Softball: April 3 Scoreboard
Southland Conference
Stephen F. Austin 8, Houston Baptist 0 (5)
Stephen F. Austin 7, Houston Baptist 6
Southeastern Louisiana 12, Lamar 2 (6)
Southeastern Louisiana 8, Lamar 1
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3, Sam Houston State 0
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6, Sam Houston State 0
Northwestern State 2, Central Arkansas 0
Central Arkansas 1, Northwestern State 0 (8)
Abilene Christian 7, UIW 0
UIW 7, Abilene Christian 3
Nicholls 2, McNeese State 0
Stephen F. Austin 8, Houston Baptist 0 (5)
Stephen F. Austin 7, Houston Baptist 6
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Freshman pitcher Callee Guffey threw a no-hitter and picked up two wins on Friday afternoon as the Stephen F. Austin softball team swept Houston Baptist 8-0 in five innings and 7-6 in game two at SFA Softball Field. The Ladyjacks improve to 11-24 overall with the wins, including a 4-9 mark in Southland Conference play.
Guffey had a career day, walking just one batter and striking out four over five scoreless and hitless innings in game one. The no-hit bid was tested late in the game, however, as Lindsay Campbell had to make an all-out diving grab going towards the wall in center in the top of the fifth and final inning. The jaw-dropping play kept the no-no intact and SFA went on run-rule the Huskies 8-0 to start the afternoon.
Brittany Lewis, Taylor Vick and Heather Hollingsworth each drove in two runs in the game and seven different Ladyjacks turned in multi-hit performances in the 15-hit, eight-run outburst.
The second game was much of the same offensively, as SFA put up seven runs on nine hits, including a Lewis home run. The designated player went 3-for-4 in the game with two runs and an RBI. Taylor Fraccastoro and Shalie Day also each notched multi-hit games while combining for five RBI and three runs.
The Ladyjacks fell behind 6-3 after three and a half innings, but scored four unanswered runs to go up 7-6.
Guffey (6-10) came on to pitch the final two innings, still without allowing a hit or a run to close out the game and finish of the Friday sweep.
SFA will look for the series sweep against the Huskies (9-21, 3-11 SLC) when the two teams face at SFA Softball Field starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
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Southeastern Louisiana 12, Lamar 2 (6)
Southeastern Louisiana 8, Lamar 1
HAMMOND, La. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team outscored Lamar, 20-3, in a convincing Southland Conference doubleheader sweep of Lamar Friday evening at North Oak Park.
The Lady Lions (16-18, 11-2 Southland) clinched their fifth consecutive league series win with Friday’s two victories. Lamar fell to 17-17 overall and 10-4 in conference play.
Southeastern, which has already surpassed its conference win total from a season ago, leapfrogged the visiting Lady Cardinals in the standings and moved into a three-way tie for second place with McNeese State and Northwestern State.
Southeastern opened the day with a 12-2 run-rule win. In that win, freshman shortstop Sydney Booker and freshman outfielder Kinsey Nichols led SLU with three hits apiece, while junior designated player Amber Sather and sophomore outfielder Sloan Jenkins each homered.
Sather led SLU’s 14-hit attack with four RBI, while Nichols, senior third baseman Megan Moore and senior second baseman Vanessa Eng each drove in two runs apiece. The Lady Lions provided plenty of offense for junior Taylor Bishop (12-3) who scattered five hits in a complete game effort.
In the nightcap, sophomore catcher Lacey Fritz homered twice to fuel an 8-1 SLU victory. Booker had another three hits, while Nichols hit her first collegiate home run. Bishop relieved junior Madison Vige’ in the top of the fourth and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing one hit. The Sugar Land, Texas native has won her last 10 decisions and is a perfect 9-0 in Southland Conference play.
The series concludes on Saturday at 12 p.m. at North Oak Park.
