Baseball: Feb. 15 Scoreboard
Sam Houston State 9, Wichita State 3
Houston Baptist 15, Prairie View A&M 0
Nicholls 10, Stony Brook 0
Northwestern State 9, Troy 5
Southeastern La. 7, Louisiana Tech 1
Central Arkansas 8, Indiana State 5
McNeese State 7, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1
A&M-Corpus Christi 8, St. Peters 5
Nevada 3, Abilene Christian 2
Northeastern 9, UIW 3
Illinois 9, Lamar 3
South Alabama 8, New Orleans 6
UT Arlington 18, Stephen F. Austin 9
Sam Houston State 9, Wichita State 3
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Logan Boyd struck out nine batters in six innings of work to lead Sam Houston State to a 9-3 series-clinching win over Wichita State Sunday at Don Sanders Stadium. The Bearkats (2-1) will play at Texas State (0-2-1) Tuesday at 6 p.m. in San Marcos.
Boyd tied his career high with nine strikeouts while allowing just one run on five hits. The junior lefthander didn’t issue a walk in the game. He had to pitch out of trouble in the second and third innings but then went on to retire 10 straight batters at one point.
The Atascocita product allowed a pair of lead off singles in the second inning but managed to get a “strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out” double play to end the threat. The only run he allowed came in the third when he allowed a single and a double to open the frame. The run came on a sacrifice fly but Boyd managed to get a strikeout to work out of the jam.
Sam Houston plated four runs in the bottom of the second to open the scoring for the first time in the series. The Bearkats loaded the bases with two outs and second baseman Ryan Farney worked a walk for the first run of the game. Outfielders Travis Lee, Colt Atwood and Hayden Simerly each legged out infield singles to make the score 4-0. Lee was thrown at the plate trying catch the Shockers off guard.
The Kats added to their lead in the fourth inning. Shortstop Jake MacWilliam led off the fourth with a single up the middle and catcher Collin Yelich followed with a bunt single down the first base line. Ryan Farney also reached on a bunt single but the Shockers’ pitcher Willie Schwanke threw the ball away allowing MacWilliam to score. An RBI groundout by Simerly made the score 6-1.
SHSU added some insure runs in the eighth. After a ground out by Yelich to lead off the frame, Farney hit a double into the gap in left center and came around to score on a single by Lee. After a stolen base, Atwood doubled to right field to score Lee.
Simerly singled for the third time in the game to drive in Atwood and make the score 9-3. The senior outfielder and designated hitter had started the season hitless in the first two games. Starting in right field for the first time today, he went 3-for-5 with three runs driven in.
Wichita State added two runs in the top of the seventh off of reliever Alex Bisacca. The leadoff man reached on a single and moved to second on a throwing error. He scored on a double by Hilliard, who then scored on a double by pinch hitter Michael Mucha. Bisacca was able to get out of the jam.
Juan Cortina came out of the bullpen to start the eighth but was only able to manage one out. The Bearkats turned to closer Ryan Brinley with runners on second and third. He struck out the first batter he faced and Nate VanDyke, who replaced Brinely at third base, made a nice play to snag a sinking liner to end the inning.
Brinley closed out the ninth inning, allowing just one hit. He picked up his second save of the season and upped his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 23.
The Bearkats will head to Corpus Christi next weekend to play in the Kleberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field, the home of the Corpus Christi Hooks.
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Houston Baptist 15, Prairie View A&M 0
HOUSTON, Texas – Houston Baptist pounded out 17 hits and four pitchers combined on a shutout as the Huskies hammered Prairie View A&M, 15-0, to finish the sweep of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Husky Field.
Senior rightfielder Thomas Clay went 4-for-5 with a double, four runs and a pair of stolen bases for the Huskies (3-0), while junior shortstop Louie Payetta went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and three runs. Senior centerfielder Zach Nehrir was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run, and junior designated hitter Austin Saenz went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Senior third baseman Curtis Jones went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, while his brother, freshman first baseman Carey Jones, hit his first career home run and drove in three. Junior infielder David Bloodworth doubled, drove in a run and scored one.
