No. 26 Southeastern Louisiana Sweeps UTSA with 15-8 Victory
No. 26 Southeastern Louisiana 15, UTSA 8
HAMMOND, La. - Freshman Chad Gough-Fortenberry highlighted a seven-run first inning with a two-run single and No. 26 Southeastern Louisiana built an 11-1 lead and held on for a 15-8 Southland Conference win over UTSA to complete a three-game sweep Sunday at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Freshman Brock Hebert went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs while Cass Hargis added three hits and two RBI as Southeastern (15-1, 3-0 Southland) earned its first three-game sweep of UTSA (7-7, 0-3 Southland) since 2000.
Southeastern sent 12 men to the plate in the first inning as the first 10 batters reached safely. The Lions took a 1-0 lead four batters into the game when Josh Cryer hit a hard liner past UTSA third baseman Ryan Dalton that allowed Hargis to score. Justin Boudreaux scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead before Cody Gougler, Chris Franklin and Joe Sparacino each drew walks off UTSA starter D.D. Towler (1-2).
Gough-Fortenberry, who went 1-for-3 and reached base on a hit-by-pitch and two errors, greeted reliever Jason Walls with a single through the left side that drove in Gougler and Franklin for a 6-0 lead.
Tanner Lorenz (2-0) did not allow a hit until Ryan Rummel launched a solo home run with two outs in the fourth inning. Rummel, who finished 3-for-5, added a home run in the seventh that closed the UTSA deficit to 12-8.
The Roadrunners trailed 11-1 after five innings before getting untracked in the sixth scoring five runs and chasing Lorenz, who scattered six hits and fanned three. Ryan Hutson belted a two-run home run for UTSA before Brett Aguilar doubled and Rummel singled to left.
Jake Wood added an RBI single for the Roadrunners and Dalton and Ryan Taliaferro each drove in runs that cut the lead to 11-6.
Southeastern put the game away in the eighth inning as it capitalized on a three-base error by Wood on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Gough-Fortenberry that allowed Franklin and Trey Martin to score. Hebert added a sacrifice fly for the Lions off UTSA reliever Kevin Clarke for a 15-8 lead.
Franklin went 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI for Southeastern, which won its fourth straight game. Boudreaux extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games with a first-inning single while Jeff Harkensee increased his hitting streak to six games with a double in the third.
Southeastern will return to action on Wednesday when it travels to face Louisiana-Lafayette in a 6:30 p.m. contest at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. The UL-Lafayette game opens a five-game road trip for Southeastern, which will face McNeese State in a three-game series beginning Friday and a midweek game March 23 at Jackson State.
Stephen F. Austin 17, Central Arkansas 2 (7 innings)
CONWAY, Ark. - The Lumberjacks completed a league-opening sweep of Central Arkansas on Sunday in emphatic fashion, run-ruling the Bears 17-2 in seven innings in the series finale at Bear Stadium.
SFA (11-4, 3-0 Southland) jumped on the Bears (4-11, 0-3 Southland) early with 12 runs in the first three innings, propelled by home runs from Michael Haynes, Darren Crabtree and Ryan Priest.
The sweep makes up for last year's series in Nacogdoches when UCA came in and swept the 'Jacks in the league opener. The 'Jacks have now won four in a row and are now 5-1 in their only two series' in Conway. It was also the first run-rule victory for SFA since doing so against Nicholls in consecutive games last season.
The 37 runs scored in the last two game is the most SFA has ever scored in consecutive outings while the 39 runs over the three-game series is the most ever scored by a Lumberjack team in a conference series.
With all the offense it was easy to overlook starting pitcher Justin Braddock, but the junior finished with a complete-game, three-hitter with three strikeouts and just two unearned runs allowed for his third win of the year. He did, however, issue a walk which stopped his streak at 21.2 innings on the year without giving out a free pass.
Five 'Jack hitters finished with multiple hits led by Michael Haynes' 3-for-4 afternoon with a home run and three runs scored. Garrett Smith finished with three runs scored as well from his leadoff spot, while Ryan Priest had a home run and three RBI as well. Darren Crabtree continued his hot play with three runs driven in, including a two-run homer in the second inning.
Three UCA pitchers saw the bump on the afternoon with Dustin Ward taking the loss after allowing 10 runs on eight hits in just two innings.
Crabtree got the 'Jacks on the board with a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI ground out that scored Garrett Smith before SFA broke it open with five runs in the second inning. Priest and Patrick Gratzke started it with consecutive one-out singles before Haynes lifted a fly ball into the jet stream that carried out to right for his second home run of the year to make it 4-0. But the hits kept coming as Smith followed with a single and two hitters later Crabtree blasted his second home run in as many days over the right-field fence for a two-run shot.
