NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin softball team (10-13, 1-2 SLC) hosted Nicholls (9-14, 2-1 SLC) in a rubber match that was moved up to a 9:00 a.m. start due to incoming rain.
SFA looked to rebound after dropping the second game of the doubleheader yesterday with Jordyn Ages drawing the start in the circle. The ‘Jacks got on the board in the bottom of the first beginning with a leadoff triple from Mikaelah Burkland then Ellie Vance stepped up to bat with a runner on third and one out. Vance smoked a ball to the shortstop and was able to outrun the throw at first which allowed Burkland time to cross home plate, 1-0.
Nicholls responded with two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, Hope Lusk reached first after being hit by a pitch before being called out at second on a fielder’s choice from Vance. This brought up Kyi’Marri Ester up to bat who blasted a line drive double down the left field line which scored the speedy Vance from first, 2-2. The Colonels tacked on two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh to take a commanding 7-2 lead. SFA came up to bat in the bottom of the seventh looking to make a comeback. The ‘Jacks started off with a leadoff single from Burkland, followed by back-to-back singles from Lusk and Vance to load up the bases for the dangerous bat of Ester. Ester reached on a fielder’s choice after Nicholls decided to get the force out of Vance at second, but that allowed Burkland to score from third, 7-3. Adelyn Becerra then lined into a double play which secured a 7-3 game three victory and series victory for the Colonels.
Top Players of Game 3:
• Mikaelah Burkland: 2-3, two runs
• Kyi’Marri Ester: 2-4, two RBIs
• Ellie Vance: 2-4, one run, one RBI
SFA will head to Prairie View for a midweek matchup with the PVAMU Panthers on Tuesday, March 11th at 2:00 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
Join SFA Softball at the SFA Softball Field this season! Single-game tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit SFAtickets.com for more information.
By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications
https://sfajacks.com/news/2025/3/8/softball-lumberjacks-fall-in-series-finale-to-colonels