In the series opener Lamar took the early lead in the top of the first inning. With two outs, junior shortstop Stephanie Meeuwsen hit a two-run home run over the left centerfield fence to put the Lady Cards ahead, 2-0.
Southeastern evened the game up in the bottom of the first inning against Lamar freshman Laura Napoli (12-9). Nichols singled, then scored when Booker launched her Southland-high seventh triple of the season over LU junior centerfielder Jenna Holland’s head. Booker would later score on an RBI single by Moore to tie the score at 2-2.
The Lady Lions took the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning. Jenkins hit her third home run of the season just inside the left field foul pole to put SLU up, 3-2.
Lamar would mount just one more threat against Bishop, who shook off the first inning home run. In the top of the third inning, the Lady Cardinals would load the bases, but Bishop forced Holland to fly out to centerfield to maintain the one-run lead.
SLU added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior centerfielder Katie Lacour led off the frame with a single, then later scored when Moore reached on a fielder’s choice to put the Lady Lions up, 4-2.
Southeastern enforced the mercy rule with an eight-run sixth inning. Two-run singles by Eng and Nichols were followed by a walk-off grand slam over the left field fence by Sather. The Kennedale, Texas native’s sixth home run of the season clinched the win for the Lady Lions.
In the nightcap, Southeastern wasted no time getting to Lamar junior pitcher Lauren Dannelley (5-8) in the bottom of the first inning. Nichols got SLU started with a solo home run over the centerfield fence to put the Lady Lions on the board. Booker followed with a single, then scored when Sather laced a double into the left field corner.
One out later, Fritz deposited a two-run home run over the left field fence to score another two runs. Eng doubled home senior first baseman Teresa Lemos to give SLU a commanding 5-0 lead after just one inning of play.
Lamar scored an unearned run off Vige’ in the top of the second inning, but would get no closer. Booker doubled with one out in the bottom of the second inning, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by sophomore catcher Brynn Baca. Later in the frame, Fritz followed a Moore walk with a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to give SLU an 8-1 lead.
Lamar threatened to make things interesting in the top of the fourth inning, loading the bases with no outs against Vige’. Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois wasted no time going to Bishop, who retired freshman designated player Corina Thornton, freshman first baseman Katrina Mills and senior second baseman Casey Cromwell in order to leave the bases juiced.
Lamar would not threaten again, as Bishop held the Lady Cardinals scoreless over the final three innings to help SLU close out the doubleheader sweep.
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 3, Sam Houston State 0
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6, Sam Houston State 0
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team outhit the Sam Houston State Bearkats 16-9 today en route to a pair of shutout victories and its third Southland Conference series win of the season. In the series opener, the Islanders earned a 3-0 win behind a balanced team performance at the Sam Houston State Softball Stadium. In the second game, the Islanders (11-21-1, 6-8 SLC) secured a 6-0 victory for their sixth shutout win of the season.
Sophomore Jessica Mendez finished 3-for-4 for a .750 batting average in the two games combined to power the Islanders' bats. Sophomore Mackinzee Griebel also had a strong day, going 2-for-4 and chipping in a pair of sacrifice hits.
Hurlers Liz Carter and Stephanie Flores both pitched complete games and allowed just nine hits on the day for a pair of shutout wins.
The Islanders and Bearkats (9-23, 2-11 SLC) will wrap the series tomorrow at 3 p.m.
The Islanders put up a pair of runs in the top of the third before adding an insurance run in the top of the fourth to earn a 3-0 victory in the series opener. With the win, the Islanders secured their fifth Southland Conference win of the season and their fifth shutout. Eight Islanders collected at least one hit apiece while Carter secured her fourth shutout win of the season and her eighth victory of the season. Sophomore Brittney Morse went 2-for-3 to help the Islanders outhit the Bearkats, 9-5.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Islanders' bats caught fire in the top of the third with four hits to help put the Islanders on the board, 2-0. Griebel led things off with an infield single before Cosette Hernandez followed suit with a single to third base. Dani Tefft then advanced Griebel and Hernandez on a groundout before Morse delivered a two-run single to center field for the first two runs of the game.
