Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
7-6
Stephen F. Austin
7-10
Softball Swept in Day Two of Mardi Gras Mambo by Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Louisiana
March 01, 2025 | Softball
YOUNGSVILLE, La. — Army West Point Softball (7-7) saw two losses at the Mardi Gras Mambo on Saturday, with losses against the Stephen F. Austin LadyJacks (7-10) and Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions (15-6).
In the first game against the LadyJacks, the Black Knights suffered a 14-1 loss in five innings. Despite having six hits, the Black Knights only saw one run come across home plate. Meanwhile, an eight-run third inning for SFA caused the Black Knights to fall into a deep hole they could not climb out of.
Against Southeastern Louisiana, the Black Knights were held scoreless through all seven innings, with Taylor Brown recording the lone hit for Army. Meanwhile, the Lady Lions scored five runs off nine hits to help claim the 5-0 shutout.
Taylor Brown led the Black Knights's offense, scoring the Black Knights' lone run of the day while tallying two hits and one walk. Ashton White scored the Black Knights' lone RBI while also adding one hit and one walk against Stephen F. Austin.
Annie Christiana, Leila Hurst, Caitlyn Newburn and Maaika Dones all also added one hit on the day, all against Stephen F. Austin.
Breanna Izzo saw the loss for the Black Knights against SFA, while Amanda Eaglin took the second loss of the day against the Lady Lions.
GAME 1
Stephen F. Austin took control quickly in the first game, scoring two runs off an RBI single and RBI double to take an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, Taylor Brown recorded her first hit of the day with a single up the middle. Annie Christiana reached on a fielder's choice, Ashton White walked, and then Leila Hurst singled to center field to advance the runners. But while going for home, Christiana was called out at home to prevent Army from putting their first run on the board. The next batter grounded out to end the inning.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second inning, but in the top of the third, the LadyJacks took control of the game.
Breanna Izzo and the Black Knights earned two early outs, but two hits helped give SFA a 3-0 lead. Katelyn Flanders was called from the bullpen to take over for Izzo. Then four walks, four wild pitches and one error later, SFA doubled their lead to 6-0. Izzo returned to the game, where the LadyJack would be the benefactor of three more runs, making it a 10-0 game in the middle of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Black Knights had two hits, one from Maaika Dones and Annie Christiana. Taylor Brown also reached on fielder's choice to put out Dones, then the Black Knights stranded the two runners on the base pads to remain scoreless.
In the top of the fourth inning, SFA grew their lead even more, hitting a grand slam off of Izzo after drawing three consecutive walks. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, Army faced a 14-0 deficit.
Caitlyn Newburn earned her lone hit of the day in the bottom of the fourth, pinch-hitting for Sam Rodgers, by singling the right field line.
In the top of the fifth, the Black Knight held the LadyJacks to a three-and-out. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Army finally put their first run on the board.
Taylor Brown drew a walk, and then Annie Christiana grounded out to advance Brown to second. Ashton White singled to the pitcher the next at bat, bringing in Taylor Brown. The next batter would ground out, ending the game at 14-1.
GAME 2
In the second game of the day, Army got the first hit in the top of the first with a lead-off single from Taylor Brown. Annie Christiana hit a sacrifice bun to advance Brown to second, then advanced to third on the next at bat, but was ultimately left on base to end the first half inning.
In the next two half innings, both teams saw a three-and-out, with the game staying scoreless heading into the bottom of the second.
Southeastern Louisiana would score one run, scoring off a ground out after Eaglin threw for a walk, where the batter would advance to third on a wild pitch.
Army saw another three-and-out in the top of the third, then the Lady Lions stretched their lead to 2-0 after a triple and ground out to allow the batter to score.
The Black Knights had a third consecutive three-and-out in the fourth inning, then Southeastern Louisiana scored two unearned runs to double their lead to 4-0.
Hitting struggles for the Black Knights continued in the fifth inning, being held hitless while the Lady Lions scored only more run to reach what ultimately would be the final score, 5-0.
Army would go three-and-out in the next two innings with three strikeouts and three putouts, concluding the Black Knights' second day of action at the Mardi Gras Mambo.
NEXT UP
The Black Knights play their final game of the Mardi Gras Mambo on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET as they take on Southern University.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: J. Ages (3-2)
L: Izzo, Breanna (3-2)
Batting:
2B: L. Bean 1 ; K. Robbins 1 ; G. Coffey 1
3B: K. Paul 1
HR: K. Ester 1
RBI: M. Burkland 1 ; H. Lusk 2 ; E. Vance 2 ; L. Bean 1 ; G. Coffey 1 ; K. Ester 4
SH: H. Lusk 1
Base Running:
RUNS: M. Burkland 2 ; H. Lusk 1 ; E. Vance 1 ; K. Robbins 1 ; G. Coffey 1 ; A. Becerra 1 ; S. Blakeman 1 ; C. Reneau 1 ; M. Jones 1 ; J. Varga 1 ; L. Ballin 1 ; K. Paul 1 ; K. Ester 1
SB: M. Burkland 1 ; E. Vance 1 ; J. Varga 1
Batting:
RBI: White, Ashton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Taylor 1