Senior lefthander Brandon Hammerly (1-0) did not allow a run, while scattering six hits, striking out five and walking one in six innings. Seniors Josh Martinez and Ross Kennell and junior Dylan Zarosky each worked an inning of scoreless relief.
Connor Wrye and Angel Avalos each went 2-for-3 for the Panthers (0-3). Charles Philpott (0-1) took the loss, giving up six runs, five earned, on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Edward Robledo gave up three earned runs in 1.1 innings, and Jordan Foster allowed five runs, one earned, in two innings.
HBU scored a run in the first as Clay led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI: single by Curtis Jones. The Huskies scored another single run in the fourth as senior catcher Samm Wiggins reached on an error and Saenz later drove him in with single to make the score 2-0.
The Panthers threatened with three hits in the fifth, but Kevin Lahaie was thrown out at the plate by Clay on a single by Kevin Macias, then Derrien Williams was caught stealing home for the third out. The Huskies responded to the threat by breaking the game open with five runs in the bottom of the frame. Payetta drove in a run with a scorching line drive off the glove of the first baseman, Clay scored on a wild pitch, Nehrir delivered a two-run double down the third base line, and Saenz capped the inning with another RBI single.
HBU added two in the sixth on an RBI double by Payetta, followed by an RBI single from Curtis Jones.
In the eighth, freshman catcher Zac Garcia drove in a run, junior outfielder Josh Leonhardt had a sacrifice fly and Bloodworth had an RBI double. Carey Jones capped the six-run inning and the scoring for the game with a three-run blast to left to put the Huskies ahead, 15-0.
The Huskies return to action when they head across town to face No. 13 Rice Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Reckling Park.
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Nicholls 10, Stony Brook 0
THIBODAUX, La. – The Nicholls State University baseball team caught fire offensively and blasted two home runs in a 10-0 win over Stony Brook in the series-finale on Sunday morning.
The Colonels (2-1) had a rough time at the plate in their season-opener, but made up for lost time in the subsequent two ballgames, combining for 21 hits, 14 runs, 13 RBIs, six doubles, a triple and two home runs. The Seawolves (1-2) earned nine hits, six runs and four RBIs in Friday's matchup, but combined for just 12 hits and one run over the next two.
Stony Brook was voted the preseason favorite to win the American East Conference by the league's coaches' poll less than two weeks ago.
Nicholls opened Sunday's contest with a bang as Christian Correa notched a monster two-run home run over the leftfield wall in the first inning. Holt put the Colonels up by three after a solo blast in the third, the first homer of his career.
In the sixth, Kyle Reese doubled to left, scoring two runs. In the ensuing at bat, Tanner Vandevere doubled down the leftfield line, bringing home two additional Nicholls runners. After a pitching change, Alex Shermer singled to drive in Vandevere from second and take an eight-run advantage.
Alex Tucker pinch hit for Correa in the eighth and brought in a pair of security runs with a single.
Justin Sinibaldi earned the win, fanning four batters through six innings while allowing four hits. Jason McDonald, Cole Stapler and Stuart Holmes each threw an inning and combined to hold the Seawolves to just two hits, with a walk and a strikeout.
Tim Knesnik took the loss for Stony Brook, surrendering three runs on five hits through five innings.
Correa led the Colonels offensively, going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Holt wasn't far behind Correa, turning in a 2-for-4 day with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Reese, Tucker and Vandevere each contributed two RBIs, while nine Nicholls batters registered a hit.
Robert Chavarria paced the Seawolves offensively with a 2-for-4 performance.
The Colonels will host Southern University at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, before traveling to Baton Rouge for a 6:30 p.m. matchup with LSU on Wednesday. Tuesday's game will be broadcast on KNSU 91.5 FM, while Wednesday's contest will be carried on KTIB 640 AM.