Carter kept the bats rolling with a single through the left side before the Bearkats had a pitching change. Following that a pair of groundouts left Islanders stranded at second and third.
After the Bearkats tallied a two-out single in the bottom of the third, Carter settled in and retired the side, to bring the Islanders back to the plate. Hayley Galloway then hit an infield single before Mendez did her job to advance Galloway to second with a sacrifice bunt. Griebel then followed with a groundout to land Galloway on third before Hernandez reached on an error by the Bearkats as Galloway came across home plate for the Islanders' third run of the game.
Carter continued to impress in the circle, as she didn't allow a Bearkat past second base until the bottom of the sixth when Sam Houston State loaded the bases. After a walk and a pair of singles, Carter and the Islanders' defense pulled out of the jam with a strikeout and pop fly.
In the final frame, Carter (8-12) retired the Bearkats in order to secure the win. She limited SHSU to five hits and one walk while picking up five strikeouts in seven innings. She earned her 21st-career win in the circle and is now one win away from tying two others in fourth place all-time.
The Islanders jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second with two runs before adding a run in the fifth and three in the sixth to garner a 6-0 win over the Bearkats. Mendez finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Mickayla Cochran, Morse, Galloway and Griebel each chipped in one hit apiece.
After a scoreless opening frame, Cochran ignited the Islanders' bats with a one-out double to right center. Senior Lindsey Lyles then reached on an error before a groundout by Galloway put runners in scoring position. With two outs, Mendez stepped to the plate and drilled a two-run single to center field to plate Cochran and Lyles. After an infield single by Griebel advanced Mendez to second, Hernandez hit a groundout to cap the frame.
The Bearkats put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second after a hit by pitch and fielder's choice, however, Flores retired the side with a strikeout and pop fly.
The Islanders once again escaped danger in the bottom of the third as the Bearkats loaded the bases. After an Islanders' error and back-to-back singles, Flores once again settled in and picked up a strikeout before an infield pop fly pulled the Islanders out of the jam.
Then in the top of the fifth, the Islanders padded its lead to 3-0 after Mendez scored on a RBI groundout by Hernandez after leading the frame off with a double down the left field line.
The Islanders kept the offense going as they put together a three-run top of the sixth on three hits. Morse hit a leadoff single through the left side before Alyson Bressie came in to pinch run. The junior then scored on a RBI fielder's choice by Brianne Trost. The Islanders plated their fifth run of the game after Mendez hit a two-out RBI single to left field to score Trost. After another error by the Bearkats on a Griebel at-bat, Galloway scored after reaching on a single to left field.
The Islanders didn't allow a Bearkat past second base in the final two innings to secure their sixth Southland Conference win of the season.
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Northwestern State 2, Central Arkansas 0
Central Arkansas 1, Northwestern State 0 (8)
NATCHITOCHES, La. – Battling for the top spot in the Southland Conference on Friday, Northwestern State softball and Central Arkansas split a pair of pitcher’s duels, with all three runs on the day coming via solo home runs. NSU claimed a 2-0 victory in Game 1 before the Sugar Bears edged NSU, 1-0 in Game 2 at the Lady Demon Diamond.
“These are two good teams and there was a lot of good pitching today,” seventh-year head coach Donald Pickett said. “We were lucky to square two balls up in the first game to get the win. They were able to square that ball up in the second. It was kind of all or nothing for everybody today. We just couldn’t get anything going consistently. They have good pitchers and we’re going to have to be able to make better adjustments and be more consistent.”
In the opener, redshirt freshman starter Micaela Bouvier (11-4) tossed 6 2-3 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out two. Right-hander Mikalya Brown handled the final out to earn her second save of the season after Bouvier left the game, appearing to tweak something in her right shoulder.
