May 6, 2005
Box Score
HAMMOND, La. - Texas-Arlington traded runs with McNeese State for seven innings but it was the Cowgirls who came out on top with a four-run sixth to down the Lady Mavs 8-3 in Friday's elimination game of the 2005 Southland Conference Softball Tournament in Hammond, La. UTA dropped its first round game to second-seeded Sam Houston State, 8-3.
Katie Jones got the Lady Mavs started in the first with a single to left field and Dee Jay Nelson followed with a misplayed bunt for an infield single, putting two runners on with one out. Autumn Petrino drove in a run with a single down the right field line.
The Cowgirls answered in the home half of the first, using two doubles and a single to even the score. Jenny Clay gave McNeese the advantage with a run-producing single up the middle. UTA's Jenna Fortune stole a run from the Cowgirls as she threw down Jana Jones at the plate to end the inning.
UTA quickly tied the game in the top of the second. Lacey Leadbetter knocked a lead off single and Courtni Anderson reached on a McNeese fielding error before April Clougherty connected for a RBI single up the middle. Jones singled to load the bases but Cowgirl starter Jana James enticed a 5-2-3 double play to escape the threat.
McNeese regained the lead in the fourth after Beth Jordan connected for a two-out double off the wall in left center. Jones collected her second RBI of the evening with a single to the wall in left to give the Cowgirls a 3-2 advantage after three frames.
The Cowgirls extended their lead in the sixth as Brooke Brodhead scored on a Tonya Hedlund sacrifice bunt. Broadhead singled to open the frame, advanced on a walk and a ground out.
Back-to-back doubles from Amanda Swofford and Anderson with one-out in the sixth pulled UTA back within one run. Reliver Jessica Denham eluded the Lady Mavs, enticing a pop out and a ground out to end the threat.
McNeese wasn't finished as it added four insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to secure the win. Edlund and Brodhead knocked opposite field RBI singles and Jones drove in two with a single to right.
Lauren Hebert (3-9) was tagged with the loss for UTA after allowing eight runs on 10 hits and striking out seven in 6.0 innings of work. Petrino, Jones and Anderson led the Lady Mavs offense with two hits apiece.
Jana James earned the win for the Cowgirls after tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on 10 hits. James and Brodhead led McNeese with three hits.
UTA closes out its season with a 17-26.
-utamavs.com-