Visit geauxcolonels.com for live stats, video and the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball.
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Northwestern State 9, Troy 5
TROY, Ala. – Looking to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of Troy, Northwestern State turned to its battery on Sunday.
In turn, right-hander Jeffrey Stovall and catcher C.J. Webster supplied the power behind the Demons' first victory of the season, a 9-5 victory against Troy at Riddle-Pace Field.
Stovall (1-0) tossed seven strong innings in his Northwestern State debut, scattering six hits and striking out four, while Webster tied a career high with four RBIs.
The Demons (1-3) struck first with a two-run, two-out, first-inning rally. Caleb Dugas started things by coaxing a walk off Troy starter Tucker Simpson (0-1). Cort Brinson singled Dugas to third before Chase Daughdrill drew a walk.
Webster then followed with his third double of the series to score Dugas and Brinson and stake Stovall to an early lead.
Northwestern State turned up the offensive pressure in the second. After Joel Atkinson drew a leadoff walk, Nick Heath dropped a sacrifice bunt that Simpson fielded and threw wildly past first base, putting runners on second and third.
Two batters later, Bret Underwood laced a two-run triple off the right-field wall to put NSU up 4-0. Underwood later scored on the first of two RBI groundouts by Dugas.
Stovall ran into trouble in the third inning when Troy (3-1) struck for three runs.
The Demons offense picked up Stovall in the next inning, capitalizing on a pair of hit batters and a pair of Troy errors to score four runs. Webster had the inning's lone hit, a two-run single that scored Dugas and Brinson and made the lead 9-3.
Backed by a strong defensive effort, Stovall settled in and sat down 11 straight batters from the third through sixth innings.
A change in the NSU lineup paid immediate dividends, as Matthew Alford made his first start of the season at third base and handled seven chances flawlessly.
Underwood (2-for-4) and Webster (2-for-5) finished with the only multi-hit games for Northwestern State, while David Hall (2-for-4) and Brody Binder (2-for-3) each notched two hits for the Trojans.
NSU was outhit 8-7, but took advantage of four Troy errors to tally five unearned runs and enter the win column for the first time in 2015.
"These guys weren't happy we weren't in the win column," Burroughs said. "No one wants to win more than they do. Today, we played looser, and we looked more relaxed than we had in the first three games. We have a tough schedule, but I believe in our club.
The Demons return to action Wednesday when they host 2014 NCAA Super Regional participant UL Lafayette at Brown-Stroud Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and begins a four-game homestand for the Demons, who welcome Creighton and Arkansas State to Natchitoches for the weekend.
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Southeastern La. 7, Louisiana Tech 1
HAMMOND, La.
– Senior first baseman Kevin Carr drove in four of Southeastern Louisiana's seven runs Sunday as the Lions completed a season-opening sweep of Louisiana Tech with a 7-1 win at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Southeastern (3-0) opens the season with three-consecutive wins for the third time in the last four years.
Carr doubled in a pair of runs in the first inning, staking the Lions to an early 2-0 lead over Tech (0-3). Jacob Seward led off the first, chopping a single over the mound, and Julian Service followed with a single through the left side. Daniel Midyett moved both runners up on a ground out, setting up Carr's hit.
The Bulldogs cut the lead in half in the third, scoring a runner from second on a base hit up the middle.
After the third, junior Kyle Cedotal (1-0) settled in on the mound. The left-hander from Denham Springs, Louisiana, surrendered one hit over his final four innings, retiring the side in order five times in seven innings on his way to earning the win.
The Lions gave Cedotal a little breathing room with a five-run fifth inning. Seward drew a walk to open the inning. Service and Midyett followed with singles. Carr singled to right, plating Seward and Service. Midyett advanced to third, and Carr moved up to second, when the right fielder mishandled the two-run single.
