Lions remain winless at 0-4.
 
After Hedrick, a native of Forney, Texas, crushed her first round-tripper of the season, the wheels fell off for UABP and starting pitcher Makay Hunter as the next 11 Wildcat
runners reached base on six hits, four walks, and the first of six errors.
 
The Lions' offense, however, was quick to respond against ACU starter Julia Montoya (1-2) as it took advantage of an error and hit batsman, following up with a RBI single and consecutive bases-loaded walks. Montoya wriggled out of that jam with back-to-back strikeouts of the Lions' No. 8 and 9 batters.
 
The following inning, Pine Bluff trimmed its deficit to three runs at 9-6 after Jasmine Hardwrick crushed a three-run bomb to center. But that's as close as the Lions would get.
 
Montoya would get the next batter to pop up to first and then allowed just two more hits and one additional run over the next 3.0 innings.
 
Senior Emily Seidel earned the save with 2.0 scoreless innings of work, and got the game to end on a unique 9-2-1-2 double play.
 
After plating nine in the first, ACU pushed its lead to 12-6 in the third thanks to a bases-loaded walk drawn by Baylee Travers and a one-out, two-run double slashed to left-center by Holly Vanckhoven.
 
And after the Lions made it a 12-7 game in the fifth, the Wildcats tacked on two insurance runs to start the seventh with Demi McNulty scoring on an error and Kaleigh Lightsey coming home for the third time on another RBI hit by Vanckhoven.
 
Vanckhoven finished her morning 3-for-4 with a run and four-RBI from the No. 9 spot, while leadoff hitter and sophomore Taylor Brown went 3-for-6 with a run and two RBI.
 
The Wildcats return to action Friday, Feb. 13 with a home doubleheader at Poly Wells Field vs. Prairie View A&M. First pitch is at 2 p.m. ACU swept last year's season series, 4-0.
 
- Return to top -
 
Lamar 7, Eastern Kentucky 4
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Casey Cromwell’s second home run of the season powered the Lamar Lady Cardinals to a 7-4 win over Eastern Kentucky on the final day of the Sand Dollar Classic on Sunday.
 
Cromwell had two hits, including her homer, and three RBIs for Lamar (3-2). Sable Hankins also had two hits for the Lady Cardinals, who finished with 10 hits.
 
“Casey had a phenomenal day,” Lamar coach Holly Bruder said. “In addition to her hitting, she made some huge defensive plays at second base.”
 
Lamar freshman Laura Napoli (2-1) pitched a complete game for the win. The right-hander allowed six hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out three.
 
As a team, Lamar hit .301 over the five games of the event, outscoring its opponents 31-21.
 
“It was a great weekend for us,” Bruder said. “We grew as a team; and when are bats are on, we are unstoppable.”
 
Lamar, which is scheduled to play its first 20 games of the season away from home, returns to action next weekend with five contests at the Mississippi State Invitational. The first opponent for the Lady Cardinals is Louisiana Tech at 10 a.m. Friday.
 
- Return to top -
 
Nicholls 3, UT Martin 2
HAMMOND, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over Tennessee Martin in the Colonels' finale of the Lion Classic and despite a late rally by Skyhawks, Nicholls would hold on for a 3-2 victory at Chappapeela Park.
 
Much like the rest of the weekend, the Colonels (4-1) received solid pitching in the circle. Hannah Haydel made the start, allowing two hits and two earned runs in six innings of work. Jackie Johnson threw an inning for the save.
 
Nicholls finished the game with eight hits, getting two each from Alexis Huss and Haley Stevenson. Huss capped a three-run first inning with an RBI single, which came after a 2-run double by Kayla Prater.
 
Haydel was nearly flawless through six innings of work, allowing only a one-out hit in the fourth inning. But any momentum what short lived as Brooke Morris turned an unassisted double play at shortstop to end the inning.
 
In UT Martin's final at bat, the Skyhawks drew a walk and had a single to put two runners on with no outs. Johnson came in for relief and forced a groundout, but UTM then plated a run on another groundout. With two outs, the Skyhawks added another run on a double, but were unable to bring home the tying run.
 
Nicholls will make its home debut on Wednesday, Feb. 11, as the Colonels host Southern at 7 p.m.
 
