Saturday, April 11, 2015
UL Lafayette Posts Sweep in Top 15 Matchup With Baylor
LAFAYETTE – Lexie Elkins homered and Jordan Wallace held No. 14 Baylor to three hits in a 3-1 victory in the opener, then the No. 10 Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team erupted for 12 runs in the fourth inning of a 12-2 (5 inn.) win in game two to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Bears on Saturday at Lamson Park.
The sweep extended the Ragin’ Cajuns current win streak to seven games and improved the squad’s record against ranked foes in 2015 to 5-3.
Elkins’ home run, her 20th of the season, provided Louisiana (32-5) a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the opener. After Baylor (29-9) trimmed the lead to 2-1 on a solo home run by Sarah Smith in the fourth inning, Wallace retired the next eight hitters to protect the lead.
The Cajuns fell behind 2-0 in the third inning in game two after Baylor’s Shelby Friudenberg homered in the third inning.
Leandra Maly posted two of her game-high three hits during the fourth inning, the first triggering the 12-run frame that erased the deficit and put the game out of reach. The Cajuns scored 10-plus runs in a single inning for the first time since April 10, 2013 vs. Southern Miss.
“There were great performances all the way around today, both in pitching and hitting,” associate head coach T.J. Hubbard said. “I was proud of the way the kids fought in the second game after falling behind by a couple of runs. That fourth inning was one of the most explosive innings I’ve ever seen.”
Louisiana closes out the home portion of the regular season schedule on Wednesday, April 15 hosting Houston in a 6 p.m., single game. The Cajuns then return to Sun Belt Conference play in Boone, N.C., visiting Appalachian State for a series Friday-Saturday, April 18-19.
Elkins reached 20 home runs for the second straight season. The junior catcher and Top 26 finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year award posted 24 home runs a year ago in her debut season with the Cajuns.
Maly finished 3-for-3 in game two, tying her season-and career-high for hits. Shellie Landry’s 2-for-4 showing in the finale marked her 12th multiple-hit game of the season.
Haley Hayden reached base both games – single in opener, walk in game two – to extended her string of consecutive games reached base to 26.
After Elkins’ home run in the opener, Baylor’s Heather Stearns held Louisiana hitless the rest of the way to turn the contest into a pitcher’s duel with Wallace.
The Cajuns drew three walks in the fourth inning to load the bases. A pitch from Stearns hit Aleah Craighton to force home pinch runner Cassidy White with an insurance run for Wallace.
Smith singled off the glove of Kelsey Vincent in the top of the seventh inning to end Wallace’s string of consecutive batters retired. After a Friudenberg fly out to left field, Wallace struck out Linsey Hays and pinch hitter Christy Lisenby to finish off her 12th career victory over a ranked opponent.
Wallace struck out eight Bears batters and held an opponent to three hits or less for the eighth time in her nine starts this season that have lasted seven innings.
In game two, Cajuns starting pitcher Christina Hamilton and Baylor starter Kendall Potts escaped trouble in the first two innings.
A double play allowed Hamilton to keep Baylor off the board in the first inning after the Bears loaded the bases with three straight infield singles. In the second inning, Potts stranded Cajuns at first and second base after a two-out single by Maly.
A hit by pitch extended the top half of the third inning for Baylor. Friudenberg and the Bears benefitted from Hamilton’s miscue as she launched a two-run home run over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless third inning, Potts ran into trouble in the fourth inning. A single by Samantha Walsh, walk by Vincent and DJ Sanders single loaded the bases with no outs. Maly singled to left field to score Walsh, then two additional runs scored after a throwing error by Lindsey Cargill giving Louisiana a 3-2 lead.
Nine more runs would cross the plate in the inning for the Cajuns, the biggest blow being a three-run home run by Kelsey Vincent that extended the lead to 10-2.
The Bears made three pitching changes in the inning. Potts re-entered following relief stints by Sarah Beth Toben and Brooke Seneshen to get the visitors out of the nightmare frame, but allowed Vincent’s home run and two additional runs that enforced the run rule.
