Softball: March 27 Scoreboard
Southland Conference
Northwestern State 5, Lamar 0
Northwestern State 11, Lamar 5
Southeastern Louisiana 8, Sam Houston State 2
Southeastern Louisiana 6, Sam Houston State 4
Houston Baptist 4, UIW 0
Houston Baptist 3, UIW 1
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2, Stephen F. Austin 0
Stephen F. Austin 4, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3 (9)
McNeese State 8, Abilene Christian 0 (5)
Abilene Christian 8, McNeese State 2
Northwestern State 5, Lamar 0
Northwestern State 11, Lamar 5
BEAUMONT, Texas – Northwestern State softball starter Miceala Bouvier tossed her first career no-hitter and the 13th in program history, leading the Lady Demons to a 5-0 victory in Game 1 against Lamar at the Lamar Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.
The no-hitter was the first since Kaylee Guidry blanked Alcorn State, 8-0 on Feb. 20, 2013. It the first for NSU against a Southland Conference foe since Crista Miller threw a perfect game against McNeese State on April 3, 2004.
"I noticed in the top of the seventh inning that I had a no-hitter but if you say something, it gets jinxed," Bouvier said. "I just threw my stuff like I had all game and do what I know how to do. For me, what was effective was finding the umpires strike zone. I was throwing at the knees and he wasn't calling so I had to make adjustments to get the pitches I wanted."
In Game 2, NSU picked up right where it left off. Cassandra Barefield launched her second grand slam of the season, plating Sidney Salmans, Brittany Virgoe and Kellye Kincannon who led off the opening frame with singles to lift the Lady Demons to an 11-5 victory.
Brittney Jones and Micayla Sorosiak continued the frame with a singles to left. Then Kaytie Proctor doubled, driving in the duo to push the lead to 6-0. Then with two outs, Salmans notched her second single of the frame to score Proctor.
In the sixth, Sorosiak notched her eighth home run of the season, extending the NSU lead to 10-5. The double-digit scoring affair was the ninth of the season for NSU, breaking the previous school record of eight set in 2005 and matched last season.
With the wins, NSU improved to 20-12 and 10-0 in league play. The win was NSU's season-long 11th straight. Meanwhile, Lamar dropped to 16-13 overall and 9-2 in conference action.
"It was great for her to have that performance," seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said of Bouvier. "Her getting the no-hitter was icing on the cake. It was a tight game so she had to work for everything we got. She just kept grinding and kept them at bay."
Bouvier (10-4), a redshirt freshman, has recorded a win in seven straight appearances. It was her third complete game of the season and first since Feb. 18 against ULM. The right-hander fanned two and walked two others.
"I've had some great memories but this is definitely one of the best," Bouvier said. "It's definitely one of the best, throwing a no-hitter against a team that was 9-0 and you're in competition with them."
Hailee Rhodes recorded the first three-hit game of her career in Game 1, highlighted by a pair of doubles. The freshman scored two NSU runs. Meanwhile, Salmans finished 3-for-3 in the leadoff spot, extending her hit streak to five games.
Rhodes led off the third with her fifth double of the season, this one off the left field fall. The shortstop moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Salmans. Virgoe brought home Rhodes on a sacrifice fly to left, a ball that likely would have left the park without a steady wind blowing in.
NSU loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but Lamar starter Laura Napoli (11-7), the Southland leader in wins, clamped down striking out Kellye Kincannon and forcing Cassandra Barefield to fly out to left. The freshman righty drew the loss, going the distance, allowing five runs while striking out two and walking a pair.
Earlier in the frame, Rhodes split the gap in right center with one out for her second double of the day and Salmans notched her second infield single of the day to push Rhodes to third. Then, after working a 3-2 count, Brittany Virgoe walked to load the bases.
In the seventh, Rhodes singled to left, recording the first three-hit game of her career. One batter later, Salmans singled to center. Then, Virgoe provided NSU's second run of the day on a double over the center fielder's head, moving Salmans to third. Kincannon provided further insurance with a single to right, plating Salmans and bringing the NSU lead to 3-0.
Jones roped a two-out double to plate Kincannon and Barefield, giving NSU a 5-0 lead.
In the second inning of Game 2, Kincannon led off the frame with a walk. After Jones doubled to the left field wall, Kincannon came around to score on a Natalie Landry RBI single.
After Lamar scratched back for two runs in the first, a three-run home run from Shannon Sain brought the Lady Cardinals to within three at 8-5.
NSU starter Baylee Gray lasted just 1 2-3 innings, giving up four hits and five runs while walking three. Mikayla Brown (4-0) was masterful in relief, earning the win and tossing 5 1-3 innings, scattering four hits and striking out two while walking one.
"I feel like she's getting more confident every time out," Pickett said. "She's faced some good teams. We really are glad to have Brown because she adds another dimension to our team that I don't think we had early in the year."
Lamar starter Lauren Dannelley (5-6) lasted just 1-3 inning, allowing seven hits and seven runs while facing eight batters.
