NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team lost a doubleheader on the road to Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin on Friday at the SFA Softball Field, 4-2 and 6-3.

In the first game, the Ladyjacks (17-26, 9-10) had a pair of 2-run innings that proved to be enough to hold off the Cardinals (9-33, 3-17).  SFA got on the board in the third inning on a bunt single by Shalie Day and a fielder's choice from Taylor Fraccastoro.  They added two more runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Fraccastoro and a double from Brittany Lewis.  Six of the team's seven hits came in those two innings.

The Cardinals briefly made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth inning.  Natali Duron (Pasadena/Pasadena Memorial HS) cracked a two-out double to score Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS).  Swenson finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate as did Duron who scored the team's final run in the top of the seventh inning.  Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) tossed a complete game for UIW giving up seven hits, four runs and one walk while taking the loss.  Callee Guffey earned the win with a complete game for SFA.  She allowed five hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out four.

In the second game, it was the Cardinals who held the lead until the sixth inning.  UIW scored in the top of the second without the aid of a hit.  Mikayla Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) walked and scored thanks to a sacrifice bunt and an error.  The Cardinals scored twice in the fifth thanks to a walk, two sacrifices, two errors and an RBI single by Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS), the team's first hit of the game.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Ladyjacks finally caught up with UIW starting pitcher Brooke DuBois (Pearland/Pearland HS) who had held SFA scoreless on three hits through the first five innings.  A leadoff walk followed by a Lewis home run made it a one-run game.  Two singles and a pinch-hit RBI double from Fraccastoro tied the game at 3-3.  With two outs, a crucial error by the Cardinals led to three unearned runs giving the game to the Ladyjacks.

Makayla Sikes earned the win tossing a couple game while allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks to go with three strikeouts.  Lindsay Campbell went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored while Day walked four times in the nightcap.

The teams are scheduled to close out the series on Saturday with a single game at 1 p.m.
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