PHOENIX, Ariz.- Stephen F. Austin defeated California Baptist, 7-6 in nine innings to advance to the next round of the WAC Tournament. SFA improves to 29-23 while CBU finishes the season with a 28-29 record.
CBU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of a home run by Kayla Lyon. SFA got their first run of the game in the third inning off of a solo shot to straightaway center by Raegyn Parrish, 3-1. The next score for either team came in the seventh inning. Gaby Garcia stepped up to the plate in the top of the seventh with two out for the ‘Jacks. She worked it to a full count and smashed a no-doubter to left field to cut the lead down to one. That home run was her 37th home run of her career, which breaks the previous career home run record at SFA. That record was previously held by Brittany Lewis and Briana Bishop. Next up to bat was Mackenzie Bennett in what was potentially her final collegiate at-bat, she worked the count to 3-2 and after 14 pitches she obliterated a ball over the right field wall to tie the game at three. Brooke Gainous shut down the Lancers offense in the bottom of the seventh with a three up, three down, sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Sydney Carithers hit a sacrifice fly to put the ‘Jacks up 4-3. CBU tied it back up in their half of the inning which sent the game to the ninth inning. Garcia entered the batters box with runners on first and second and hit a double to right center which scored Camryn Middlebrook, 5-4. Bennett then hit a sacrifice fly to left field which scored Mallory Webb from third, 6-4. Lexi Benson got in on the RBI parade with a single through the right side to extend the SFA lead, 7-4. CBU tried to rally in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs, but Carithers was able to grab the putout of the game.Webb and Garcia each recorded three hits, followed by Benson who had two hits. Garcia and Bennett led the team with two RBIs, with Parrish, Benson, and Carithers each recording one. Gainous pitched her 14th complete game, allowing 11 hits, four earned runs, and striking out one batter.
The ‘Jacks survive and advance to play No. 1 Utah Tech on May 12th at 6:00 p.m. central time.