- Return to top -
 
Central Arkansas 9, UIW 0 (5)
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Central Arkansas softball team took to the field to close out their appearance at the 2015 Louisiana Classic on Saturday morning, squaring off against Southland Conference foe Incarnate Word. The Central Arkansas offense was firing on all cylinders, as the Bears took down the Cardinals 9-0 in five innings.
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Bears (3-2) exploded for six runs on four hits in the top of the second. Designated player Bailey Reynolds got the inning started with a single through the left side and, following a strikeout, shortstop Tori Seasor drew a walk. After a fielder's choice erased Reynolds, third baseman Sam Forrest drew another walk to load the bases. Right fielder Briana Whisenhunt then got the Bears on the board with an infield single to first base. Second baseman Sarah Bigej roped a bases-loaded triple to centerfield, before catcher Jessie Taylor launched a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to but the Bears up 6-0.
 
The Cardinals (1-3) kept Central Arkansas off the board in the third and fourth innings, but the Bears got back on the board in the top of the fifth to put the run-rule into effect. Reynolds poked a one-out single through the left side and first baseman Ashley Boswell drew a walk to set the table for pinch hitter Ryan Holdiness, who laced a triple to right-center field to put the Bears in front 8-0. After a strikeout and a walk, pinch hitter Audrey Pratt doubled to left field to drive in Holdiness and cap the scoring with the Bears up 9-0.
 
Kylee Studioso (2-1) earned the complete game shutout, limiting Incarnate Word to just four hits and a walk over the course of five innings. She struck out four. Sarah Leal (0-1) took the loss for UIW, surrendering six runs on five hits and three walks in 1.2 innings. Brooke DuBois gave up three runs on four hits and four walks during 3.0 innings of relief, while Mikaela Flores worked a third of an inning of relief. Each UIW pitcher struck out one batter.
 
The Bears open the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday night, hosting in-state opponent Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Farris Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
 
- Return to top -
 
Pittsburgh 7, Sam Houston State 6
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Pittsburgh rallied for three runs in the bottom of the last inning to edge Sam Houston 7-6 in the Bearkats’ final game at the Fairfield Inn & Suites softball tournament hosted by Texas State in San Marcos this weekend.
 
Sam Houston jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the game, scoring two runs in the top of the second and four more in the third inning.
 
Tiffany Castillo started the scoring with a two-run homer down the right field line in the second inning. The shot scored Jennie Kieval who had singled.
 
Dani Allen led off the third inning with a single to begin a string of five consecutive hits that resulted in four runs. Payton Webb followed up with an RBI double. Sarah Allison was next with an RBI single. Angelica Gonzales doubled and Kieval singled to score Allison. Gonzales scored on a sacrifice fly by Castillo.
 
Pittsburgh’s first four runs all were unearned as Pitt scored once in the bottom of the first and added three more to cut the Kats’ margin to 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth.
 
A one-out bases loaded double in the bottom of the seventh tied the game 4-4. The winning run was scored on a sacrifice fly.
 
Haley Baros pitched the Kats’ first complete game of the season in the circle, going six and two-thirds innings.
 
The Bearkats demonstrated that the 2015 softball team has plenty of firepower this weekend. The players combined to produce nine doubles and five home runs.
 
Allison set a school single game record with her seven RBIs in the loss Saturday to Northern Illinois. Angelica Gonzales totaled four doubles and two home runs in the tournament.
 
Next up for Sam Houston are games versus Ohio State, Buffalo, Incarnate Word and Texas-Arlington at the Texas-Arlington Invitational next weekend.
 
- Return to top -
 
Wichita State 9, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 8
WACO, Texas – After falling behind 5-0 in the first inning, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team rallied back to score three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to push ahead. Wichita State (3-2), however, tacked on a run in the fourth before putting together a three-run bottom of the sixth to garner a 9-8 win on the final day of the Getterman Classic at Getterman Stadium.
 
The Islanders (0-5) exploded for a season-high 13 hits while the Shockers tallied 11. Sophomore Liz Carter went 3-for-4 with a double, while sophomore Brittney Morse, sophomore Jessica Mendez, senior Mickayla Cochran and senior Hayley Galloway each chipped in two apiece. Galloway also racked up 3 RBIs and her first triple of her career.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi loaded the bases in the opening frame with one out but the Shockers' defense came up big to end the threat. Sophomore Mackinzee Griebel, who led off for the Islanders for the first time this season started the game with a single to left field before recording the Islanders' first stolen base of the season. After a fly out, Morse reached on a walk and Carter followed with a hard single to left center. With the bases loaded, WSU's Katie Malone retired the next two Islanders.     
 