The Lady Demons ninth run of the day came in the fourth thanks to a wild pitch to plate Landry. After Sorosiak home run in the sixth, NSU came out swinging again in the finale frame with Barefield driving in Salmans on a sacrifice fly to right.
NSU's 16 hits were the second most in the squad's 32 games this season. The Lady Demons recorded 17 hits in an 11-10 win against Ball State on Feb. 28.
Northwestern State will look for the sweep on Saturday at two o'clock against Lamar.
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Southeastern Louisiana 8, Sam Houston State 2
Southeastern Louisiana 6, Sam Houston State 4
HAMMOND, La. – Timely hitting up and down the lineup combined with two more strong pitching performances by junior Taylor Bishop helped the Southeastern Louisiana softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Sam Houston State in Southland Conference action Friday evening at North Oak Park.
With the wins, Southeastern (14-17, 9-1 Southland) is off to its best Southland Conference start in school history, as the Lady Lions have won their last eight league games and have won their first four conference series. Sam Houston State fell to 8-21 overall and 1-9 in league play.
In the opener, SLU broke open a one-run game with a five-run sixth inning on the way to an 8-2 victory. Five of the Lady Lions’ nine hits went for extra bases, as freshman infielder Sydney Booker and freshman outfielder Kinsey Nichols each tripled, while senior first baseman Teresa Lemos, sophomore outfielder Sloan Jenkins and sophomore catcher Lacey Fritz each doubled. Bishop (10-3) went the distance, scattering five hits for the complete game victory.
In the nightcap, SLU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on the way to a 6-4 victory. Fritz drove in a pair of runs, while Booker, junior designated player Amber Sather, senior infielder Megan Moore and senior second baseman Vanessa Eng each had one RBI.
Junior Madison Vige’ struck out four in the first three innings, before giving way to Bishop, who allowed just two hits over the final four innings to earn the win. The reigning Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week has now set a career-high for wins in a season, won her last eight decisions and ran her conference record in the circle to 7-0.
“We’re starting to believe we can win every time out,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said. “Taylor has been lights out in the circle and we seem to be able to string hits together in key moments. What was encouraging today was that we saw production from everyone in the lineup. We’re really proud of the effort and we want to keep on rolling.”
Southeastern will look to close out its third consecutive Southland series sweep on Saturday, when the series finale is set for 11 a.m.
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Houston Baptist 4, UIW 0
Houston Baptist 3, UIW 1
HOUSTON, Texas – Senior 1B Melissa Herman hit a solo home run in game one and sophomore DP Alyssa Burnett knocked the go-ahead two-run single in game two as HBU softball swept a doubleheader from visiting Incarnate Word, 4-0 and 3-1, Friday afternoon from Husky Field.
Both Herman and Burnett went 3-for-6 in the twinbill, as Burnett had three RBIs and one run scored while Herman had one RBI and three runs scored.
HBU drew first blood in game one. Herman led off the inning with a double to right-center field. She advanced to third on a single by Burnett and crossed home as Cecilia Bauer converted a perfect bunt that clung to the right-field foul line but never crossed. Burnett gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead on Madison Vonhagel’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Herman gave the Huskies a 3-0 advantage with a two-out home run to left-center field. Burnett’s RBI single concluded the scoring in the bottom of the fifth, as her hit scored Nicole Shedd, who led off the inning with a single down the left-field line.
Five different Huskies had two hits and four had an RBI apiece. Herman led the Huskies with two runs scored. Laci Belovsky earned the win as she earned her first complete-game shutout as a member of HBU, as she allowed four hits and three walks. Her seven strikeouts were one shy of her career high.
Four different Cardinals had a hit. Kristin Hebert took the loss in the circle, as she gave up 11 hits and four runs while striking out two.
Incarnate Word scored the first run in game two, as starting pitcher Brooke DuBois helped her cause with a solo shot to left field in the top of the second.
That lone run held up for the Cardinals until the bottom of the fifth, when the Huskies scored all three runs. HBU played small ball, getting the first two batters on via the bunt. Herman drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Burnett, who hit a two-run single down the right-field line to give HBU a 2-1 lead. The next batter, Libby Brown, beat out an infield single which allowed Herman to cross home and give the Huskies a 3-1 advantage.
The Cardinals went down in order in the top of the sixth and was unable to cut into the deficit despite getting a one-out walk for Shelbi Swenson in the top of the seventh.
Shay Orsak and Victoria Granchelli each went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Burnett led all players with two RBIs. Shannon O’Connor earned the complete-game victory in the circle, as she allowed four hits, one run, and one walk with three strikeouts.
Four different Cardinals had a hit, with DuBois having the biggest one. DuBois took the loss in the circle, also going all the way. She allowed 11 hits, three runs, and three walks with two strikeouts.
HBU and Incarnate Word conclude the series Saturday at noon from Husky Field.
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2, Stephen F. Austin 0
Stephen F. Austin 4, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3 (9)
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Taylor Fraccastoro smashed a solo home run in the ninth inning of the second game of Friday’s doubleheader against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to help the Ladyjacks pull off the 4-3 victory and earn a split at Chapman Field. The Ladyjacks (9-21, 2-8 SLC) dropped game one 2-0 to the Islanders (8-21-1, 3-8 SLC).
