Baseball: March 28 Scoreboard
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, Stephen F. Austin 3
McNeese State 6, Northwestern State 4
UIW 3, Houston Baptist 2
Sam Houston State 6, Central Arkansas 3 (13)
Lamar 8, Abilene Christian 4
Southeastern Louisiana 7, Nicholls 3
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8, New Orleans 3
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4, Stephen F. Austin 3
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi baseball team snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Stephen F. Austin in the annual Strikeout Cancer game Saturday afternoon at Chapman Field.
Senior left-hander Trevor Belicek finished with a career-high 13 strikeouts in eight complete innings of work on his way to picking up his third win of the year. It was the most strikeouts in a game by an Islanders starter since Daniel Minor retired 14 in a 1-0 win over UTSA in 2012. With the victory, the Uvalde, Texas native becomes the winningest pitcher (16) in school history.
From the fifth inning all the way to the seventh, Belicek retired 7-of-8 Lumberjack batters with strikeouts, four of which were looking.
Stephen F. Austin (8-19, 3-7 SLC) picked up the first two runs of the game in the second and third inning, but the Islanders would respond in the fourth with run to make it a one-run game at 2-1. Senior Kyle Danford would lead off the inning with a single, a stolen base and eventually advance to third on a wild pitch before Tyler Ware would drive him in on an infield single.
A&M-Corpus Christi (11-11, 3-5 SLC) would break open the game in the sixth inning. Corpus Christi, Texas native Justin Perales started things off for the Islanders with a big double to center field before Lukas Hermanson reached on catcher interference. The Islanders would use a pinch hitter in Zacarias Hardy who loaded the bases with a four-pitch walk.
First baseman Frankie Salas came up with one of the biggest hits of the game in the next at bat as he singled to center field to score both Perales and Hermanson and give the Islanders the 3-2 lead. Brett Burner would continue the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice bunt that would push the lead to two.
The Lumberjacks would make it interesting in the ninth as they cut the deficit to one and loaded the bases, but senior closer Jacob Dorris would strikeout SFA's Nick Ramos looking to pick up his fifth save of the season.
Plays that might go unnoticed in the final box score but played key factors into the win were Brandon Guilford's play on a bunt up the third base line that did not allow the runner from third to score. Casey Thomas made a terrific play on a ball hit up the middle that scored the third run of the game, but saved the tying run from advancing.
The Islanders and Lumberjacks will play the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m. as Devin Skapura is scheduled to make his sixth start of the year.
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McNeese State 6, Northwestern State 4
NATCHITOCHES, La. – The McNeese State baseball team’s desire and will is what allowed the Cowboys to fight back from a four-run deficit and behind an 11-hit attack defeated Northwestern State 6-4 on Saturday afternoon to even the Southland Conference series between the two squads at Brown-Stroud Field.
The Cowboys will be back in action on Sunday when they meet the Demons in the series’ rubber match that is set for a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game can be heard live on Cajun Radio-1470 AM and on CajunRadio.com. The contest can also be viewed live for a minimal fee at NSUDemons.com/watch.
The victory lifted the Cowboys to 17-10 on the season and 7-4 in conference action while the Demons dipped to 15-11 overall and 7-3 in league play.
Northwestern State scattered seven hits and took advantage of three Cowboy errors to take a four run lead over McNeese throughout the first six frames of the series.
It seemed as though the Demons were well on their way to the series clinching victory after retiring two batters from the Pokes dugout in the top of the seventh until pinch hitter Lucas Quary delivered a clutch double down the left field line that scored senior James Cantu and cut the lead to three runs.
Following a pitching change from Northwestern State, senior outfielder Andrew Guillotte launched a single deep into left field allowing Quary and junior Lewis Guilbeau to slide in and a minimize Northwestern State’s lead to a 4-3 score.
The single was Guillotte’s 211th career hit that helped him climb into fourth all-time on the all-time hits category. He was able to pass Seth Granger and is now 16 from reaching third all-time.
With determination and the mindset that no McNeese Cowboy will ever quit and fight until his very last chance, junior Connor Crane hit a two-out RBI-single and scored Guillotte as the Pokes tied up the game at four runs apiece.
McNeese delivered the knockout punch on the next play as senior Connor Lloyd launched a double down the left field line that plated the go-ahead run and gave the Cowboys their first lead of the game.
The Pokes tacked on an insurance run during the next inning following a sacrifice fly RBI from Billy Sommers and gave McNeese a 6-4 lead that would hold until the end of the contest.
The comeback win was orchestrated by senior reliever Cole Prejean (1-1) who scored the win after working two innings against the Demons and prevented an earned run from scoring and gave up only one hit and a walk along the way.
Collin Kober earned his sixth save of the season after having worked the final 2.2 innings against the Demons and allowed no runs to score on just one hit and no walks. He fanned three batters during the outing.
