Softball splits series with UTSA, earns spot in SLC tournament
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: Sports
The Ladyjack Softball team assured itself of a berth in next week's Southland Conference Tournament by splitting the series-opening doubleheader of its regular-season finale against UTSA on Saturday. The Ladyjacks turned three extra-base hits into four runs to take a 4-1 verdict in Game 2.
The split leaves SFA in fourth place in the SLC standings, and the Ladyjacks can finish no worse than fifth, pending the outcome of Sunday's games. SFA is now 28-25 on the season with a 17-12 record in league action. UTSA moves to 27-27 overall with an 18-11 mark against SLC foes.
SFA got out to a solid start in the opener. The Ladyjacks loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, on two walks and a hit batsman. Karissa Jones, Peaerland junior came through with a single to right field, scoring Kendal Harper, Palmer junior. But the next two batters flied out to leave the bases full.
The Ladyjacks got the leadoff batter on base in every inning except the seventh, but stranded 12 runners in the game. Crystal Garcia, Jasper senior Briana Bishop College Station junior, Kim Daley, League City junior and Benet Higgs, Antioch, Calif., senior each recorded a base hit to go along with Jones', giving SFA five hits in the game.
Monika Covington, Huffman sophomore (18-13) was charged with three earned runs on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
In Game 2, UTSA struck first with a run on three hits in the top of the fourth.
The Ladyjacks responded with three runs in the bottom half. Kayla Gutowski, Tomball freshman led off with a double to right-center. Pinch-runner Amber Price advanced to third on an illegal pitch. Bishop drew a walk and was lifted for Candise Juarez, Pearland junior. The Ladyjacks worked the double steal to perfection, as Juarez broke for second and Price beat the throw from the UTSA shortstop with a nice slide to the back side of the plate, tying the score at one.
Three at-bats later, Kari Hugie, Greenville, Miss. junior got a two-out, infield single to move Juarez to third. Daley followed with a double to left-center that plated Juarez and brought Hugie all the way around from first to give SFA a 3-1 lead.
SFA starter Lauren Luetge, New Ulm sophomore retired the Roadrunners in order in the top of the sixth and worked around a couple of base knocks in the seventh to strand two runners in scoring position on a game-ending foul pop.
Luetge improved to 10-11 on the season after allowing one earned run on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
The split leaves SFA in fourth place in the SLC standings, and the Ladyjacks can finish no worse than fifth, pending the outcome of Sunday's games. SFA is now 28-25 on the season with a 17-12 record in league action. UTSA moves to 27-27 overall with an 18-11 mark against SLC foes.
SFA got out to a solid start in the opener. The Ladyjacks loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, on two walks and a hit batsman. Karissa Jones, Peaerland junior came through with a single to right field, scoring Kendal Harper, Palmer junior. But the next two batters flied out to leave the bases full.
The Ladyjacks got the leadoff batter on base in every inning except the seventh, but stranded 12 runners in the game. Crystal Garcia, Jasper senior Briana Bishop College Station junior, Kim Daley, League City junior and Benet Higgs, Antioch, Calif., senior each recorded a base hit to go along with Jones', giving SFA five hits in the game.
Monika Covington, Huffman sophomore (18-13) was charged with three earned runs on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
In Game 2, UTSA struck first with a run on three hits in the top of the fourth.
The Ladyjacks responded with three runs in the bottom half. Kayla Gutowski, Tomball freshman led off with a double to right-center. Pinch-runner Amber Price advanced to third on an illegal pitch. Bishop drew a walk and was lifted for Candise Juarez, Pearland junior. The Ladyjacks worked the double steal to perfection, as Juarez broke for second and Price beat the throw from the UTSA shortstop with a nice slide to the back side of the plate, tying the score at one.
Three at-bats later, Kari Hugie, Greenville, Miss. junior got a two-out, infield single to move Juarez to third. Daley followed with a double to left-center that plated Juarez and brought Hugie all the way around from first to give SFA a 3-1 lead.
SFA starter Lauren Luetge, New Ulm sophomore retired the Roadrunners in order in the top of the sixth and worked around a couple of base knocks in the seventh to strand two runners in scoring position on a game-ending foul pop.
Luetge improved to 10-11 on the season after allowing one earned run on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
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