Brett Hoffman then chased Bulldog starter, and loser, Phillip Diehl (0-1) with an RBI single through the left side. Southeastern added two more runs in the inning off reliever Adam Atkins to finish off the scoring.
Freshmen pitcher Mac Sceroler and Dreagan Bethel both worked scoreless innings in relief for the Lions, each retiring the side in order.
Southeastern travels to Jackson State for 6 p.m. contest Tuesday before returning home to host Tulane, Wednesday, at 6 p.m. Anyone who purchases a ticket to the Southeastern-Tulane baseball game will receive free admission to the joint women's-men's basketball doubleheader Feb. 21 at the University Center.
More details are available at
www.LionSports.net or by contacting the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or 1-866-LION-TIX. Ticket office hours are 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays, and is located in Room 107 of the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics.
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Central Arkansas 8, Indiana State 5
MONROE, La. – Junior Brandon Hagerla went seven solid innings and the University of Central Arkansas Bears won for the third time in three tries Sunday, beating Indiana State 8-5 at the Warhawk Classic at Warhawk Field.
Hagerla, a junior righthander from Santa Rosa Community College, tossed seven innings, allowing six hits, three runs and struck out two and walked none. Junior Derek Beier pitched the final two innings, allowing three hits and two runs and striking out three as the Bears won the unofficial tournament title with a 3-0 record.
Right fielder Braxton Phillips, UCA’s lead-off hitter, led the Bears at the plate, going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. Junior second baseman Chris Townsend was 1 for 4 with 2 RBI as seven of UCA’s nine starters recorded hits.
The Bears grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Wesley Hoover singled up the middle and advanced to second when Jacob Richardson was hit by a pitch. Nate Ferrell walked to load the bases before Townsend’s fielder’s choice scored Hoover. Catcher Charles Deckard then got a base hit to left to score Richardson for the 2-0 lead.
The Sycamores (2-1) got a leadoff solo home run in the second from designated hitter Hunter Owen to make it 2-1. Both pitchers settled down from there until the Bears struck again in the fourth. Logan Preston drew a one-out walk and James Lacy reached on a throwing error by the ISU third baseman. Tyler Langley’s infield single broung in Preston and Phillips followed with a two-run double to the wall to make it 5-1.
ISU hit another solo home run in the fifth but UCA answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame with Townsend and Deckard picking up the RBI. The Sycamores got one back in the top of the sixth but Hagerla worked out of it with three consecutive outs.
Beier came on in relief in the eighth and allowed a two-run single down the left-field line that closed the gap to 7-5, but got out of the inning with a strike out of Tony Roselli. In the bottom of the eighth, Richardson singled, stole second and scored on a bloop double by Townsend that fell in front of the ISU centerfielder and just over the second baseman to make it 8-5.
Beier then got a pair of ground balls back to the mound and a strike out to end the game.
Phillips finished the tournament 8 for 13 (.615) with 7 RBI and was 3 for 4 on stolen base attempts. Preston went 5 for 9 (.556) with three home runs and six runs scored. Langley hit .500 (5 for 10) for the weekend.
UCA hosts UALR at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bear Stadium, weather permitting.
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McNeese State 7, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1
LAKE CHARLES, La. – The McNeese State baseball team cracked out the brooms on and delivered a 7-1 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and completed the series sweep on Sunday.
The Cowboys begins the season with a 3-0 mark for the second season in a row and have now won their first three contests in back-to-back years for the first time since the 2009-10 seasons.
Leading the charge at the dish was junior Cameron Toole who finished 3-for-3 on the day with two RBI. Toole went 6-for-7 on the weekend that included two doubles, two runs and three RBI.
Toole was also outstanding behind the plate as he threw out five runners who attempted to steal over the weekend.
The McNeese pitching staff enjoyed an outstanding weekend at Cowboy Diamond and finished up on Sunday allowing just three batters over the minimum. The Cowboy hurlers combined for nine strikeouts and allowed just one earned run on two hits.