DIAMOND NOTES: The Ragin’ Cajuns honored their 2015 senior class prior to the start of the doubleheader – Linzey Cifreo, Christina Hamilton, Marie Hoag, Leandra Maly, Taylor Meaux and Jordan Wallace… Louisiana improved to 12-6 all-time vs. Baylor (7-2 at Lamson Park)…The Cajuns have won the last five meetings with the Bears…Louisiana and Baylor met at Lamson Park for the first time since Feb. 2007…Shellie Landry’s double in game two marked her 25th extra-base hit of the season (10 doubles, 15 home runs), establishing a new career-high…Lexie Elkins has homered in six of the last eight games…Kelsey Vincent has homered in five of the last eight games…Leandra Maly’s three hits in game two increased her season total to 30, matching her highest output in a Cajuns uniform set back in 2013…Kelsey Vincent now has 27 RBI, equaling her career-best output established in 2014…Shellie Landry’s career-best, 13-game hitting streak came to a close in game one…Haley Hayden’s single in the first inning of game one extended her hitting streak to a personal, season-high nine games (streak ended in game two)…The 12-2 win in five innings in game two was Louisiana’s 16th run-rule victory…The 12 runs marked the sixth time in the past nine games the Cajuns have reached double figures (dates back to Troy finale).
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Alford Breaks Career RBI Record; GSU Sweeps Doubleheader
ATLANTA – Senior Callie Alford recorded her 156th career RBI to break the all-time record as Georgia State took both games of a doubleheader against Appalachian State on Saturday, April 11.
“Once again we can’t say enough about Callie Alford,” head coach Roger Kincaid said about his record breaking senior. “To break the career RBI record after already setting the career home run record is just another highlight in an unforgettable senior season.”
Taylor Thorpe led the way with a dominate, complete-game performance in Game 1 to earn her 15th win of the season before Chelsea Stanfield allowed just two runs in four innings to get the victory in Game 2.
Game 1
“Taylor gave us a great performance in the circle in Game 1 when we needed that kind of performance,” Kincaid said about his sophomore ace. “She kept us in the game until the offense found a way to score runs and get us the win.”
Those runs came in the bottom of the sixth inning after Appalachian State had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Thorpe was perfect going into the fifth inning until Cara Parker hit a solo homer to give the Mountaineers the lead.
After holding the visitors scoreless in the sixth the Panthers rallied to score two in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. First Taylor Anderson blasted a solo homer to center with one out to tie the game at one.
Then with runners on first and second, Alford singled through the left side the drive in the winning run and break the GSU career RBI record. With the lead for the first time in the top of the seventh, Thorpe slammed the door on Appalachian State to secure the 2-1 come-from-behind win.
Game 2
“Chelsea gave us a quality start and pitched four strong innings in Game 2,” Kincaid said. “She pitched deep enough into the game to allow us to pick up the run-rule victory.”
On offense, the Panthers were led by Ivie Drake who hit her 15th home run of the season and finished with four RBI. Taylor Scarpantonio also had a big day going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.
“I want to recognize Taylor Scarpantonio for her performance,” Kincaid said about his senior catcher. “She started Game 2 behind the plate and finished with two crucial hits to help us get the win. This speaks volumes about the type of person and player she is to step us when her teammates needed her.”
Appalachian State took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Ashley Christy responded with a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to tie it 1-1 after one complete. GSU then jumped in front 4-1 after two on Drake’s RBI walk, Litumbe’s sacrifice fly and Kensey Caldwell’s run scored.
The Mountaineers then pulled one run back in the top of the third to make it a 4-2 game after three. GSU pushed its lead to 7-2 in the fourth on Drake’s three-run homer. Then after a scoreless fifth, the Panthers scored three in the sixth, capped by Morgan Brown’s walk-off RBI single to drive in the final run to secure the 10-2 run-rule victory.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) and Facebook for the latest news. For softball season tickets call 404-403-4020 or click here. ?
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Texas State Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader With Troy
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team picked up a conference split Saturday afternoon over the Trojans of Troy at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Texas State fell in game one to the Trojans by a 3-1 margin before redeeming itself and winning by a score of 11-3 in game two. The Bobcats now move to 23-19 on the year and 7-6 in Sun Belt Conference play.
The Bobcats were led offensively by Courtney Harris with three hits on the day. Ariel Ortiz, Kendall Wiley, and Taylor Webb all posted a pair of hits each for the Bobcats. Wiley led the ‘Cats with three RBI.
Texas State was limited to just two hits in game one of the day against Troy. Webb notched the first Bobcat hit in the bottom of the fourth.
The lone Bobcat run in game one was scored in the bottom of the third after Sara Rupp got on base with a walk. Alli Akina stepped in to pinch run for Rupp and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She would back that up with a stolen base to third and ultimately scored on a throwing error by the catcher, trying to throw her out at third.
