Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
S.F. Austin Blanks Falcons, 1-0, In Final Game At Bash By The Bay
March 08, 2004 | Softball
March 7, 2004
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University pushed an unearned run across the plate in the top of the first inning, and that run proved to be the difference as the Ladyjacks downed the Bowling Green State University softball team by a 1-0 score late Sunday (March 7). The game was the final contest of the Bash by the Bay at Islander Field.
With the win, SFA improved to 9-14 on the season, while the Falcons dropped to 2-3 on the weekend and 5-5 on the year.
The Ladyjacks could manage only three hits off BGSU sophomore Lindsay Heimrich, but started the game with the unearned run and held the Falcons scoreless.
Carrie Woydziak, the game's first batter, hit an infield grounder but reached second on a Falcon throwing error. Back-to-back ground balls by Kristen Exline and Regan Rutherford moved the runner to third and home, respectively.
Meanwhile, Ladyjack starter Crissy Autry allowed only two hits in the game, and did not walk a BG batter. Falcon sophomore Gina Rango led off the second inning with a single, but was caught stealing. Redshirt junior Marla Murphy's single with two outs in the third was BGSU's only other safety.
Heimrich worked out of a jam in the third. Woydziak led off with a single, and took second when Exline reached on another BG error. The runners moved up on a wild pitch, putting two Ladyjacks in scoring position with none out. But, Heimrich got a pair of swinging strikeouts and an inning-ending grounder to third base.
S.F. Austin threatened again in the fifth, after a Woydziak walk was followed by a pair of wild pitches. But, on Rutherford's infield grounder, the Falcons cut down Woydziak attempting to score. Another wild pitch moved Rutherford to second, but Heimrich got a grounder for the third out.
BGSU got a runner as far as third base in each of the final two innings, but could not score. In the sixth, Ladyjack reliever Dawn Thomas came on, and walked both Stephanie Finkel and Murphy to start the inning. Autry re-entered the contest, and Heimrich's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. But, Autry got a strikeout and a fly ball to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, it was the Ladyjacks' turn to threaten. Woydziak reached base yet again with a two-out single. Then, Heimrich struck out pinch-hitter Brooke Chandler, but Chandler reached base on a third-strike wild pitch, with Woydziak taking second. Rutherford followed with a single, but Falcon leftfielder Jenifer Kernahan threw a strike to catcher Abby Habicht to gun down Woydziak trying to score and end the inning.
The Falcons had one last chance to tie the game when Kristen Anderson reached second base on a one-out error in the bottom of the seventh. Kernahan sacrificed her to third, but Autry got out of the inning with a game-ending strikeout.
Heimrich was the hard-luck loser, allowing only the single unearned run on three hits in a complete-game effort. She struck out six batters while issuing one walk.
Autry threw seven innings and did not allow a run. She allowed two hits, fanning four without allowing a free pass. Thomas pitched to only two batters, the back-to-back walks in the sixth.
Woydziak had two of the Ladyjacks' three hits and the team's lone walk.
The Falcons now prepare for the Cougar Classic, hosted by the College of Charleston this Friday through Sunday (March 12-14). BGSU will play at least four games in that tournament.