Sophomore transfer Trent Fontenot impressed the McNeese faithful with his first start as a Cowboy as he turned in a quality start, the third-straight for the Pokes. Fontenot worked six innings and allowed just one run to score in the first inning and gave up only two hits. He led the staff with five strikeouts on the day.
Following Fontenot’s outing, a trio of relievers came in to hold the Lions scoreless. Junior-transfer Tyler Day shutout the UAPB in the seventh with two strikeouts while freshman Austin Briggs worked the eighth inning and allowed only one hit. Senior Jacob Williams closed the game by not allowing a hit or a run with one strikeout.
UAPB (3-0) got on the board early following a ground out RBI from Robert Colon that gave the Lions their first lead in the series since the bottom of the fourth inning in Friday night’s series opener.
The lead would only last half an inning as a wacky set of events enabled the Cowboys to tie the ballgame in the bottom of the second frame. Senior Andrew Guillotte sent a chopper straight to the shortstop who elected to throw Toole out at third. In the meantime, sophomore Matt Gallier took advantage of the play and scored from third and knot the score up at 1-1.
McNeese put its foot on the gas and never looked back as it opened up for six runs on six hits to extend its lead to a 7-1 mark that it would hold until the last pitch.
The inning opened up with a homerun from Guillotte, who belted a missile over the left field wall. The homer was Guillotte’s third career tater. Two batters later, Crane sent a bomb over left center to open up the Cowboys’ lead over UAPB. Crane finished his first collegiate series with six hits, two doubles, two homers, two RBI and a 1.077 slugging percentage.
McNeese also received RBI hits from Gallier and Toole who delivered a 2-RBI double late in the inning.
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A&M-Corpus Christi 8, St. Peters 5
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team used a three-run seventh inning to pick up its first series sweep of 2015 as it defeated Saint Peter's University, 8-5, at Chapman Field on Sunday.
Corpus Christi native Justin Perales lined a double to centerfield in the bottom of the seventh to score Kyle Danford from third base to put the Islanders up for good. The team would tack on two more insurance runs in the inning. One run coming via a bases-loaded walk and the other on a sac-fly by sophomore Lukas Hermanson who went 2-for-3 in the win.
It wasn't a smooth start as the Islanders (3-0) would have liked as the visiting Peacocks (0-3) scored three runs in the opening frame. A&M-Corpus Christi stood behind its young pitcher and he delivered with four scoreless. Sophomore Devin Skapura sit down eight of his next 10 opponents. The sophomore allowed three runs in five innings and struck out three.
Jordan Lee finished the day 3-for-5 including a double and two RBI's while Cody Clarke finished 2-for-4 and scoring two runs.
Dalton D'Spain took over for Skapura in the sixth and gave up two hits, one of which was the only home run to Chris Hugg to right field. Hugg was the only player to send one outside the fence this weekend.
Junior Garrett Harris came in to relieve D'Spain after a third of an inning. The junior from Anderson, Texas would pitch two and two-thirds of scoreless baseball on his way to his first career win as an Islander. Senior reliever Jacob Dorris made his second appearance of the weekend in the ninth as he picked up his second save of the year.
Saint Peter's Mark Wilson took the loss for the Peacocks.
Over the weekend, the team hit .500 with the bases loaded, .381 with runners in scoring position and .345 in two-out situations. Defensively, the Islanders bounced back from its four-error opening night game to finish off the series with no mistakes.
The Islanders will return to action on Thursday when they open the Kelberg Bank College Classic at Whataburger Field against Missouri at 6 p.m. The Classic will take place Thursday through Sunday with Missouri, Purdue and Sam Houston State all taking part in the action.
For updates throughout the season be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@IslandersBSB) and Facebook (Islanders Baseball).
