Softball: March 15 Scoreboard
Southland Conference
Central Arkansas 13, Stephen F. Austin 6
Central Arkansas 5, Stephen F. Austin 3
Lamar 7, Abilene Christian 4
Southeastern Louisiana 5, UIW 4 (9)
Central Arkansas 13, Stephen F. Austin 6
Central Arkansas 5, Stephen F. Austin 3
CONWAY, Ark. – An offensive outburst in game one, combined with timely hitting and solid pitching in game two helped the Central Arkansas softball Bears earn a pair of wins to secure their second straight sweep in SLC play on Sunday. The Bears pushed their win streak to nine games with a 13-6 win and a 5-3 win.
After taking a 2-0 lead on an RBI fielder’s choice from leftfielder Hannah Stirton in the first and an RBI single from third baseman Sam Forrest in the second, Central Arkansas (18-6, 6-0 SLC) found itself trailing after two and a half innings, thanks to a three-run homer from Stephen F. Austin designated player Brittany Lewis.
The Bears exploded in the bottom of the third though, stringing together 11 straight one-out hits to put up 10 runs. First baseman Ashley Boswell got the inning started with an RBI single, and centerfielder Amy Gunnells followed with a run-scoring single of her own. Forrest then broke the inning open, launching a grand slam to right-center field. Following a pitching change and a pair of singles, catcher Jessie Taylor got in on the action, blasting a three-run homer into the Central Arkansas bullpen. The Bears got another pair of hits before shortstop Hayley Parker capped the inning with an RBI single to put the UCA lead at 12-3.
The Ladyjacks (7-15, 1-5 SLC) got a two-run homer and a solo shot from Lewis in the top of the fifth to cut the UCA lead to 12-6, before right fielder Briana Whisenhunt singled home pinch runner Tylor Dodson to push the lead to 13-6.
Kylee Studioso (14-2) went the distance for the Bears, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out 10 Ladyjacks to earn her 15th complete game and tenth straight victory. Makayla Sikes (1-6) took the loss for SFA, allowing eight runs on seven hits and five walks in 2.1 innings. She struck out two Bears. Lewis threw 3.2 innings of relief, giving up five runs on eight hits and walk with one strikeout.
Just like in the first game of the series, SFA jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning of the day’s second game, getting a two-run double from Lewis.
The Bears took the lead in the third inning in the bottom of the third. First baseman Ashley Boswell tied the game with a two-run blast to centerfield, before second baseman Sarah Bigej ripped a single to center to score Whisenhunt and Gunnells to put the Bears up 4-2.
Gunnells added to the Bears’ lead in the bottom of the fourth, singling in pinch runner Ryan Holdiness to put UCA up 5-2.
SFA threatened in the top of the sixth, forcing a pitching change for the Bears. Kayla Gomness worked out of the jam while limiting the damage to just one run, and then shut the Ladyjacks down in the top of the seventh to secure the sweep for UCA.
Shivaun Landeros (4-4) got the victory for the Bears, giving up three runs on four hits and a pair of walks while striking out six. Gomness picked up her first save of the season, holding SFA hitless and striking out one in two innings of work. Hannah Welch (2-2) suffered the loss for SFA, surrendering four runs on four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings. Callee Guffey gave up an unearned run on five hits and a walk while striking out two in 3.2 innings of relief work.
The Bears take a break from conference play this week, travelling to Stillwater, Oklahoma on Tuesday to take on Oklahoma State. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM. The Bears will then return to SLC play next weekend, travelling to Abilene, Texas for a three-game set against Abilene Christian.
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Lamar 7, Abilene Christian 4
BEAUMONT, Texas – Sunday's softball game between Lamar University and Abilene Christian wasn't an artistic thing of beauty that will find its way into Lamar's Dishman Art Museum, but Lamar coach Holly Bruder was happy with the final result, a 7-4 Lamar win.
"It was ugly at times, but I'm never disappointed with a win," Bruder said after her team improved to 13-10 overall and 6-0 in the Southland Conference. "Of course, I'll take this win."
The Lady Cardinals erupted for six runs in the second inning of ACU starter Emily Seidel, with the big hit being a three-run home run by freshman Sable Hankins, the first round-tripper of her career.
ACU (4-18, 1-5) made it interesting with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Lamar added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Stephanie Meeuwsen to close out the scoring.
Lamar starter Laura Napoli (9-5) pitched a complete game to earn her third win of the weekend. Napoli allowed six hits and four runs, three earned, while walking one and striking out three.
"I thought Laura did another good job today," Bruder said, "Abilene Christian is a good hitting team. She struggled a little bit in the fifth, but settled down."
Meeuwsen and Sarah Ragsdale each had two hits for Lamar, which opened conference play at 6-0 for the first time ever.
"We talked about protecting our house, and we did that," Bruder said. It's great to start 6-0, but there's plenty of softball left. We can't afford to let up. We learned that lesson last year, when we missed out on qualifying for the Southland Conference Tournament by one game."
Lamar hits the road for four straight games starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday with a non-conference contest at UT Arlington. The Lady Cards follow that with a three-game conference series at Incarnate Word that opens with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Friday followed by a single game at noon Saturday.
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Southeastern Louisiana 5, UIW 4 (9)
HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana freshman outfielder Kinsey Nichols singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the Lady Lion softball team completed its Southland Conference series sweep with a 5-4 victory over Incarnate Word Sunday afternoon at North Oak Park.
The Lady Lions rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to improve to 10-15 overall and 5-1 in Southland Conference play – the program’s best start to league action since opening 6-0 in 2001. UIW fell to 3-20 overall and 0-6 in Southland play.
Southeastern took a little while to get going offensively, but finished the game with 10 hits. Nichols, freshman third baseman Sydney Booker, senior shortstop Megan Moore and senior second baseman Vanessa Eng had two hits apiece, while sophomore outfielder Sloan Jenkins hit a game-tying three-run home run.
Helping keep SLU within striking distance while waiting for the bats to heat up was junior pitcher Taylor Bishop (6-3). The Sugar Land, Texas native was lights out in seven innings of scoreless relief, striking out five and scattering four hits.
UIW jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to uncharacteristic poor defense by the Lady Lions. The Cardinals scored three unearned runs against SLU junior Madison Vige’ after errors by Booker, Moore and sophomore catcher Lacey Fritz.
The Cardinals padded their lead in the top of the second. An RBI single by senior centerfielder Alex Zepeda put UIW up, 4-0.
The Lady Lions got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Junior designated player Amber Sather drew a walk to open the frame, then senior first baseman Teresa Lemos bunted freshman pinch runner Grace DeLee into scoring position. Moore followed with a double to right centerfield, scoring DeLee and cutting the lead to 4-1.
SLU knotted the game up in the bottom of the fourth inning. A single by Booker and a Sather walk put a pair of runners on to start the inning. Two outs later, Jenkins lined a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence to tie the score.
From there, Bishop and a pair of UIW pitchers – senior Brooke DuBois and sophomore Kristin Hebert (2-8) – matched zeroes over the next 4.5 innings. However, while the Cardinals never seriously threatened Bishop, SLU stranded five runners over the fifth through eighth innings.
SLU was finally able to break through in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fritz and Eng opened the inning with consecutive singles. After junior outfielder Katie Lacour sacrificed the runners into scoring position, Nichols singled up the middle to allow freshman pinch runner Peyton Stokes-Sutton to cruise in with the winning run.
Southeastern will close its six-game home stand on Tuesday, hosting Mississippi State at 5 p.m. at North Oak Park.
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