Despite being handed the loss in game one, Randi Rupp matched her career-high with 14 strikeouts. She falls to 16-12 overall for Texas State.
After struggling to get the bats rolling in game one against the Trojans, the Bobcats rattled off three consecutive singles to start game two by Kelli Baker, Ortiz, and Harris. Kortney Koroll and Wiley proceeded to ground out to the second baseman to score the first two runs of the game and to tie up the contest against the Trojans.
Troy then broke the tie in the top of the second inning with a solo shot to left field, taking a 3-2 lead over the Bobcats.
In the bottom of the third, the Bobcat offense strung together plays once again. With Baker on second after a walk and a stolen base, the Trojans elected to intentionally walk Koroll to put runners on first and second with two outs. Wiley made the Trojans pay with a single up the middle, scoring Baker to tie up the contest once again. Webb then notched her second hit of the day with a double down the right field line, scoring Koroll and Wiley to take a 5-3 lead over Troy.
Texas State kept the bats rolling in the fourth as it put four runs on the board to take a 9-3 lead over the visiting Trojans. The inning was highlighted by a two-run blast by Ortiz for her eighth of the season.
With Ortiz’s home run, the Bobcats have 49 total this season. The 2015 squad now comes 10 home runs shy of tying the program record of 53 home runs set in 2003.
The Bobcats tacked on one more in the fifth and one in the sixth to build their lead to eight and to end the contest in the bottom of the sixth. Rupp earned the RBI to end the contest after being walked with the bases loaded.
Kaylee Garner earned her fourth victory of the season after posting 6.0 inning of work with four strikeouts and just one walk.
The Bobcats will take on the Trojans in game three of the series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Live stats, live audio, and live video will be available at www.txstatebobcats.com.
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No. 22 Jaguar Softball Sweeos Saturday Doubleheader of Georgia Southern
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 22 University of South Alabama softball shut Georgia Southern out twice to sweep a Saturday Sun Belt Conference doubleheader at Jaguar Field, as USA clinched its fourth straight league series to extend its win streak in the conference to 12 games.
USA (30-7, 13-SBC) won game one, 7-0, and forced the mercy in game two after going ahead, 11-0. South Alabama outhit the Eagles, 21-5, on the day and outscored them, 18-0. The Jaguars moved to 15-4 at home this year, having now won their last eight in Mobile.
Freshman right-hander Kalen McGill (13-1; 2.01 ERA) earned her second career complete-game victory in game one, while senior Farish Beard recorded her third career no-hitter in game two. McGill struck out two and scattered five Eagle hits with no walks, and Beard struck out 10 Georgia Southern batters to only two walks.
Jaguar junior third baseman Emily Messer was 5-for-8 on the day with four runs scored and an RBI. Junior catcher Stephanie Pilkington and freshman second baseman Kristian Foster each recorded three hits with two runs scored and two RBI, while senior Alyssa Linn and Kaitlyn Griffith supplied three RBI apiece. Griffith delivered two sacrifice flies in game two.
Senior left fielder Blair Johnson tied her career season-high when she lifted her fifth homer of the year over left field in game one. She finished with three runs scored on the day.
"Today was a great day all the way around," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We got great pitching with two shutouts, and our offense did a great job of putting on pressure and keeping it on. We ran the bases extremely well today, and our defense played great.
"Our pitching staff has really been giving us chances and throwing strikes," Clark added. "Farish has really battled to get back into a rhythm, so it's fun to see her do that."
USA looks to complete it fourth SBC series sweep on Sunday, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. Links to live stats, ticket information and live video streaming can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game twitter updates are provided via the program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
GAME ONE – No. 22 South Alabama 7, Georgia Southern 0
USA used a four-run third inning and three-run sixth to dispatch the Eagles in game one.
Messer led of the bottom of the third with a single to third base and went to second after the throw to first sailed wide. Foster followed with a double to right field to put two in scoring position for Pilkington. The Lake City, Fla., native lifted a sacrifice fly to left field for USA's first run, followed by Griffith, who did the same to center, which doubled the Jaguar lead.
Sophomore center fielder Amanda Minahan then uncorked her fourth homer of the season to score senior Gwen Jones, who pinch ran for Rathburn, who got on with a base hit, to put USA ahead, 4-0.