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Nevada 3, Abilene Christian 2
ABILENE, Texas – In a close game, sometimes the difference between winning and losing is razor thin. It’s the difference in coming up with a key hit or popping out. It’s the difference between getting a key strikeout or walking a batter. Or the difference between making a key defensive play and not making one.
For the ACU Wildcats, the latter was true Sunday afternoon as they dropped the third game of a season-opening series to Nevada, 3-2, at Crutcher Scott Field, The loss drops the Wildcats to 0-3 for the first time under head coach Britt Bonneau, who is beginning his 19th season at the helm.
The Wildcats will be back in action this weekend when they head to south Texas to take on Texas-Pan America is a three-game series in Edinburg beginning Friday.
Sunday’s series finale turned on three defensive plays, two in the fourth inning and one in the eighth inning.
Nevada led 1-0 in the fourth inning against ACU starting pitcher Garrett deMeyere and had two outs and no runners on base after deMeyere picked off a baserunner when things fell apart. Grant Fennell reached on a single to right field and went to second on an error by Colton Hall, who tried to come up throwing and get Fennell at first base. Instead, the ball skipped past Hall, allowing Fennell to scoot to second base.
The next batter, Cal Stevenson, hit a 2-2 pitch out to second baseman Aaron Draper for what appeared would be the final out of the inning. But Draper couldn’t find the handle on the ball and all hands were safe on the bases. Leadoff hitter Kyle Hunt then drilled a 2-2 pitch down the left field line that drove in Fennell and Stevenson to make it 3-0. deMeyere would face one more batter before giving way to Kevin Sheets, and Sheets would get the Wildcats out of the inning without any further damage.
And just like in Saturday’s 9-6 loss to Nevada, ACU’s bullpen was excellent in relief. Sheets and Ladgie Zotyka combined to throw 5 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out four Nevada hitters. That work allowed the Wildcats to chip away at the Wolfpack lead with a run in the sixth and a run in the eighth to make it a 3-2 game.
In the sixth, Tyler Eager led off with a single and went to second when Russell Crippen grounded out to third base. Eager then scored when he stole third and came home on an errant throw by Nevada catcher Jordan Devencenzi, cutting the Nevada lead to 3-1.
In the eighth, Eager delivered a two-out single to centerfield and then scored when Crippen ripped a shot down the left field line for a run-scoring double to make it a 3-2 game. With Crippen standing at second as the tying run, freshman Brayden Gomez dug in to face relief pitcher Trenton Brooks, who played the other 8 2/3 innings of the game in right field.
Gomez lined a 1-1 pitch down the third base line that was gloved by third baseman Justin Bridgman, who had just entered the game as a defensive replacement. Bridgman went to a knee, back-handed the ball spun around, came up throwing and got Gomez by a half-step at first for the final out of the inning, preserving the 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, ACU got singles from Alex Copeland and Hall to put the tying run at second base with two outs, but Adam Whitt got his second save of the series by working around the two singles by striking out the side, including Draper to end the game.
deMeyere threw 109 pitches in just 3 2/3 innings and was tagged with the loss to fall to 0-1. But he and Sheets and Zotyka were the bright spots for the Wildcats, who lost the series, but actually outscored Nevada 8-3 over the last 14 innings of the series.
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Northeastern 9, UIW 3
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team held a 2-0 lead up to the sixth inning, but they could not hold it as they dropped the rubber game of a three-game series to Northeastern University, 9-3 on Sunday at Sullivan Field.
Brandon Anderson (Cheyenne, WY/Cheyenne Central HS) had a good outing for the Cardinals (1-2), but a throwing error in the sixth inning resulted in two unearned runs and a shift in momentum. Anderson ended the day with six innings pitched, giving up no earned runs, eight hits and no walks while striking out four.
Anderson got some help from his defense as well. Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) made some really nice defensive plays, including a running grab in left field and throwing out a runner at home plate in the first inning to save at least two runs.