McNeese’s 11-hit effort featured a 3-for-4 day at the plate by Cantu who scored a run while Guillotte’s two RBI led the Cowboys in the contest. Provenzano and Guilbeau posted multiple-hit games with two hits apiece. In total, seven McNeese batters recorded a hit on the afternoon.
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UIW 3, Houston Baptist 2
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro HS) came up clutch for the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team as he hit a 2-run walk-off double to give the Cardinals a 3-2 win over Southland Conference rival Houston Baptist and tie the series 1-1 on Saturday at Sullivan Field.
The Cardinals (10-15, 2-6) found themselves down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, but Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) led the inning off with a single to left field. Aaron Warren (Schertz/Wagner HS) then came in to pinch run representing the tying run. After the first out of the inning, Trey Rodriguez (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) collected his third hit of the ball game with a line drive to left field to put the winning run on base. With two outs and an 0-1 count, Morris hit a breaking ball down the right field line that scored Warren and Blake Woosley (Corvallis, OR/Philomath HS), a pinch runner, to give the Cardinals their second win in conference play.
Morris had all three UIW RBI's on the day with two doubles; one in the first inning and one in the last. In his first start of the series, Rodriguez had a terrific ballgame with three hits and five assists at second base. Braden Martin (Andrews/Andrews HS) got the start at center field and finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) pitched a scoreless ninth and took the win, his second of the year, although starter Garret Cooper (Round Rock/McNeil HS) deserves a great deal of credit as well. Cooper struggled through with his command in the first few innings, but once he found a grove he was untouchable. In fact, he retired 10 batters in order to finish his afternoon. He hurled eight innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, walking five and striking out five. Four of his five strike outs came in his last three innings of work, but left the game trailing 2-1.
For the Huskies (14-12, 5-3), Greg Espinosa led the way with a 3-for-3 game and an RBI. Brandon Morones was 0-for-2, but walked twice and came around to score both times. Matthew McCollough was in line to get the win after a great outing. McCollough pitched 7.1 innings, scattering six hits, one run, walking three and striking out five. Chris Garza, who had only allowed one run all season, allowed the two runs to score in the bottom of the ninth and got tabbed with the blown save and the loss.
UIW outhit the Huskies nine to five and committed two errors, while HBU had no errors on the day.
The Cardinals and Huskies will meet for the rubber game of the series Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Sullivan Field.
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Sam Houston State 6, Central Arkansas 3 (13)
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – A two-run double by Ryan Brinley and an RBI fielder’s choice by Wyatt Powell accounted for the winning runs as Sam Houston State defeated Central Arkansas 6-3 in 13 innings Saturday afternoon.
The win evens the Southland series at one game apiece. The two squads meet in the third contest Sunday afternoon at Bear Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. Sam Houston and UCA now both stand 7-4 in league action. The Bearkats upped their season record to 14-15 while the Bears stand 13-8.
Shortstop Miles Manning, second baseman Jake MacWilliam and catcher Collin Yelich each produced two hits for the Kats. Sam Houston out-hit UCA 12 to 9. Sam Houston opened the scoring with a two-run single to right field by MacWilliam in the third inning. Manning added a third run in the top of the seventh with a single up the middle.
Sam Houston starter Logan Boyd gave up only three hits and struck out five of the 27 batters he faced as the Bearkats held UCA scoreless for the first seven innings. Sam Odom came on to pitch the eighth and the ninth innings in relief.
UCA finally got on the board in the eighth inning on a solo homer down the left field line by centerfielder Tyler Langley. Two outs away from a victory in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Bears designated hitter Nate Ferrell doubled then scored on a single by pinch hitter Brandon Montalvo. Langley tied the game and forced extra innings with a single up through the left side.
Greg Belton took over in the 10th inning and allowed only two hits in the final four frames. Belton struck out five of the 13 batters he faced to earn his first victory of the season.
MacWilliam got things started in the top of the 13th inning with a double to left center. Colt Atwood singled and Bryce Johnson walked to load the bases. Powell’s grounder scored MacWilliam for what proved to be the game-winner. Brinley added two more runs with a double.
The 13-inning dual marked the fourth time this season for the Kats to go extra innings. The Sam Houston men lost in 12 to Purdue, defeated New Orleans in 10 innings and fell to Baylor in 10 innings.
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Lamar 8, Abilene Christian 4
BEAUMONT, Texas - It might be unusual to say that the first runs of eight scored in a game are the "most pivotal," but that's what the three runs that scored on Kyle Markum's double in the first inning were when the Lamar baseball team defeated Abilene Christian 8-4 on Saturday at Vincent-Beck Stadium in non-conference action.
