Baseball: April 2 Scoreboard
Stephen F. Austin 3, Sam Houston State 2
McNeese State 7, New Orleans 3
Nicholls 4, UIW 1
Northwestern State 3, Southeastern Louisiana 1
Abilene Christian 9, Houston Baptist 2
Lamar 3, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0
Central Arkansas 5, Southern Illinois 2
Stephen F. Austin 3, Sam Houston State 2
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, Stephen F. Austin notched a pair of runs to take the lead, then held off Sam Houston State in the ninth to take the 3-2 victory at Jaycees Field in the first game of the three-game series.
The win gives SFA its third-straight victory, improving to 11-19 on the year and 5-7 in Southland Conference play. It snapped a four-game losing skid to the Bearkats, who fall to 14-18 on the year and 7-6 in SLC play.
With Sam Houston State leading 2-1 after notching the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth, Nick Ramos drew a walk, followed by a single to right from Kyle Thornell that advanced Ramos to third. But the Bearkat second baseman mishandled the relay, allowing Ramos to advance home, tying the game at 2-2.
Garrett McMullen then sent a high fly ball to the gap in left center and the strong winds that had settled into Nacogdoches proved to give a home field advantage, causing the SHSU centerfielder to drop the pop-up and advancing Thornell to third.
Thornell then got a good jump and was able to steal third as McMullen advanced to second, putting a pair of runners in scoring position with one out. After a Dan O'Neill strikeout, pinch hitter Conner Fikes send a hard chopper back up the middle, causing the second baseman to take an extra second to handle the hit and buying just enough time for Fikes to reach first, bringing home Thornell for the go-ahead run.
Patrick Ledet then sent the Bearkats down in order in the ninth, picking up the win after pitching two innings and allowing no hits. That performance came after a solid quality start from Cameron Gann who went 7.0 innings and allowed two runs on three hits, two of which came in the top of the ninth, while registering seven strikeouts on the night.
SFA's pitching and defense held Sam Houston State to just three hits on the night, including one through the first seven innings of play. The one hit proved to be a big one as the Bearkats doubled in the fourth inning, then scored on a Lumberjack error to take the early 1-0 lead.
The `Jacks answered in the fifth as with two outs in the frame, Eric DeJesus drew a walk, Matthew Dickey singled and Hunter Wilson was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Ramos was hit by a pitch as well, allowing DeJesus to trot home from third to tie the game at 1-1.
SHSU reclaimed the lead in the eighth off a sacrifice fly with runners at the corners and just one out. But a tough 6-4-3 double play for the Lumberjacks ended the Bearkat threat and set up the dramatic eighth inning rally.
SFA out-hit their rivals 10-3 on the night, led by a pair of hits each from Dickey, Ramos and Thornell. O'Neill, Fikes, DeJesus and Anthony Soriano recored the other four with Fikes picking up the lone RBI of the night for the `Jacks.
The Lumberjacks and Bearkats return to Jaycees Field for the second game of the three-game series Friday afternoon. The game has been bumped up to a 1 p.m. start to try and avoid the projected thunderstorms later in the afternoon as LHP Dillon Mangham will get the start for SFA.
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McNeese State 7, New Orleans 3
LAKE CHARLES, La. – It was a pitcher’s delight for Kaleb Fontenot on Friday night as the McNeese State junior hurler tossed eight quality innings for the Cowboys while an offensive prowess from a hungry Poke offense helped the Cowboys score a 7-3 victory over New Orleans in game one of an Easter weekend series.
Fontenot (4-3) was credited with the win after working eight innings against the Privateers and allowed just two earned runs off of three hits and two walks. He fanned six UNO batters throughout the start and recorded a three-up and three down play in four of the eight innings worked.
The eight frames of work were the longest that a Cowboy pitcher has worked so far this season with the previous high coming from several McNeese pitching staff contributors who turned in multiple seven inning performances.
After battling through some struggles at the plate over the last few contests, the McNeese (18-12, 8-5 SLC) offense exploded an all-out attack against UNO (11-18, 2-8) as it pounded out 10 hits including two doubles, a homer and two stolen bases.
The Pokes were led by the bats of outfielder Andrew Guillotte and first baseman Connor Crane who each hit twice in the game while also knocking in two runs in the process. Rightfielder James Cantu turned in a multiple hit performance with a 2-for4 showing and also scored a run. Catcher Cameron Toole plated three total runs while designated hitter Joe Provenzano showed out with a hit and two runs scored.
After UNO drove in the first run of the ballgame, the Cowboys responded with a two run attack in the bottom of the third inning with a two-RBI hit from Crane who singled through the left side and gave McNeese a 2-1 lead.
