NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Backed by a pair of strong pitching performances and three home runs, Stephen F. Austin took both games of Friday's doubleheader against the Nicholls State University softball team, 6-0 and 12-2 (5 innings), at the SFA Softball Field.
The Colonels (6-10, 0-5 SLC) will look to avoid the sweep by notching their first league win in Saturday's finale, set for 12 p.m.
Nicholls had three hits in each of the setbacks, while the Ladyjacks (12-8, 5-0 SLC) pounded out a total 16 with five going for extra bases. Camryn Middlebrook homered twice for SFA in the opener including a solo shot in the first inning, which proved to be more than enough for reigning Southland Pitcher of the Week Kassidy Wilbur.
Trailing 6-0, the Colonels recorded their first hit in the fifth inning, getting a single by
Caitlin Garcia.
Melise Gossen then led off the seventh with a double and
Kennedy Hebert followed with a single, but Wilbur kept the shutout in tact while recording her ninth and 10th strikeouts.
Emily Danehower took the loss with four earned runs on three hits and four walks in 3.1 innings.
In the second game, the Ladyjacks used a six-run first inning to take control and the Colonels could never mount a comeback.
Nicholls scored its first run of the day on a wild pitch in the third inning, but SFA plated three in the bottom half and three more in the fourth to put the run-rule into play.
Jaida Choice added a run in the fifth on an RBI single for the Colonels, but the deficit stayed in double figures.
Freshman
Brittney Turner was charged with the loss, allowing five earned runs on two hits and five walks in 1.0 innings.