The Bears got one back with an RBI single from Zack Dickson that drove in an unearned run off Braddock, but SFA responded with six more runs in its half of the third to open up a 12-1 lead. The 'Jacks did their damage on just four hits, three of which went for extra bases. Jarid Scarafiotti started it off by ripping a double into the left field corner and Priest followed him with a first-pitch homer to left field. Ward followed that by issuing consecutive walks to Gratzke and Haynes before being relieved by Reece Cross. But Cross could not get it done immediately either as he proceeded to walk Smith and then give up RBI hits to both Tanner Hines and Bobby Loveless.
By then it was out of reach when SFA pushed across four more in the fifth on RBI singles from Scarafiotti and Priest, as well as Loveless' second two-run double of the day. The 'Jacks added one more unearned run in the sixth for its final run of the day.
UCA managed to scrape across another unearned run with two outs in the seventh on an RBI double from Tye Throneberry, but it did not matter as Braddock managed to get all three outs in the air in the seventh to close out his complete game.
The 'Jacks close out their road swing on Tuesday with a doubleheader at UTPA beginning at 3 p.m. Zack Taylor is scheduled to make his second start of the season in the first game of the twin bill, while Brett Higginbotham is slated to make his collegiate debut in the nightcap.
Sam Houston State 12, UT Arlington 7
ARLINGTON, Texas - Sam Houston State exploded for eight runs in the first inning, then held off a determined UT Arlington ball club for a 12-7 victory that earned the Bearkats a Southland Conference baseball series victory Sunday afternoon.
Sam Houston (5-11 2-1 Southland) totaled 15 hits as the Bearkats defeated the Mavericks 12-7.
Five Bearkats posted multiple-hit games as Braeden Riley and Taylor Davis each totaled three hits and Chris Andreas, Ryan Mooney and Jared Wondra produced two. Andreas had a solo home run in the second inning.
UT Arlington (5-10 1-2 Southland) scored its seven runs on 12 hits.
Paul Spinn (1-2) was the winning pitcher, starting and going six innings. He struck out four Maverick batters. Brent Powers picked up the save, allowing only two hits and striking out two in the final three innings.
Wondra totaled four RBI and Andreas brought in three runs.
Next action for the Bearkats will be a conference baseball series with Texas State beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium.
Northwestern State 16, McNeese State 6 (8 innings)
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Northwestern State centerfielder Oscar Garcia came within a single of hitting for the cycle, but despite not getting the hitter's gem, Garcia helped spark a 10-run eighth inning, breaking a 6-6 tie, and pacing the Demons to a run-ruled, 16-6 win over McNeese State in Southland Conference baseball action on Sunday.
With the win, the Demons (11-3, 2-1 Southland) took the weekend series over the Cowboys (7-7, 1-2 Southland).
"That's one of the craziest things I've seen in a game," Demon coach J.P. Davis said. "I'm really proud of our guys. We persevered and came through when we needed to."
Garcia went 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and five runs batted in as Tyler Baisley, Justin Martinez, and Eric DeBlanc each had two hits in the 12-hit attack for the Demons.
Of the 12 hits, there were three triples, three doubles, and a home run.
"We didn't have good swings early on," Davis said. "But when we got down 5-1, we got our bats going and when the game was on the line, we got the job done."
Dustin Northcott (2-0) picked up the win as the fourth Demon to throw on Sunday. He threw a perfect eighth inning and struck out one. Andrew Adams and Mathias Simmons preceded him and combined to throw two scoreless innings with a strikeout and two hits.
Ryan Zimmerman starting the game and was lifted after five innings of work. He allowed all six McNeese runs on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
"Overall, it was a nice job by our bullpen," Davis said. "We stumbled there with two walks by Adams, but he rebounded to get out of the inning and (Mathias) Simmons was huge for us."
Tyler Davis (1-2) took the loss for the Cowboys in relief effort after he gave up five runs on three hits in 4 1-3 innings.
The Demons closed out the game with 10 runs in the eighth inning. The frame featured a bases loaded-clearing single by Baisley that was initially a simple singe up the middle, but McNeese center fielder Blake Ellender let the ball go through his legs and to the wall and Baisley rounded all the bags to complete the four-run play.
Garcia entered the frame with a home run and a triple, then smashed a double off the center field wall to put him just a single away from the cycle. He was two batters away from another plate appearance when Munoz hit a sacrifice fly that scored Justin Martinez to give the Demons the 10-run rule win.
"This is a great way for us to head into this week's play and weekend series at Stephen F. Austin," Davis said. "The whole weekend though, we've had some terrific crowds here at Brown-Stroud. I just want to thank all the fans for coming out and cheering us on."
Much like Saturday's game, the Cowboys plated runs in the first inning, this time getting two runs after the first three batters singled with Lee Orr knocking in the first run with the third hit of the inning. Jace Peterson's run on a wild pitch put the Cowboys up 2-0.