Bouvier has allowed three runs or fewer in each of her last eight outings as a starter. It was the fourth time in that span the righty has held opponents scoreless. The split moved NSU to 21-14 and 11-2 in Southland play while Central Arkansas went to 24-11 and 12-2 in league play.
Brown (4-2) was masterful in her second start of the season in Game 2, tossing a complete game and striking out seven while scattering five hits and allowing one run. UCA starter Kayla Gomness (1-0) earned her first win of the year, throwing 6 1-3 and allowing eight hits while striking out three.
“They did great,” Pickett said of Bouvier and Brown’s outings. “They gave us a chance to win both games. All we can ask for is them to keep doing those things. Offensively, we didn’t do what we needed to win the ballgame today.”
Kellye Kincannon put NSU on the board in the first, with a home run into the Outfield Club in left. The long ball was her team-leading 11th of the season and moved the Lady Demons to 19-2 when scoring first.
In the second, Natalie Landry drilled a shot off the light pole in left center for NSU’s final run. The long ball was her fourth of the season and first since March 14 at Houston Baptist.
The Lady Demons escaped jams in the second and third innings on line drives to Brittany Virgoe at third. In the second, with UCA runners on first and second, Ashley Boswell hit a shot to the hot corner, which was stabbed by Virgoe and tossed over to first to catch Hayley Parker off the bag for the double play.
In Game 2, Central Arkansas shortstop Hayley Parker launched a two-out solo home run to center field in the second inning, providing the difference.
In the seventh, Iowa transfer Michaela Johnson saw her first at bat with NSU, recording a pinch-hit single up the middle. After Kayla Boening came in to pinch run, Hailee Rhodes singled to left, placing runners on first and second with one out before Game 1 starter Kylee Studioso came on in relief, notching the final two outs to record her first save of the season.
“Their pitcher was throwing down all day and Johnson’s got a really good swing,” Pickett said. “We thought it was a better matchup than what we were doing. Our kids just weren’t making the adjustments. We were trying to get something going. She did a great job of going up there to get on.”
The Lady Demons threatened in the third. With one out, the No. 9 hitter Rhodes lined a single to left, turning the order over to Sidney Salmans who singled her to second. However, Gomness ended the threat on a groundout to third and fly out to right.
In the fourth, Brittney Jones picked up her first hit of the day, lining a first-pitch single to left but was stranded on second following consecutive groundouts. One inning later, Salmans notched a bloop single to left on a 1-2 count. The freshman stole second on the next pitch, her sixth successful swipe in seven tries but was stranded there on a fly out.
In the sixth, Kincannon led off the frame with a 1-0 single to center. The sophomore stole second with two outs, her first swipe of the season but was stranded there.
First pitch in Saturday’s rubber match is scheduled for noon.
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Abilene Christian 7, UIW 0
UIW 7, Abilene Christian 3
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It took a while, but the University of the Incarnate Word softball team finally nabbed their first Southland Conference victory of the season on Friday. The Cardinals dropped the first game of a doubleheader to visiting Abilene Christian University, 7-0, but came back with a 7-3 win in the second game at Cardinals Field.
The first game is one the Cardinals (5-29, 1-13) will try to forget. They committed five errors that led to five unearned runs for the Wildcats (7-25, 3-11). In addition, the team was only able to manage four hits against a team that has allowed more runs than innings played this year.
ACU scored five times in the top of the second inning. The Wildcats used three walks, three singles and two UIW errors to take a commanding lead. They tacked on insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Every starter in the lineup either scored a run or had a hit. Emily Seidel tossed a shutout allowing four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.
The Cardinals had runners on base in every inning and even loaded the bases in the fifth, but they were unable to score. Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS) stayed hot at the plate going 3-for-4, but that was the only offense the team could manage. Brooke DuBois (Pearland/Pearland HS) took the loss in the circle after allowing 10 hits, seven runs, two earned runs and five walks while striking out two in 7.0 innings.
