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Softball Swept at SFA, 2-1 and 7-2
April 19, 2008
NACOGDOCHES - Missed opportunities proved costly as the Texas State softball team (29-15, 19-4 SLC) dropped a pair of losses to Stephen F. Austin (30-17, 16-6 SLC) by scores of 2-1 and 7-2 on Saturday. Texas State still remains atop the Southland Conference standings, but the pair of losses shrinks their lead over Stephen F. Austin to 2.5 games with seven conference games remaining in the regular season. In game one the Bobcats broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. Alex Newton led off the inning by reaching on an error before advancing to second on a scary play. On a 1-0 pitch, McKenzie Baack was accidentally struck in the head by Kim Daley's pick-off throw to first. Baack left the game under her own power, and pinch hitter Allyce Rother attempted a sacrifice bunt that SFA first baseman Jessica Tullos threw into left field. The play gave the Bobcats runners at second and third with nobody out, and after a popout Jetta Weinheimer delivered an RBI single for the game's first run. Taylor Hall loaded the bases with a bunt single of her own, but Texas State could not add to their lead as Ladyjack starter Monica Covington worked out of trouble with the score still 1-0. Tullos then avenged her fielding miscues in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer to left that gave SFA a 2-1 lead. Covington (16-8) took care of the rest, allowing only one baserunner in the final three innings to seal the win while giving Ragan Blake (14-9) the hard-luck loss.
Blake allowed only four hits in the game while striking out six, but Tullos' home run proved to be the difference. Covington allowed three hits while striking out eight and walking one. Texas State looked to even the series in game two of the doubleheader, but the Ladyjack offense touched up Katie Garnett for two runs in the bottom of the first with the help of three straight singles. Ashton Peters delivered a two-out single that fell just inside the right field line to score Taylor Hall in the top of the second to pull the `Cats within 2-1, but SFA responded with two more runs in the third on RBI singles by Briana Bishop and Ashley Struchtemeyer. The Bobcats had two late chances to pull even, beginning in the fifth. Peters singled to left with one out, and Jill Kloesel drew a walk for Kristina Tello, who singled through the right side to load the bases. With Covington relieving game two starter Lauren Luetge, Newton sent a fly ball to right center field that fell in for a hit, but only one run came home as the runners had to hold to make sure the ball was not caught first. With the bases still loaded with one out and the score now 4-2, Weinheimer and Leah Boatright came up empty in their attempts to push the tying run across. Another opportunity came an inning later. Hall led off with a single before moving to second on a walk. With one out, Texas State executed a double steal to put the tying run at second with only one out. The runners would advance no further though, as Covington struck out both Peters and pinch hitter Lacey Duncan to end the inning. Tullos padded the Ladyjack lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run single as part of a three run inning, and SFA held on to win 7-2 in game two. Luetge (11-3) allowed two runs, one earned, in 4.1 innings to earn the win while Covington notched her first save with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Garnett (12-5) took the loss after giving up two earned runs in two innings, and Elizabeth Dennis allowed four runs, one earned, in four relief innings. Texas State will close out the series looking to salvage one win on Sunday with a noon first pitch. Fans can listen to the game live via Stretch Internet at txstatebobcats.com. |
