March 21, 2008
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas -- After getting blanked 2-0 by Cara Hulme in the opener, Stephen F. Austin rallied for two runs in the seventh inning for a 3-1 win in the second game and salvaged a doubleheader split Friday with UT Arlington in Southland Conference softball action.
Both teams entered the three-game series at Allan Saxe Field riding five-game winning streaks. The Mavericks (11-12, 8-6 SLC) extended their streak to six with Hulme's fourth shutout of the season, but the Ladyjacks (21-13, 8-3) kept them from gaining any ground in the conference standings.
Kari Hugie put SFA on the board first in the nightcap with a bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the fourth. Laura Jones avoided further damage by striking out Kim Daley and Michele Huffman to leave them loaded.
The Mavericks tied the game at 1-1 with a sixth-inning solo homer by shortstop Amanda Swofford off Lauren Luetge. It was Swofford's sixth home run of the season, one behind team leader Brittany Washington.
The Ladyjacks began the seventh with back-to-back singles by pinch hitter Malina Meng and Huffman to chase Jones (3-8). With Heather Fortenberry on in relief, Meng was caught stealing for the first out, but SFA regained the lead with an RBI single by Monica Hirsch. They tacked on an insurance run when Fortenberry issued a bases-loaded walk to Briana Bishop.
Luetge (7-3) set the Mavericks down in order in the seventh to secure the victory. She allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked two.
Hulme (6-2) lowered her conference-best ERA to 0.99 in the opener. The sophomore struck out nine and surrendered four hits and three walks. The SLC Pitcher of the Week didn't allow any runners past second base.
Freshman first baseman Rebecca Collom went 2-for-2 and knocked in both runs for the Mavericks, driving in Katie Jones and Washington with a one-out double off Monika Covington (11-6) in the first inning.
The Ladyjacks' biggest threat was in the seventh when they had two on and two out after a single by Hugie and a walk by Daley, but Hulme got Hirsch to pop up to second base to end the game.
The teams will conclude the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m.