The Demons plated a run in the third when Eric DeBlanc led-off the inning with a double to left-centerfield and scored on a Chase Lyles RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1. Lyles' hit extended his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games.
In the McNeese half of the fourth inning, the Cowboys got a 2-RBI single from Blake Ellender and a score on a Demon error to take a 5-1 lead.
The Demons came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Justin Martinez led-off the inning with a double down the leftfield line and moved to third on a single by Aaron Munoz. DeBlanc then walked to load the bases and Garcia cleared them with his triple to rightfield and cut the lead to 5-4.
Garcia then scored to tie the game when Trent Grondin grounded out to shortstop to make it 5-5.
McNeese regained the lead in the sixth with a run after loading the bases with one out, but Demon relief pitcher Andrew Adams struck out Orr to keep the Cowboys from putting together a big inning.
Garcia came up big in the bottom of the sixth when he belted a solo, 2-out home run to tie the game at 6-6. It was his second homer of the season.
The Demons return to action on Tuesday when they host Louisiana-Monroe at 6:30 at Brown-Stroud Field. Northwestern visits Grambling Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to begin a five-game road trip that will continue with a conference series at SFA next weekend and ending with a game at Texas A&M March 23.
Lamar 7, Nicholls 3
THIBODAUX, La. - Lamar scored four runs in the first inning and that was all sophomore right-hander Eric Harrington needed to push the Cardinals to a 7-3 Southland Conference win over Nicholls at Ray Didier Field on Sunday to avoid a road sweep.
Lamar (12-4, 1-2 Southland) benefited from a shaky start by Colonel starter Brent Bonvillian. After retiring the first batter, the next six Cardinals reached base with a pair of hit batters, two walks, a single and a 3-run double off the bat of catcher Joey Latulippe that made the score 4-0.
Bonvillian (2-2) was replaced after throwing just 22 pitches and allowing four earned runs.
Nicholls (11-4, 2-1 Southland) put one run on the board in the bottom of the first on a Keith Kulbeth ground out but that was as close as it would get with the Cardinals adding one run in the fourth and two in the sixth.
Anthony Moore singled home Tyler Theriot in the fourth and then added a two-run double in the sixth to put the Cardinals ahead 7-1. Moore reached base in all four of his plate appearances, going 2-for-2 and was hit twice as he pushed his team-leading RBI total to 17 with three on Sunday.
Harrington (3-0) meanwhile, remained perfect on the year as he struck out eight while scattering nine hits and three runs in a complete-game victory. He retired 16 of 18 batters from the end of the first through the sixth innings.
Nicholls saw its 11-game win streak come to a close despite outhitting Lamar 9-8. Adam Miley went 2-for-4 with one of the Colonels' three doubles.
Lamar will return home to open a five-game home stand on Tuesday with a midweek series against Texas Southern. First pitch at Vincent-Beck Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. The teams will play at 3 p.m. on Wednesday before Lamar plays host to Central Arkansas next weekend.
Texas State 5, Penn State 4
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Shaun Garcia hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to plate Kyle Livingstone for the game-winning run in Texas State's 5-4 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats complete the three-game sweep with the win, and improve to 8-6 on the season.
Penn State falls to 4-8 overall in the loss, and remains behind in the all-time series with Texas State, 5-0.
A double to right center in the bottom of the third from Bret Atwood started Texas State's first scoring frame. Kyle Livingstone followed with an infield single and a wild pitch from Steven Hill pushed the senior to second base, but gave Atwood time to score. Livingstone came home one out later on a double to right center from Jason Martinson for a 2-0 Bobcat lead.
Hill returned in the fourth and retired the side in order, and blanked the Bobcats in the fifth and sixth inning as well, allowing the Nittany Lions room to tie the game.
In the top of the third, an RBI single from Jordan Steranka gave PSU its first run, and a sacrifice fly in the fifth allowed them the first tie of the game.
A series of walks and wild pitches gave Texas State's its next pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Penn State clawed back in the top of the ninth with back-to-back singles to put the tying run on base. A groundout and single sent the Nittany pair home and the Bobcats were forced to rally in the ninth.
Livingstone drew a leadoff walk and Kyle Kubitza laid down a sacrifice bunt to put him in scoring position. Martinson followed with a base hit through the left side, and Garcia's long sacrifice into right center pushed the go-ahead run home.
Livingstone went 3-for-3 in today's game with two runs scored to lead the team.
On the mound, Lee Colon went seven innings and rationed Penn State for just three hits and two runs, one of which was earned. The junior also struck out a career-high eight batters in the no-decision.
Carson Smith (1-2) was credited with the win after entering in the eighth and allowing just two runs to score off five hits. Smith stopped PSU from taking a 5-4 lead in the ninth by picking off Steve Snyder to retire the inning.