Johnson's one-out, solo bomb to right field put the Jags ahead, 5-0, in the bottom of the sixth. Foster then drove in Linn and Messer, who singled and doubled, respectively, with a single down the right field line to put South Alabama ahead, 7-0.
Messer finished 3-for-4 in game one with two runs scored to lead all Jaguars. Foster was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Minahan finished with two RBI and a run scored.
McGill's victory was her sixth in a row.
Heather Felt suffered the loss for Georgia Southern after giving up seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks.
GAME TWO – No. 22 South Alabama 11, Georgia Southern 0 (5 inn.)
South Alabama recorded 11 runs in the first three innings, including five apiece in the first and third, en route to winning its seventh contest by run rule.
After leadoff singles by Messer and Foster in the bottom of the first, Griffith lifted her second sacrifice fly of the day to left center, and Rathburn singled to right center to put USA ahead, 2-0. Minahan drew a walk, and Johnson was hit by a pitch to load the bags for senior first baseman Amanda Herron, who drew a walk to make it 3-0 USA.
Linn capped scoring in the initial frame with a two-out, two-run single to right field, which put USA up, 5-0.
Rathburn doubled through the left side to plate Pilkington, who got on with a one-out single up the middle, as USA went ahead, 6-0, in the bottom of the second.
Linn's third RBI of the game came on a groundout that all Johnson to score in the bottom of the third after the latter drew a leadoff walk. Jones, pinch-running for Herron, who singled, then scored on Messer 's single through the right side, as USA went ahead, 8-0.
Pilkington's single through the right side scored Messer, and Griffith lifted a third sacrifice fly of the day to left center to plate Foster. Pilkington then scored on an Eagle throwing error off the bat of Rathburn to put USA ahead, 11-0.
Beard retired the final seven Eagle batters she faced to seal the no-hitter, the third of her career and 12th in USA history.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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Mavs earn split at ULM
ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington split a Sun Belt doubleheader with ULM on Saturday at ULM Softball Complex.
A two-run homer in extra innings helped lift the Mavs to a 5-3 win in Game 1, while a five-run first was too much for UTA to overcome in the finale as ULM took Game 2 9-4.
"The girls competed hard in a very interesting environment, winning two back-to-back on the road is tough," UT Arlington coach Kristie Fox said. "I think we left too many runners on base and didn't take advantage of our opportunities, but they never quit."
Sophomore Shelbi Sikes broke the single-season RBI record for the Mavericks in Game 2. Sikes' two RBI in the first inning gave her 44 for the season to move past Dee Jay Nelson's 43 in 2007.
"Shelbi has been up in a lot of clutch situations this year and she has shown great maturity at the plate," Fox said. "She completes hard in the box and you can tell she likes to be the one up with runners in scoring position."
UTA concludes its series with ULM on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Game 1: UT Arlington 5, ULM 3 (9)
Kacey Everett lifted the Mavericks to an extra-innings victory after hitting a two-run homer in the ninth in Game 1.
Everett's home run came after ULM rallied to tie the game in the seventh with two runs. The Warhawks stranded the winning run on third.
Nina Villanueva and Sandra Mendoza each led with three hits in the contest. Villanueva featured two doubles that accounted for two RBI, while Mendoza scored a run to briefly tie Villanueva for the all-time lead for runs in a season with 45.
UTA starter Sam Montes pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned). Taylor Simmonds came into the game in the eighth and earned the win to improve to 7-2. Simmonds gave up a walk and a hit in her relief appearance.
Game 2: ULM 9, UT Arlington 5
ULM used a five-run first inning to answer UTA's two in the top half to pull away in the finale of the doubleheader.
Sikes got things going for the Mavericks in the first with a two-RBI double to right field. Villanueva, scoring on the double, regained the lead for the single-season runs record at 46.
However, ULM came right back in the bottom half. The Warhawks put their first seven hitters on base with a hit-by-pitch sandwiched between six singles in the opening frame.
The teams exchanged a pair of scoreless innings before Mendoza cut into the ULM lead with a single up the middle in the fourth. UTA would leave the bases loaded.
The Warhawks offense came alive again in the fifth to plate four runs. ULM's first four hitters reached safely. A single with the bases loaded was coupled by a throwing error that equated to three runs crossing the plate. The rally continued with a triple in the next at-bat to complete scoring.
UTA attempted a late rally as Villanueva scored on a throwing error with two outs. Haley Henson brought home Sikes with a single through the left side for the Mavs' final run.
The Mavericks left two on in the seventh, eight overall.