The Shockers put up the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first after scoring five runs on six hits and capitalizing on a couple Islanders' mishaps. Cacy Williams hit a leadoff double through the left side and Mackenzie Wright followed with a RBI single through the middle to plate Williams and put the Shockers on the board. WSU's Brittany Fortner then reached on an Islanders' fielding error to put runners on first and second. After another error by the Islanders scored Wright, Fortner scored on a RBI ground out by Melanie Jaegers. Wichita State then hit four consecutive singles to score two more runs before Cochran snagged a fly out in center field to end the frame.    
 
Wichita State maintained its lead until the Islanders rallied back in the top of the fourth with three runs to cut the deficit to two. Cosette Hernandez reached on a walk to open the frame and after a strikeout, Lindsey Lyles also reached on walk to put Islanders on first and second. Galloway then stepped to the plate and drilled her first career triple to right center to score Hernandez and Lyles, and put the Islanders on the board. After a strikeout, Dani Tefft ripped a hard RBI infield single to plate Galloway for the Islanders' third run of the game.         
 
The Shockers tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth after Williams stole home after leading off the inning with a double to right field, and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mackenzie Wright.  
 
A&M-Corpus Christi's bats caught fire in the next two frames to trim WSU's lead to one. The Islanders scored a pair of runs on three hits in the fifth, before putting together a three-run top of the sixth on four hits. In the fifth, Carter reached on a walk before Mendez hit a single through the middle. Hernandez then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases as Savannah Sandoval, who came in to pinch run for Carter, stole second for her first stolen base of her career. With bases loaded, Sandoval was called out at home on a fielder's choice by Cochran, before Lyles reached on a fielding error by WSU to score Mendez and load the bases once more. Galloway then responded with a RBI single through the left side to plate Hernandez before Cochran was called out at home on a fielder's choice by Griebel. Tefft grounded out to the pitcher to end the rally with three Islanders left on base.    
 
With the Islanders trailing by one, the squad ignited for four hits in the sixth to garner a 8-6 lead. Morse and Carter hit back-to-back singles before Mendez followed suit with a RBI single through the middle to score Morse. With Carter on third and Mendez on second, a wild pitch by the Shockers scored Carter as Mendez swiped second. Hernandez then reached on a fielding error by WSU and Mendez moved to third, before Cochran ripped a RBI single to center field to score Mendez. The Shockers retired the next three Islanders to end the frame.
 
Heading into the bottom of the sixth the Islanders held a 8-6 lead, but their lead slowly evaporated as the Shockers scored three runs on a pair of hits to take the lead. Ashley Johnson reached on a walk to start the frame and advanced to second on a ground out by Kelli Spring. After a walk and single loaded the bases, Fortner hit a two-run double to right field to score Johnson and Williams. WSU garnered the lead then after Macklin Hitz hit a long sacrifice fly out to center field to score Wright. Griebel then grabbed a fly out in right field to end the frame.
 
Carter blasted her third career double in the top of the seventh with two outs but a strikeout by WSU ended the game.
 
Junior Stephanie Flores (0-2) suffered the loss for the Islanders. She gave up five hits, four runs and four walks while striking out three in five innings. Sophomore Katie Blanar earned her first start in the circle this season and gave up six hits and five runs, just one of them earned in one inning.
 
Jenni Brooks (1-1) secured the win for the Shockers in two innings. She held the Islanders to three hits and one run while recording one strikeout.
 
The Islanders will now return to the Coastal Bend to host the four-day Islanders Invitational on Feb. 12-15. The Islanders will welcome Wisconsin, UAB and South Dakota to Chapman Field.
 
- Return to top -
 
Texas-Arlington 3, Southeastern Louisiana 2
HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team dropped a tough 3-2 decision to UT Arlington in the final classic of the Lion Classic I on Sunday afternoon at Chappapeela Park.
 
Southeastern fell to 2-2 on the young season with the loss. UT Arlington (4-1) finished in a tie atop the tournament standings with Nicholls. Nicholls’ 3-0 win over UTA on Saturday broke the tie, making the Colonels the Lion Classic I champions.
 
Freshman third baseman Sydney Booker drove in both runs for SLU, while senior shortstop Megan Moore led the Lady Lions with three hits. Junior centerfielder Katie Lacour extended her hitting streak to 15 games, while freshman outfielder Kinsey Nichols made two spectacular inning-ending catches. Junior Taylor Bishop (1-1) was the tough luck loser despite not allowing an unearned run in 2.2 innings of relief.
 
UT Arlington jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With two outs, designated player Mya Anderson deposited a pitch from freshman Nicole Ayala over the left centerfield fence to give the Mavs an early cushion.
 