The Cards' (13-13) second-straight win and sixth in seven games gave LU the series over the Wildcats (5-18). Lamar will go for the sweep at 1 o'clock on Sunday, and that game can be heard on KLVI 560 AM and can be seen on BigRedSN.com. Harold Mann will have the call for both.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the first inning when Stijn van der Meer reach on an error, Reed Seeley on a single to left and Brandon Provost on a walk. ACU's starter Aaron Mason almost got out of the jam after back-to-back punchouts, but Markum rallied and doubled to left center field to score all three with two outs.
He was 2-of-3 on the day with the three runs batted in and was issued a walk.
Lamar continued to pour it on in the second inning that started with a leadoff single up the middle from second baseman Mason Salazar. He reached second when CJ Moore, who was picked off shortly after, singled through the left side.
Salazar was held at second base, but three-straight Cardinal hits scored four to make it 7-2. The first hit of the run was Seeley's double down the left field line that scored Salazar. Seeley scored on a single up the middle from Provost, who scored on a triple to right center by Jake Nash. Nash would score when the right fielder threw an errant throw in an attempt to get him at third.
Between LU's big innings, the Wildcats scored two on a couple of singles and stolen bases along with an error. Russell Crippen reached on a single and was pushed to second on a grounder to the right side. Jordan Forrester singled into right and moved Crippen up to third, and both advanced on a double steal. Forrester scored from second on Lamar's first of three defensive mishaps.
ACU cut it to 7-3 in the sixth after a three-bagger from Crippen and error on a pickoff throw to get him. Lamar answered in the bottom of that frame make it 8-3 after back-to-back hits from van der Meer and Seeley scored one.
The final run of the game was notched in the seventh when Aaron Draper scored on a single from Aaron Copeland after he reached first on an infield error, stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Danny Fernandez (4-2) took the win on five innings pitched and two runs, one earned, allowed. He gave up seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
The next three-game series will be a Thursday, Friday and Saturday affair due to Easter, those game are in conference play against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Will Hibbs relieved him in the sixth and worked 1.1 innings and gave up two runs, neither earned, on two hits and a walk. Derek Wade shut the door on the Wildcats and was one out from a save. He worked 2.2 innings with only two hits allowed.
Wade entered the ball game right after an odd play in the field. ACU had the bases loaded with no outs recorded, and Heath Bealsey lined a ball right at van der Meer, who had it and then dropped it. Van der Meer picked it up and tossed it to second baseman, Salazar, who then threw it home attempting to get the lead runner.
Neither the runner at third or second advanced because the play at second negated the force. Instead a double or possible triple play, LU only recorded on out. That left the bases loaded when Wade took the hill.
In the last 18 innings, LU has only surrendered one walk.
The Wildcats worked through five pitchers. Mason (0-5) started and worked two innings and gave up seven runs, four earned, on eight hits and two walks. Drew Hanson relieved him with three scoreless innings. Nick Cole, Brandon Lambright and Joe Gawrieh all worked an inning, and Cole surrendered one unearned run.
Lamar's Seeley was 4-of-5 and Nash was 2-for-5. Seeley finished with two RBI and two runs scored. Provost scored two and knocked in one.
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Southeastern Louisiana 7, Nicholls 3
Recap to follow.
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Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8, New Orleans 3
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Privateers baseball team (9-17, 2-7 Southland) committed four errors and gave up three two-out runs in the third inning of an 8-3 loss to the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions on Saturday afternoon at Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
Leading 2-1 with two outs in the third, the Privateers gave up a two-run double to right off the bat of Andre Davis to give the Golden Lions a lead they would not relinquish. A single by Jerimiah Figeuroa followed by one of the four errors in the game allowed Davis to score to make it 4-2. Arkansas-Pine Bluff continued to build on their lead while getting a complete game on the mound by Blake Estep.
Estep retired the final 10 batters in order as the Privateers had five fly outs in the final three innings. Of Estep’s three runs allowed, just one was earned while he struck out seven batters.
The Privateers answered a first inning run by Arkansas-Pine Bluff with one of their own in the bottom of the first. Ryan Calloway led off with a single and then registered his sixth stolen base of the year. The throw that tried to nab Calloway went into center, moving him to third. Jonathan Coco followed with an RBI single.
In the third, New Orleans started with back-to-back singles by Matt Rykaczewski and Preston Marsh. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners over. With two outs, Ryan Calloway beat out a ground ball for an infield single that gave the Privateers what would be their only lead of the day.
Jordan Priddle went 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) on nine hits. Jarred Taylor recorded his longest outing of the year, going the final 4.2 innings and allowing just one run on four hits. Calloway and Marsh each had two hits at the plate.
For Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Rashawn Tillman went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run. Davis, Figueroa, and Chris Burns each had two hits while Vladimir Gomez scored two runs. Estep threw 132 pitches in the contest.
The series will conclude tomorrow with a first pitch at 1 p.m.
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