The second game was tied 0-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. UIW loaded the bases with one out and Katie Helm (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) hit a chopper to the second baseman and her only option was to get the out at first allowing Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) to score.
ACU came back with a big fifth inning. With two outs and two runners on base, pinch hitter Alyson Bishoff hit a two-run double down the left field line. Peyton Hedrick followed with an RBI single to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.
The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning when Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) drove in Johnson with a two-out single to right field. In the sixth inning, UIW exploded for five runs as the ACU defense fell apart. The Cardinals took advantage of two Wildcat errors to score four unearned runs in the inning.
Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) made the 7-3 advantage stick for UIW as she held the Wildcats scoreless in the seventh inning. Hebert picked up her first win in over a month as she tossed a complete game allowing eight hits, three runs and one walk while striking out four. She also had a double and scored a run. Johnson was 2-for-3 with two runs to extend her hitting streak to 12 games while Alonzo was also 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.
Brown led the ACU offense with three hits and a run scored, but they could not overcome their defensive miscues. Julia Montoya took the loss after allowing six hits, three earned runs and four walks in 5.1 innings.
The two teams will close out their three-game series on Saturday at noon at Cardinals Field.
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Nicholls 2, McNeese State 0
THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University softball team scored two runs in the first inning against McNeese State and it would be more than enough offense for Hannah Haydel as the junior tossed a shutout to lead the Colonels to a 2-0 victory over the first-place Cowgirls on Friday night at the Colonel Softball Complex.
With the win, Nicholls improved to 21-13 on the year and 7-6 in the Southland, while McNeese fell to 25-13 and 11-2. The series will conclude on Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
Friday night's game featured two of the best pitchers in the Southland and the duo did not disappoint, allowing a combined six hits in 13 innings. Haydel (12-6) gave up three, as did her counterpart Emily Vincent (10-3), but it was eight walks by Vincent that was ultimately the difference in the game.
Vincent struggled with her control early on, issuing two walks and a bunt single to load the bases with no outs in the first. After her first of eight strikeouts on the night, Vincent walked Danielle Phillips to put Nicholls on the board. The Colonels added another run when Cowgirl catcher Erika Piancastelli tried to pickoff the runner at second, but the ball trickled into centerfield, allowing Brooke Morris to score from third.
Haydel faced the minimum through three innings before her own error to lead off the fourth put a runner on. But after a wild pitch, Haydel settled down to retire the next three batters to keep the score at 2-0.
In the fifth, McNeese’s Lauren Langner broke up the no-hitter after beating out a high chopper to third to lead off the frame. Haydel then issued another walk to put two on with no outs, but the Colonels were able to get a force at third for the first out. The play turned out to save a run as the next batter sent a fly ball out to right field, which allowed both runners to move up a base. Haydel ended the threat as she got Shelbi Strickland to ground out to second.
The Colonels had a chance to add a run in the sixth, but Jessica Taylor was caught in a run down to end the inning. With one out, Taylor legged out a double on a ball that took a wicked bounce past the third baseman. But with two down, she got caught between the bases on a grounder by Morris and was tagged out.
With three outs remaining for McNeese, things got a little interesting in the top of the seventh. To lead off the frame, Langner recorded the day’s hardest hit ball, but Morris leaped at short and came up with an outstanding catch to rob her of a single or better. Following a walk, Bryanna Castro hit a foul ball straight up in the air, and catcher Kayla Prater fought off the bat laying on the ground and made a catch while falling down to record the second out. The next batter, Dakota Matiko, tallied the only hit to leave the infield as she singled to left to keep the inning alive for McNeese. The Cowgirls elected to bring in pinch hitter Taylor Schmidt; however, after battling to a full count, Haydel was able to get her to fly out to left for the victory.
Haydel finished the game with four strikeouts and walked three. Parkerson and Morris had the other two hits for Nicholls, both coming on infield singles.
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