[April 16, 2008]

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas fought back for a second game 11-3 win after dropping the opener, 9-4, to earn a split with Christian Brothers Wednesday in Gulf South Conference softball action at the Ballpark on Stadium.

The Lady Muleriders (8-27, 3-20 GSC) got a strong pitching performance from Cheyenne Savony, and a two-out, two RBI single from first baseman Kirstie Reed to end it in five innings for the win in the nightcap.

Savony (5-11), who took the loss in the opener, came on in relief in the first inning after starter Nicole Nicholas surrendered a consecutive single, double and homerun for the Lady Buccaneers’ only three runs of the game. Savony yielded just one hit the rest of the way, a leadoff single in the third, and struck out five while walking none in her five innings of work.

Holding a 7-3 margin into the bottom of the fifth, SAU plated four runs in the frame for the eight-run rule victory. Singles from left fielder Samantha Maurer and third baseman Kilty Arny put them on base, with Maurer eventually scoring on a fielder’s choice and Arny on a wild pitch. Jones reached on the fielder’s choice and Savony drew a walk, and both scored for the winning runs on Reed’s shot to right field.

Southern Arkansas also plated three runs in each of the first two innings and a solo in the fourth, getting everything on 12 hits, committing one error, and stranding six. CBU finished with four hits, made two errors, and left two on.

Reed, Maurer, Arny, Jones, and centerfielder Samantha Hoelscher each had two hits, with Reed driving in three runs and Maurer two. Savony had the Lady Muleriders’ only extra-base hit, a double in the first.

Kallie McFatter (5-15) was credited with 4 2/3 innings in taking the loss, with 10 of the 11 runs earned.

Paige Wright had the first-inning homer, her third of the season for Christian Brothers (15-25, 2-20 GSC).

The Lady Bucs used 12 hits, including two homeruns, and four SAU errors to take the first game. They played error-free and left nine on base, while Southern Arkansas had seven hits and stranded seven. Of CBU’s nine runs, only four were earned.

Sammy Maness blasted a three-run homer in a four-run third inning, and Kathleen Nelson hit a two-run shot in a three-run fifth for Christian Brothers.

The Lady Muleriders also hit the long ball, three total, but all of them solos. Hoelscher got her second of the year in the first, Sarah Holub, the first of her career in the second, and catcher Tancy Matthews hit her second with a monster shot in the fifth.

Reed was the only SAU player with two hits, Hoelscher had two RBI, and Arny had a double.

Nikki Dunn (10-10) went the distance in picking up the win. All four runs were earned, she walked five and struck out four.

Savony got the start and went 2 1/3 innings. She gave up six hits, five runs, of which four were earned, walked one, and fanned two. Holub went 4 2/3 innings in relief, surrendering six hits, four runs, all unearned, walked one, and struck out three.

Southern Arkansas travels to Memphis Saturday to complete the four-game series with the Lady Buccaneers. The doubleheader starts at noon.

Photos by Aaron Morris, SAU sports information