The Cardinals got on the board early in the first and third innings, but did not score again until the bottom of the ninth. Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) brought it in the first run of the game in the first inning with an RBI groundout scoring Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro), who got on base on a throwing error by the Huskies' shortstop. Morris then came up in the third inning and hit his second home run of the series to give UIW a 2-0 lead.
After that the Cardinals struggled offensively. They were held to six hits in the game and struck out 11 times and only walked twice.
After tying the game in the sixth inning, the Huskies' (2-1) offense clicked. They added five runs in the seventh and two more in the eight. Josh Treff, Pat Madigan and Mason Koppens all collected three hits each while and Maxwell Burt and Madigan both recorded three RBI's.
Dustin Hunt earned the win for the Huskies, giving up three hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk while striking out five in six innings of work.
The loss went to Tyler Miller (Conroe/Oak Ridge HS) in a tough relief appearance. The Cardinals used six pitchers on the day and gave up 15 hits and two walks while striking out five.
The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday when they go on the road to play Prairie View A&M.
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Illinois 9, Lamar 3
BEAUMONT, Texas - An early offensive outburst coupled with a dominant performance from Tyler Jay on the mound surged Illinois by Lamar 9-3 in baseball action at Vincent-Beck Stadium in the finale of the Cardinal Classic.
Lamar's (2-2) starting pitcher Eric Foshee jumped out of the gates with five straight batters retired, but Illinois (4-0) right fielder Casey Fletcher broke it up with a single to the left side and advanced to third base on a single from David Kerian. Kerian took off to steal second and allowed Fletcher to score when the Cardinals threw down to try and cut him down.
Foshee worked 2.1 innings on the day and surrendered four runs, three earned, on six hits, and had two strikeouts. His opponent, preseason All-American Tyler Jay, pitched five shutout innings and only allowed two hits and struck out six Cardinals.
A fielding error and four base hits in the third inning helped the Illini to push the score to 3-0.
Pat McInerney led off the frame with a single to left center and moved up to second after Adam Walton singled up the middle. Both moved up a bag after a sacrifice bunt and scored on a LU fielding error. Reid Roper- who reached on the error- scored on a single from Jason Goldstein.
Reid Roper led the UI offensive charge with three hits in five at-bats with two runs scored and three driven in.
Illinois strung together six hits in eight plate appearances, the other two walks, to add another four runs to the board in the fourth frame push the score to 8-0.
Freshman CJ Moore knocked in Lamar's first run in the sixth inning on a double to right center and pushed across junior Stijn van der Meer, who reached on a two-out walk. Illinois answered in the top of the seventh on a Ryne Roper double to left field that scored Kerian, who reached via single.
LU tallied the final runs of the game in the bottom of the ninth when Illini reliever Josh Ferry hit Moore, walked Reed Seeley and hit Justin Eckols. He was promptly pulled for Cody Sedlock who would eventually finish the game.
With the bases loaded and one out, Cutter McDowell singled through the left side and scored Joe Arechiga, who pinch ran for Moore, and Kyle Markum drove in Seeley on a sacrifice fly.
McDowell was 2-for-4 on the day with one RBI, and Moore, van der Meer and Jake Nash all added base knocks.
Brent Janak took over on the mound in the third inning and worked an inning and a third with four runs allowed on five hits and three walks. Joe Farley saw his first action of the season and pitched 3.1 innings with one run allowed on four hits.
Enrique Oquendo pitched 1.1 innings and Kyle Leggett pitched two-thirds of an inning and combined for four hits and no runs.
Illinois finished the Cardinal Classic with a perfect 4-0 record, Lamar was 2-2 and New Mexico State finished without a win.
Big Red returns to the field on Friday when they host a four-game set with Manhattan that starts at 6 o'clock Friday at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Game two is at 1 o'clock on Saturday followed by game three thirty minutes after. The finale will be on Sunday morning at 11 o'clock.
