Baseball: March 25 Scoreboard
Sam Houston State 11, Rice 4
Central Arkansas 15, UALR 3
Northwestern State 4, Mississippi Valley State 1
Nicholls 3, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
UTSA 6, UIW 5
Sam Houston State 11, Rice 4
Shortstop Miles Manning went 3-for-5 at the plate and first baseman Spence Rahm added a three-run homer to lead Sam Houston State to an 11-4 victory over Rice Wednesday at Don Sanders Stadium.
The Bearkats upped their season record to 13-14 after pounding four Owl pitchers for 13 hits. The Owls, who limited Sam Houston to two hits in a 4-0 win over the Kats Tuesday night in Houston, scored their four runs on 10 hits. Rice now stands 17-10.
Rahm, second baseman Zach Smith, center fielder Colt Atwood and catcher Collin Yelich each accounted for a pair of Bearkat hits. Jordan Church (1-1) was credited with the victory on the mound. SHSU starting pitcher Dylan Ebbs spread eight hits over four-and-two-thirds innings. Owl starter Ricardo Salinas (2-2) was the losing pitcher.
Seth Holbert and Ryan Brinley also pitched in relief for the Kats.
Sam Houston jumped out to a quick lead as shortstop Miles Manning and second baseman Zach Smith led off with consecutive singles. After a successful double steal, Manning scored on a wild pitch by Rice starter Ricardo Salinas. Smith made it 2-0 coming home on a ground out to shortstop by right fielder Bryce Johnson.
The Bearkats exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth. The SHSU men posted tallies with RBIs on a ground ball to first by left fielder Hayden Simerly, a two-run single by Manning and a run-scoring double down the left field line by center fielder Colt Atwood off reliever John Williamson. Smith added a fifth run after a bases loaded wild pitch by the Owls’ second relief pitcher Austin Orewiler.
Rice struck back in the top of the fifth, loading the bases on three singles before second baseman Ford Stainback brought in the Owls’ first run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Designated hitter John Clay Reeves brought in two runs with a single and left fielder Kirby Taylor added another with the fifth hit of the frame as Rice cut the Kat margin to 7-4.
Manning’s third hit of the inning, a single to right field, scored catcher Collin Yelich to extend the SHSU margin to 8-4. Yelich singled with one out in the seventh.
Rahm’s home run to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Atwood who led off with a single and Ebbs who walked.
Sam Houston returns to Southland Conference action this weekend with a three-game series at Central Arkansas.
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Central Arkansas 15, UALR 3
CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears broke a four-game losing streak in a big way Wednesday night, jumping all over the UALR Trojans in a 15-3 non-conference victory at Bear Stadium.
The Bears (12-7), put up nine runs in the first inning and never looked back in winning their fourth straight home game in front of a season-high crowd of 788. UCA sent 14 batters to the plate against UALR starter Tanner Rockwell, who lasted just one inning and allowed nine earned runs.
UCA, coming off an 0-3 sweep last weekend at Houston Baptist, finished with 16 hits, including home runs from Tyler Langley, his second, and Logan Preston, his team-high fifth. Langley, a junior center fielder from Conway, finished 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored from the leadoff spot. Junior right fielder Braxton Phillips went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored for the Bears.
Junior right-hander Bo Stitch (4-1) pitched a perfect second and third inning, striking out two, to earn the victory. UCA used six pitchers in the game while UALR threw three. Stephen Chandler allowed six earned runs as all 15 UCA runs were earned. UALR (7-13) lost 15-2 to Oral Roberts on Tuesday night, also allowing 15 earned runs.
Eight different Bears recorded hits, with five getting multiple hits. UCA played 15 different position players.
After UCA starter Dillon Drabble worked out of a first-inning jam with a double play grounder, the Bears exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the frame. Langley led off with a bunt single and moved to second on Chris Townsend's sacrifice bunt. Catcher Travis Hull then doubled down the left-field line to scored Langley to start the scoring spurt.
After Matt Anderson's RBI double, Logan Preston was hit by a pitch and Nate Ferrell walked to load the bases. Phillips laced a double over the center fielder's head to score two runs. Hayden Steele's single brought in two more. After UALR recorded the second out with a strike out, Langley was hit by a pitch in his second plate appearance of the inning and Townsend drew a walk.