Southeastern evened the ledger in the bottom of the third. Consecutive singles by sophomore catcher JoAnna Booty, Nichols and Lacour loaded the bases. Booker followed later in the inning with a sharp single to plate the game-tying runs. The Madison, Alabama native has six RBI in her first four games in Hammond.
 
The score remained tied until the top of the seventh inning. With two on and two outs, Bishop induced a fly ball to right that freshman Shelby Stewart misplayed, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
 
Southeastern managed one last threat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Singles by Moore and Booker, as well as a walk issued to sophomore Sloan Jenkins loaded the bases with two outs. However, Kayla Donaldson struck out SLU junior Amanda Livaudais for the final out to secure the victory.
 
Southeastern will host its second tournament in as many weeks, welcoming Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Houston Baptist and Southern Miss to North Oak Park for Lion Classic II. Southeastern will open the three-day tournament on Saturday, facing UAPB at 2 p.m.
 
- Return to top -
 
No. 10/11 Baylor 3, Stephen F. Austin 0
WACO, Texas – Freshman Makayla Sikes had a solid afternoon in the circle, but the Stephen F. Austin softball team couldn’t get the bats going on Saturday in a 3-0 loss to No. 10 Baylor in the championship game of the Getterman Classic. The Ladyjacks leave the season-opening tournament with a 2-3 record and a runner-up finish.
 
Junior outfielder Lindsay Campbell, sophomore pitcher/infielder Brittany Lewis and freshman catcher Taylor Fraccastoro were each named to the Getterman Classic All-Tournament Team after Sunday’s contest.
 
The group made big plays all weekend long for the Ladyjacks. Lewis hit a three-run home run in extra innings to lift SFA to a thrilling 6-3 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the season opener on Friday. Fraccastoro had a pair of timely home runs, including a solo shot in the semifinals against Wichita State to help her team advance to the championship game. Campbell hit .333 (3-for-9) for the weekend, drew four walks, scored a run and captained the Ladyjack outfield.
 
In the championship game on Sunday, SFA ran into a hot Baylor pitcher in Heather Stearns. The junior ace had a perfect game going through five innings as her team built a 3-0 lead early. With two outs in the sixth inning, Heather Hollingsworth broke up Stearns’ no-hit bid with a single up the middle, but that was the only hit she would surrender in six innings of work. Stearns (2-0) struck out 11 on the day in a winning decision.
 
Freshman Autumn Holloway notched the Ladyjacks’ only other hit in the game with two outs in the seventh but SFA couldn’t capitalize in the final frame.
 
Sikes battled the 10th ranked Lady Bears (5-0) all afternoon inside the circle. The freshman tossed a complete six innings, allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks and fanned two batters. All three of her runs allowed in the quality start came in the second inning, while only one was charged as an earned run due to three Ladyjack errors in the frame.
 
The Ladyjacks will look to carry their momentum from the Getterman into next week’s Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational from Friday to Sunday. SFA will open the tournament against DePaul on Friday morning at 11:30 a.m.
 
- Return to top -
 
No. 3/4 Alabama 4, McNeese State 0
GULF SHORES, Ala. – McNeese softball ended their opening weekend at the Sand Dollar Classic with a 3-2 record after a 4-0 loss to third ranked Alabama Sunday. The Cowgirls’ other loss, a 5-1 decision came against 23rd ranked South Alabama on Saturday.
 
The Cowgirls picked up seven hits against the Tide and were led with two hits apiece coming from Lauren Langner and Emily Vincent. 
 
Sophomore Rachel Smith took the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season.  Smith gave up seven hits, walked three and fanned four batters.  Jamie Allred relieved Smith in the sixth and faced three batters.
 
Alabama took a 3-0 lead off three hits in the second including doubles by Leona Lafayele and Demi Turner.  Turner knocked in two of the three runs with a double down the right field line.
 
The Cowgirls had a chance to score in the third with one out and the bases loaded but Taylor Groee grounded out to second and Morgan Catron popped up to first to end the Cowgirl threat.
 
McNeese missed another scoring opportunity in the fifth after leaving runners stranded on second and third with one out. The Cowgirls started the inning off with back-to-back singles by Langner and Vincent.
 
Alabama added a run in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. Turner led the inning off with a bunt single and advanced all the way to third on a Cowgirl error. A Danielle Richard single to left scored Turner.
 
