Softball Lions at home today

SAGU faces Texas College at 4pm

Team to honor Kelsea Svochak

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The final home game of the regular season for the Southwestern Assemblies of God University softball team is today at 4:00pm, on campus against Texas College.

The two teams are in a virtual tie for eighth place in the nine-team Red River Athletic Conference. Overall, SAGU is 2-23 while TC is 1-24.

In games involving members of the RRAC, the Steers are slightly ahead at 1-16 (.059) to the Lions 1-21 (.045) mark. The winner will likely avoid the cellar.

A week ago the Lady Lions split a twinbill with Texas College, winning 4-2 before falling to the Steers by an 8-6 verdict. Today’s rubber match, according to third baseman Chelsey Doyle (Seattle, Wa / Shorecrest HS), “will decide who is second… second to last that is.”

Head Coach Tim Grant said he expects to send freshman Lauren Johnson (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) to the circle. The right-hander defeated the Steers a week ago and has held the ace role throughout most of Southwestern’s season.

Before the game the Lions will express thanks to Kelsea Svochak (Ft. Worth, Tx / Bethesda Christian), though a junior, who will play her final softball game. She has played practically every position on the field and owns one of the team’s two wins, a 5-2 triumph over Hillsdale College.

Top four hitters battling for top spot

Four players on the team enter the final week with a chance to finish with the highest batting average on the team. Kacey Poovey (Nevada, Tx / Community HS) owns a narrow edge over Doyle, .315 to .314, and both power-hitters have the lead in slugging percentage as well.

Gabby Bruner (Peaster, Tx / Peaster HS) is hitting .304 while Shannen Davis (Kremlin, Ok / Kremlin-Hillsdale HS) is getting a base hit at a .290 success rate.

The next closest batter is nearly 70 points beneath the fearsome foursome.

The group also have the best on-base percentages; Poovey .373, Doyle .364, Bruner .360 and Davis at .294.

Kyla Burke (Red Oak, Tx / Red Oak HS) is tied with Doyle for the top spot in runs batted in with seven. Poovey has six, while Davis and Svochak have driven in five apiece.

Theresa Ballard (Austin, Tx / Homeschool) is the current leader in walks with seven. Bree Lawrence (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) has earned six free passes. 

Ballard has crossed the plate a team-leading nine times, while Burke has been driven home six times. Poovey, Doyle and Loni Jimenez (Crystal City, Tx / Crystal City HS) are next with four runs apiece.

As a team, SAGU is batting .204, with Poovey, Doyle, Bruner, Davis and Johnson hitting above it.

Season finisher on Saturday

SAGU will conclude their inaugural season on Saturday with a noon doubleheader at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.