Hull hit a two-run single to center for his third RBI of the inning and Anderson followed with an RBI double to center to make it 9-0.
The Bears added two more in the second on RBI singles from Wesley Hoover and Langley. Preston launched his two-run home run in the third to make it 13-0. In the fourth inning, Langley drilled a home run down the left-field line, scoring Michael Haun. UALR finally scored twice in the fifth with four hits and the help of a UCA error. They added a final run in the sixth with an RBI single by Sam Vogel.
Hull finished with 3 RBI, while Anderson and Steele also had two apiece. Anderson entered the game leading the Southland Conference in hitting at .440 and went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
The Bears return to Southland Conference action on Friday night, hosting Sam Houston State at 6 p.m.
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Northwestern State 4, Mississippi Valley State 1
NATCHITOCHES, La. – The hits didn’t come in bunches like they did the night before, but Northwestern State made sure they counted just the same Wednesday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field.
The way the Demons pitchers worked, however, was equally as efficient as the day before.
It all added up to a 4-1 Demons victory against Mississippi Valley State in an afternoon game at sun-splashed Brown-Stroud Field.
“We got the big hits when we needed them,” third-year coach Lane Burroughs said. “Chase (Daughdrill) got the big two-out, two-run single, and then Cort (Brinson) got a big hit late to stretch the lead.”
Daughdrill’s third-inning single snapped a 1-all tie and gave right-hander Evan Tidwell (2-2) the run support he needed to even his record.
After watching the Delta Devils (4-14-1) strike out 14 times Tuesday, Tidwell attacked the strike zone and needed just 62 pitches to post six innings of one-run ball.
Tidwell threw 47 of his pitches for strikes, as the Demons (14-10) extended their winning streak to three games. He scattered five hits, did not walk a batter, did not allow an earned run and struck out a pair.
“He had the great start against ULM two or three weeks ago and then wasn’t sharp the last time out, and he’ll be the first to tell you that,” Burroughs said. “It was good to see him attack the strike zone with multiple pitches, pitch down, spin the baseball like he’s taught to and that was very encouraging.”
Brinson put Northwestern State on the board in the bottom of the first, driving a one-out single up the middle to score Joel Atkinson, who led off the game with his team-leading eighth double of the year.
With the Demons up 3-1 in the seventh, Brinson doubled to left field again driving in Atkinson, who scored three times.
Brinson’s two-hit game extended his season-long hitting streak to six games. During the streak, Brinson has five two-hit games and has raised his batting average 49 points.
“It was a 12 o’clock start, which is not normal,” Brinson said. “(Tuesday) night, we got a lot of hits, and (Wednesday) they didn’t come as often, but we got them when they mattered and that’s what counts. I started off pretty slow at the beginning of the year. I feel a lot better right now. It probably started two weeks ago. I started working back into it. Helping the team out any way I can is what I want to do.”
After Tidwell worked through his six innings, Hunter Duvic, Chase Hymel and Brandon Smith each posted a scoreless inning.
In the series, NSU relievers tossed 10 scoreless innings and struck out 14 Delta Devils hitters.
“We got some guys on the mound who hadn’t been out there much – guys we’re going to need down the stretch – and that was encouraging,” Burroughs said. “I was proud of our relievers – Chase, Hunter and Brandon. They haven’t been out there much, and they came out sharp.”
Brinson had the Demons’ lone multi-hit game Wednesday while his and Daughdrill’s two RBIs each accounted for all four Demons runs.
Northwestern State remains at home, wrapping up its season-long five-game homestand by hosting McNeese State in a Southland Conference series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s game (2 p.m.) and Sunday’s matchup (1 p.m.) are afternoon affairs.
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Nicholls 3, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette had no answers for the Nicholls State University pitching staff on Wednesday night as the Colonels used a dominant defensive effort to register a 3-1 victory in front of 4,100 fans at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
Nicholls (13-10-1, 4-5 SLC) jumped on top early with a run in the first inning.
Darius Knight singled to the pitcher and advanced to second on a
Kyle Reese groundout. Knight took advantage of a miscue by the Ragin' Cajuns (13-9, 5-3 Sun Belt), scoring as
Justin Smithreached on a fielding error.