- Return to top -
 
Loyola Marymount 8, Northwestern State 5
Loyola Marymount 4, Northwestern State 1
 
- Return to top -
 
Central Arkansas 9, UIW 0 (5)
Eastern Illinois 7, UIW 4
LAFAYETTE, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team ended the Louisiana Classic with a pair of losses to Central Arkansas and Eastern Illinois Sunday.
 
In the first game, the Cardinals (1-4) were shut out by the Bears 9-0 with the mercy rule in effect, ending after five innings.   The Bears (3-2) exploded for six runs in the second inning, propelled by a three-run triple from Sarah Bigej and a two-run homer by Jessie Taylor. The scoring continued in the top of the fifth as Ryan Holdiness hit another triple, scoring two more runs and Audrey Pratt's RBI-double capped the three-run inning that would ultimately put away UIW.
 
The Cardinals' offense was shut down by Kylee Studioso who got the win for the Bears. She went all five innings, walking one and striking out four.
 
UIW collected four hits and only one extra base hit, a double off the bat of Christy Trevino (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) who also stole a base in the game.  Alex Zepeda (Sinton/Sinton HS), Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) and Kellen Robles (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) got the only other hits of the game for the Cardinals.  Sarah Leal (Kyle/Hays HS) took the loss for UIW, going an inning and two thirds, giving up six runs on five hits, three walks and struck out one.
 
In the second game, the Cardinals offense woke up right from the get-go. Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) led the game off with a single and then scored on an RBI triple from Zepeda who later scored on a wild pitch from Michelle Rogers.
 
The Panthers answered right away with two runs in the bottom of the first and then piled on four runs in the second inning, including a two-run homer from Bailey O'Dell, making it 6-2.
Alexandria Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) cut the lead down to 6-3 by bringing in Leal with a double to right field in the top of the fourth for UIW.
 
With the game 7-3 going into the last inning, Zepeda collected her second RBI of the game with a single up the middle scoring Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS), but it would not be enough as the Panthers closed out the game 7-4.
 
Rogers got the win for the Panthers (2-2) going 5.1 innings while giving up three runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out two Cardinals.  The loss went to Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) who pitched an inning and a third giving up six runs before getting relieved by Leal, who pitched very well for the Cardinals. She went 4.1 innings giving up only one unearned run on three hits while striking out two.
 
Katie Helm (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) went 2-for-3 for the Cardinals, including a double in the loss.
 
Ramirez was named to the all-tournament team for the Cardinals.  She went 8-for-18 at the plate for the week with four runs scored and three stolen bases.
 
The Cardinals will now play in the Maverick Classic, starting against UT-Arlington Thursday at 7 p.m., and will have four more games in the classic. 
 
- Return to top -
 
Florida International 7, Houston Baptist 0
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Florida International had three-run innings in the third and fourth, as HBU fell to the Panthers, 7-0, on the final day of the Sand Dollar Classic.
 
Shay Orsak and Victoria Granchelli each had a hit for HBU (0-5), as Orsak went 1-for-4 and Granchelli went 1-for-3. Shannon O’Connor started in the circle and took the loss, as she allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), and one walk in 2.2 innings. Laci Belovsky tossed the final 4.1 innings and gave up seven hits, three runs, and one walk while striking out two.
 
Ashley Leon, Stephanie Texeira, and Aleima Lopez had two hits apiece for FIU (4-2). Texeira and Gabby Spallone each had two RBIs, while Leon scored two runs. Corinne Jenkins started and earned the win in the circle, as she did not allow a hit in 4.0 innings. She walked three and struck out four. Brianna Bartuccio tossed the final 3.0 innings and allowed two hits while striking out one.
 
FIU drew first blood in the top of the second, as Krystal Garcia led off the inning with a double, then Shelby Graves was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. Dominique Grossman flew out to right field, but a Huskies’ error resulted in Garcia crossing home, giving FIU a 1-0 lead.
 
FIU put a three-spot in the top of the third, as the Huskies ran into trouble early in the inning. Back-to-back singles followed by a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Spallone grounded out, which allowed a run to score and give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to bring in another run, and Graves had an RBI double for the third run of the inning. Belovsky came in to pitch for the Huskies and got a strikeout to end the inning.
 
The Panthers scored three more runs in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 7-0. The Huskies threatened to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as back-to-back one-out walks put a runner in scoring position, but a double play ended the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Orsak hit a two-out single, HBU’s first hit of the day. V. Granchelli had the second hit for the Huskies, as she smacked a two-out single to left in the bottom of the seventh.
 
HBU hosts Texas Southern Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 3 pm at Husky Field in the Huskies’ home opener.
 
- Return to top -