Texas State's next bout on the diamond will be Tuesday, when the team hits the road for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at Dan Law Field to face Texas Tech.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 8, Mississippi State 6
Mississippi State 4, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 2 (10 innings)
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi received three runs batted in including a two-run home run from Trey Hernandez in the opening game and received a pair of solid starts Brandon Orr and Jake Liedka as they split a doubleheader with Mississippi State on the final day of the Whataburger College Classic. The Islanders won the opener 8-6 and fell 4-2 in 10 innings in the nightcap.
"Hopefully, we can take the momentum we got from the performances of our starting pitchers and build on it," Islander coach Scott Malone said. "We need to continue and go out and get good starts from our pitchers because it makes us a different team.
"Defensively, I thought we played well today because they were on their toes."
With the split, the Islanders move to 8-7 on the season, while Mississippi State is now 10-6. The win in first game was the first by the Islanders over a Southeastern Conference opponent.
In the game one win, the Islanders jumped to a 3-0 lead after 1-1/2 innings.
Chris Vergne reached on double down the line in left in the first inning and went to third as Cory Ege reached on an error. Hernandez then plated Vergne on a grounder to short.
Marc Damon and Jeramie Marek began the second with back-to-back singles. Matt Holland followed suit with a single up the middle to plate Damon. Marek, who later made a catch to end the seventh in center field as he dove towards the wall, came around to score as Omar Garcia hit into a double play.
After Ryan Duffy put the Bulldogs on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, the Islanders added a run in third and a pair in the top of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Ege then led off the inning with a double and went to third with one out on a throwing error by Mississippi State. He later scored on a Bobby Buckner ground out to second.
In the top of the fifth, Hernandez chased Mississippi State starter Devin Jones from the game with a two-run blast to left field. It was his team-best sixth of the season.
A&M-Corpus Christi had a chance to add on in the inning but ran itself out of the inning. Weston Montgomery was thrown out trying a stretch a single into a double and Buckner was picked off first after a single.
The Bulldogs answered back with two runs in the fifth off Orr, who exited after seven innings. With one away, Nick Vickerson belted a solo home run for his first of the season. Connor Powers drove in the second run of the inning as Luke Adkins scored on a double down the left-field line.
A&M-Corpus Christi added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings that proved crucial. Omar Garcia led off the seventh with a triple past the diving Ryan Collins in center field. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Vergne. Damon led off the eighth with a double and scored on a two-out single by Omar Garcia for an 8-3 lead.
After a perfect eighth by Chris Pena, the lefty struggled in the final frame. He started off the inning allowing a single to Wes Thigpen who came off the bench. Pena then loaded the bases after walking Vickerson and hitting Adkins.
Phillip Garcia entered and forced Powers, who entered with seven home runs and 30 runs batted in, to pop up to Ege in shallow center. Catcher Cody Freeman lined a single to left to plate a pair of runs. Jet Butler made it a two-run game with a hit up the middle. Garcia, however, earned his first save by getting Jet Butler to pop out to Ege, while Russ Sneed flew out to left.
Orr went seven solid innings, scattering eight hits allowing three runs while striking out four and walking two. Pena allowed three runs on one hit, a walk and hit batter.
Jones suffered the loss as he permitted six runs with four earned on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work.
In the second game, Mississippi State struck first with a run in the top of the first. Vickerson led off the game with a double. He would score on a two-out single by Freeman.
In the bottom of the first, the Islanders responded with two runs to take the lead. Garcia and Montgomery drew walks to start the inning off starter Luke Bole who would last one inning as he struggled with his footing on the Whataburger Field mound. Hernandez singled to right driving in Garcia with Buckner driving in Montgomery.
Islander starter Liedka and MSU reliever Caleb Reed would engage in a tremendous pitching duel.
Neither team would score again until Powers deposited Liedka pitch into the batter's eye in center.
Liedka strikeout an Islander season high eight batters but he didn't figure into the game-two decision.
The teams battled into extra innings as Mississippi State's Powers reached base with a walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch from Roman Madrid, who would be the credited with the loss. Mississippi State's Cody Freeman broke the tie singling up the middle giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage; the visitors added an extra run going up by two runs.
After back-to-back outs to start the bottom of the tenth, Hernandez walked allowing the tying run to come to the plate in pinch hitter Caleb Marx. The junior hit into a fielder's choice promptly ending the contest and A&M-Corpus Christi rally.
"Things got away from us a little bit in the bullpen and we are trying to figure those things out," Malone said. "We have some talented guys; we just need to figure out who fits in what role.
"I expect us to be an offensive club. We pitched too well tonight to get out-hit in the second game. They didn't send anyone out who was overpowering."
Next up will be a 2 p.m. make-up game on Wednesday at Chapman Field against Houston Baptist.