The Colonels added a run in the third when
Justin Holt singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Knight and came home as Reese reached on a throwing error.
Louisiana-Lafayette fought back in the fourth inning, cutting the lead in half. Stefan Trosclair crushed a double down the leftfield line, scoring Blake Trahan and bringing the score to 2-1.
Nicholls returned a punch to the Ragin' Cajuns in the sixth when
Tanner Vandevere singled to third base, advanced to second on a
Christian Correa line-drive up the middle and came home on a
Seth Stevens sacrifice fly.
The Colonels played chess over the final five innings of the game, using five relief pitchers in to stifle the Louisiana-Lafayette offense and seal the victory.
Louisiana-Lafayette provided a scare in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with only one out. Derek Herrington made contact, but the sure handed
David Zorn fielded the ball and fired it back to Correa for the force at home. The next Ragin' Cajun batter flew out and ended the game.
Ryan Deemes tossed the opening four frames, surrendering one run on three hits with a strikeout. In relief,
Cole Stapler,
Zach Thiac,
Jason McDonald and
Robbie Petty combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while fanning five batters. Stapler (1-0) was awarded his first win of the season.
Stuart Holmes took the mound for the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits on the way to his ninth save of the year.
Connor Toups (1-1) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Knight led Nicholls at the plate, hitting 2-for-4 with a run scored. Correa also hit 2-for-4 while Holt finished 1-for-4 with a run. Stevens registered the lone RBI for the Colonels.
Seven batters notched a hit for Louisiana-Lafayette, led by Trahan with a 1-for-3 outing and a run scored.
The Colonels will battle Southeastern Louisiana in a home-away-home three-game series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. in Thibodaux, before hosting Alcorn State at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Friday and Sunday's matchups will be broadcast live in KNSU 91.5 FM, while Saturday's contest will air on KTIB 640 AM.
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UTSA 6, UIW 5
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team rallied from a 6-2 deficit, but UTSA was able to survive the late comeback and came out on top of the Cardinals, 6-5 at Roadrunner Field on Wednesday night.
Jesse Baker had a terrific night for the Roadrunners. He finished the game 5-for-5, with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Roadrunners to their 14
th win of the season.
After being shutout 12-0 the last time the Cardinals (9-14) faced UTSA earlier this season, UIW quickly got on the board in the top of the first inning.
Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro HS) hit his third home run of the season on a drive to left center field off of Cody Brannon on an 0-2 count.
The Roadrunners (14-11) answered with a run in the second inning and three more in the third to make it 4-1. The Cardinals'
Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) then scored another run in the fifth to make it 4-2. He reached base via one of his three hits and scored an unearned run. Once again, the Roadrunners answered right away with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 6-2.
UIW then scored two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning and then one in the eighth.
Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) hit a one-out double down the left field line and later scored on an
Ethan McGill (Penn Valley/Nevada Union HS) two-out single to right field in the eighth inning.
Aaron Warren (Schertz/Warren HS) came in to pinch hit to lead off the ninth inning representing the tying run. Warren worked a full count and walked to start the inning. The next two Cardinal hitters were unable to get on base, and with two outs Warren stole second base, putting the tying run in scoring position. Jeremy Filipek struck out the last batter to end the threat and the game and earned his second save of the season.
Cody Brannon earned the win for UTSA as he hurled 5.2 innings, gave up two runs (one earned), three hits and struck out five. The loss went to
Kris Looper (Wharton/Wharton HS) who started the game for the Cardinals and allowed four runs in three innings of work.
John Shull (San Antonio/Churchill) tossed the last two innings for the Cardinals, giving up two hits and finished his eighth scoreless appearance of the season.
Morris and McGill each collected two hits and scored a run for UIW. Kahle led the team with three hits and two runs scored.
Dustin Cole (Tomball/Tomball HS) and
Colton Besett (Cedar Park/Vista Ridge HS) grabbed the only other RBI for the Cardinals.
For the Roadrunners, nine of the 11 offensive players collected at least a hit, with Baker leading the way with five hits and two RBI.
The Cardinals finished with five runs on eight hits and committed no errors while the Roadrunners finished with six runs on 13 hits and committed three errors.
The Cardinals have a three game Southland Conference series this weekend as they host Houston Baptist starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Sullivan Field.
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