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South Alabama 8, New Orleans 6
MOBILE, Ala.
– The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (0-3) raced out to an early lead, but gave up three runs in the eighth inning of an 8-5 loss to the South Alabama Jaguars (3-0) on Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field.
The Privateers entered the eighth inning with a 6-5 lead. After a lead-off single and a bunt that moved Garrett DeGallier to second with one away, New Orleans called on Kevin Kelleher to try to close the game. Kelleher hit the next two batters and Bud Collura drove in the tying run with a sac fly to center.
After a balk advanced the remaining runners to second and third, Sam Carriere came in from third base to pitch. Adam Ballew lined a 2-2 pitch up the middle that gave the Jaguars their first lead of the day heading to the ninth.
Justin Flores retired the first two batters of the inning, but Jonathan Coco and Hezekiah Randolph combined for consecutive singles as the Privateers got the tying run on. Flores bounced back though with a strikeout to end the game and complete the sweep for South Alabama.
New Orleans got out to a 4-0 start on the strength of a two-run second and the same production in the fourth. The Privateers collected seven hits in the first four innings including three extra base hits. South Alabama got on the board with a three-run fifth, collecting five singles.
The Privateers put some cushion back to their lead in the sixth on a Preston Marsh two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs. The Jaguars then punched two runs across in the bottom half of the frame to make the score 6-5. With the bases loaded and one out, Mitchell Cohen kept the Privateers ahead for the moment by inducing a double play ball.
Marsh, Coco, Randolph, Ryan Calloway, and Ray Veit each contributed two hits. Chaz Boyer went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and the Privateers collected 12 hits on the contest. Veit also scored a pair of runs to lead the Privateers offense.
South Alabama got another multi-hit day from Garrett DeGallier (2-for4) along with two runs scored. Bud Collura drove in two runs and Drew LaBounty went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. The Jaguars used six pitchers after starter, Joey Jones went only 1.2 innings.
The Privateers return to the field to face Southern Miss on Wednesday, Feb. 18. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
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UT Arlington 18, Stephen F. Austin 9
NACOGDOCHES, Texas
– The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack baseball team was taxed for 17 hits and 18 runs in an 18-9 loss to UT Arlington on Sunday afternoon at Jaycees Field.
Sophomore Nick Ramos recorded a strong afternoon at the plate for SFA (1-2), finishing 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI, one of two ‘Jacks to record a multi-hit game against UTA (1-2).
Designated hitter Hunter Wilson finished 2-for-3 with a double, walk and run scored, while Garrett McMullen was 1-for-5 with two RBI, double and run scored. SFA was outhit 17-10 by the Mavericks.
Senior Josh Keith (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits in one inning of relief of starter Eric Polivka. Polivka allowed six runs (all earned) on seven hits and two walks across two and two-thirds innings pitched in his debut. In total, nine ‘Jacks toed the mound across the loss, highlighted by Grant Page, Austin Smith and Patrick Ledet all turning in scoreless innings.
After a scoreless opening frame from both teams, UTA scored six runs over the team’s next two trips to the plate to go up 6-0. SFA responded however, with six runs in the bottom frame to knot the game at six-all after three innings of play.
With one out, Wilson doubled to left field and advanced to third on a single up the middle from junior Matthew Dickey. Dickey then moved up a base, swiping second, before sophomore Conner Fikes drew a walk to load the bases. Wilson and Dickey came in one batter later on a single up the middle from Ramos. Senior Dan O’Neil then singled and McMullen doubled to center field to plate two more. Kyle Thornell followed, scoring O’Neil on a groundout to the pitcher, before McMullen stole home to tie the game.
Despite the ‘Jacks adding one run in the fourth and two more in the seventh, the Mavs unfortunately added 12 runs over the final six innings to hand SFA its second loss of the season.
The ‘Jacks will close the Tipton Ford Classic on Monday, Feb. 16, facing Washington State at 6:30 p.m.
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