NACOGDOCHES – Timely hitting helped the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks pick up an 8-0 win in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon in five innings against the East Texas A&M softball team at the SFA Softball Complex.
 
The Lions drop to 9-32 on the season and 5-13 in Southland Conference play, while the Lumberjacks are 23-19 overall and 12-6 in SLC action. East Texas A&M holds a two-game lead in the SLC standings for eighth place with nine games to play and holds the tiebreaker over both teams behind the Lions in the standings.
 
Ellie Vance singled to short with two outs in the first inning and she scored on a two-run home run to left by Lilly Bean.
 
In the third, Kaylee Paul singled to short and then stole second with no outs in the inning. Mikaelah Burkland singled through the left side as Paul advanced to third and she scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Hope Lusk.
 
Adelyn Becerra homered to left to lead off the fourth inning. Ella Hill followed with a double to right and was pinch run for by Sammy Hagman. Following a Lion pitching change, Jamie Varga singled to second as Hagman advanced to third. Following a Lion pitching change, Varga then stole second as Hagman scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Chloe Reneau.
 
Paul drew a walk and Burkland singled to left to plate Varga, forcing another Lion pitching change. Lusk reached on a Lion throwing error as Paul came around to score.
 
Leading off the bottom of the fifth, Becerra doubled to right center and then stole third. After an infield pop out, Varga drove in Becerra to give SFA its second run-rule win of the series.
 
The Lions were held to just three hits in the game with Isabella Arzola (Chino, Calif.) going 2 for 2 and Stephanie Tapia (Yuma, Ariz.) collected the other hit. East Texas A&M left six runners on base including the bases loaded in the third.
 
For the Lumberjacks, Burkland, Becerra, and Varga had two hits each in the game. Reagan Hall went the distance in the circle for SFA, picking up the shutout win.
 
Julia Sanchez (The Kinkaid School) got the loss for the Lions, allowing five earned runs in three innings.
 
UP NEXT
The Lions host UIW for the final conference series at home this weekend. Friday's doubleheader is set for 5 p.m. and it is also $2 Beer Night, while Saturday's series finale is set for noon with the annual Easter Egg Hunt after the game.