The Stephen F. Austin softball team won a midweek game against the Prairie View A&M Panthers on March 31, finishing with a 12-4 run-rule victory in Prairie View, Texas.
This result is important for the Lumberjacks as they prepare to begin a three-game series at home against Northwestern State on April 3. The win adds momentum to their season and highlights key performances from several players.
After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, Malia Jones and Lilly Bean hit solo home runs in the top of the second to give SFA an early lead. The Panthers responded by scoring one run in the bottom of the second and two more in the third, taking a brief lead at 3-2. Ella Hill tied it up for SFA with another solo home run in the fourth inning.
In the fifth inning, Kaylee Paul, Ellie Vance, and Adelyn Becerra loaded the bases before Jones drove in two runs with a single. An error allowed another run to score, making it 6-3. Bean then hit her second home run of the day with Jones on base for an 8-3 advantage. PVAMU added one more run before SFA continued its offense: Becerra hit a double that cleared two runners off base; Alexis Grigsby had an RBI single; Mallory Dwyer walked; and Kayden Frazier drove in another run.
Crimson Bryant pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts while Jordyn Ages threw four innings of relief and struck out four batters to close out the game.
Three Lumberjacks—Jones (2-for-2), Becerra (two hits), and Bean (two hits)—led offensively. Both Jones and Bean recorded three RBIs each while Becerra contributed two RBIs.
Looking ahead, Stephen F. Austin will host Northwestern State starting April 3 at their home field.