Fraccastoro’s team-leading sixth home run of the season came at the most ideal time on Friday afternoon. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, the freshman scorched a Katie Blanar offering over the wall in center to put SFA on top 4-3. The solo blast proved to be enough for the Ladyjacks to secure the win and the doubleheader split.
SFA also beat Corpus Christi with an extra-inning home run on opening day in the Getterman Classic as Brittany Lewis powered a three-run dinger over the wall in the eighth inning of a 6-3 win.
The Islanders outhit the Ladyjacks 13-5 in game two on Friday, but committed six errors to SFA’s one.
The Ladyjacks never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to one of the Islanders’ six miscues. After Katelyn Standley recorded a two-out double, a fielding error in right field on a ball hit by Fraccastoro allowed Standley to get home safely.
Corpus Christi responded with a run in the bottom half but Lewis started to heat up at the plate for SFA. The designated player sent a two-out RBI double to the gap in right-center in the second inning to bring home Alisa Hamilton. Hamilton got aboard via another AMCC error and made it a 2-1 SFA lead by stepping on the plate.
The Islanders once again tied the game with a run in the third but an error allowed the Ladyjacks to regain control 3-2 with a run in the fourth. Autumn Holloway reached first on a throwing error by the pitcher, Hamilton reached on an infield single to send Holloway to third and Lewis laid down an RBI bunt single to manufacture the run.
Lewis finished game two 2-for-5 with two RBI to pace the ‘Jacks.
AMCC scored again in the sixth to force extras but Fraccastoro’s late-game heroics stole the show on Friday.
Freshmen pitchers Makayla Sikes and Callee Guffey shared the workload in the circle. Sikes allowed three runs – two earned – in 6.2 innings as the starter and Guffey (4-9) closed out the game with 2.1 scoreless frames to claim the win.
In game one, SFA was blanked 2-0 despite a quality start from Guffey. She surrendered just five hits and two runs in 6.0 complete innings, walked two and struck out four. Heather Hollingsworth, Taylor Vick, Fraccastoro and Holloway each contributed a hit in the front end of the twin bill.
The two teams will determine the series winner on Saturday in the finale from Chapman Field. First pitch is set for noon.
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McNeese State 8, Abilene Christian 0 (5)
Abilene Christian 8, McNeese State 2
ABILENE, Texas – McNeese softball split a Southland Conference doubleheader Friday against Abilene Christian with an 8-0, five inning first game win before dropping its first conference game of the season with an 8-2 second game loss. The series will conclude Saturday with the rubber game beginning at noon.
McNeese (24-12, 10-1 SLC) collected 11 hits in the win and only four hits in the second game and committed three errors.
In the opener, McNeese opened the second inning with five runs on four hits highlighted by a three run home run by Erika Piancastelli. The home run is her 11th of the season. Lauren Langner began the inning with a single to left center then stole second. After a Hailey Drew walk and a stolen base, Tori Yanitor singled up the middle two score both players for an early 2-0 lead.
Dakota Matiko kept things going for the Cowgirls with a single to right and moved into scoring position on the throw, setting up Piancastelli’s homer that extended the Cowgirl lead to 5-0.
A double to left center by Langner in the third scored Bryanna Castro for a 6-0 McNeese lead. Castro singled to center field to lead things off for the Cowgirls.
Piancastelli struck again in the fourth with her second home run of the game, a solo shot over the right centerfield wall to extend the McNeese lead to 7-0.
McNeese picked up the run rule victory when Langner lined a shot into the left field corner for a double and went to third on a throwing error. A sacrifice fly to right by Drew brought Langner home for the 8-0 win.
Langner led the Cowgirls at the plate, going 3 for 3 with one RBI and scored two runs. Piancastelli was 2 for 3 with two home runs and four RBI.
Also going 2 for 3 in the game was Yanitor and Marisa Taunton. Yanitor also had two RBI.
Junior Emily Vincent had a no-hitter going until she gave up her only hits of the game in the bottom of the fifth. K. Singleton’s pinch-hit single to short spoiled the no-hitter. A two out single to left field by T. Brown was the other ACU hit.
After a walk by K. Watkins loaded the bases, Vincent got P. Hedrick to fly out to right to end the game as Vincent picked up her third shutout of the season to improve to 10-2 overall. Vincent ended the game with five strikeouts and walked two.
In the second game, McNeese took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on RBI’s by Taunton and Piancastelli. ACU (6-23, 2-9 SLC) would score at least two runs in each of the next three innings, getting three in the fourth and sixth and two in the fifth.
Picking up the other two hits in the game for the Cowgirls was Yanitor and Drew.
Jamie Allred suffered the loss, falling to 5-6 on the season. Allred gave up five runs, four earned on eight hits while striking out three and walked two in 4 2/3 innings. Vincent pitched the final 1 1/1 innings and gave up three runs on three hits with one strikeout.
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