The Cowboys tacked on an RBI hit from Guillotte in the fifth to go up two runs but were challenged by the Privateers in the seventh frames as they used a one hit-one error inning to score two and tie the ballgame up at three runs apiece.
The contest was knotted up for only a few minutes until the clutch hitting from Guillotte allowed Provenzano to score the go-ahead run and give the Pokes a 4-3 lead.
Guillotte reached a new milestone during the inning when he stole second base for his 70th career steal. That mark places Guillotte in sole possession of second place in the all-time stolen bases category and his now only eight swipes away from tying Jace Peterson for the all-time record.
McNeese put its foot on the accelerator in the bottom of the eighth inning as it used a three hit, three run exercise and climb out to a 7-3 lead over the Privateers.
It was all started from shortstop Kris Molter who entered the game without a single RBI to his name. That all changed in the swing of a bat as he drove in an insurance run on a two-out liner up the middle that plated the Cowboys’ fifth run of the game.
Another first was reached in the next at-bat as Toole launched his first homer of the season just over the scoreboard in left field. The no-doubter was enough to drive in two runs and help secure the series opening win for McNeese.
The Cowboys will be back in action on Friday when they meet New Orleans in game two of the weekend series. The first pitch is slated for a 6 o’clock start.
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Nicholls 4, UIW 1
THIBODAUX, La. – Incarnate Word was no match for the Nicholls State University pitching staff on Thursday night as the Colonels took a 4-1 victory over the Cardinals in the series-opener at Ray E. Didier Field.
Incarnate Word (11-17, 2-8 SLC) jumped on top early, taking advantage of a two-out walk in the first inning to score a run on pair of singles.
Nicholls (16-12-1, 6-7 SLC) responded in a big way, scoring three runs in the second. Christian Correa doubled down the leftfield line to send Eagle Wuestney home, before a Joey Morales single to center brought Gavin Wehby in. On the play, the Cardinal centerfielder bobbled the ball, allowing Correa to score.
The Colonels added an insurance run in the third inning when Kyle Reese doubled to right field, advanced to third on a Marc Frazier groundout and came home as Wuestney reached on an error by the shortstop.
Both teams would be held scoreless for the remainder of the game, but the Cardinals provided a scare in the eighth. After surrendering a one-out double, Ryan Deemes, who had been dominant through the first seven innings, pegged two consecutive Incarnate Word batters to load the bases. Lefty closer Stuart Holmes took over, striking out the next two Cardinals who came to the plate and escaping the inning.
Deemes (4-0) earned the win, giving up just one run on five hits while fanning seven batters. Holmes recorded his 10
th save of the season, tossing five strikeouts with just one hit allowed in 1 2/3 innings. Holmes is currently first in the Southland Conference and third in the nation in saves this season. He needs just two more saves to set the school record for career saves and saves in a season simultaneously.
Geno Encina (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits, while fanning five batters.
Correa led Nicholls offensively with a 2-for-3 night, a run and an RBI. Morales finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, while both Wuestney and Wehby went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Reese turned in a 1-for-4 outing and a run in the victory.
Matt Morris paced Incarnate Word at the plate, going 2-for-4. Ethan McGill registered the lone RBI for the squad.
Game two is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday with the series-finale is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday. Both contests will be broadcast live on KTIB 640 AM.
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Northwestern State 3, Southeastern Louisiana 1
HAMMOND, La. – It wasn’t a Friday night, but it didn’t matter to Adam Oller.
Commanding the strike zone with a three-pitch mix, Oller handcuffed Southeastern Louisiana, tossing his third complete game of the season in a 3-1 series-opening victory Thursday night at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Oller (5-1) got some early offensive help, as freshman David Fry turned on a first-pitch fastball from Tate Scioneaux (5-2) and drove it off the left-field scoreboard for his second home run of the season. Fry’s blast came after Scioneaux sat down the first five Demons batters he faced.
The Demons (17-11, 9-3) tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth, as Caleb Dugas and Matthew Alford delivered back-to-back one-out doubles. Two batters after Alford dumped a double into right-center field, Joel Atkinson shot a triple into the right-center field corner to score Alford and put NSU up 3-0.
Northwestern State (17-11, 9-3) broke out the defense to preserve the victory and take a half-game lead over the Lions (22-9, 9-4)
Southeastern Louisiana put together its best offensive threat of the game in the sixth, scoring a run on Kevin Carr’s two-out double. Kennon Menard followed by chopping a single into right field.
Dugas charged and unleashed a perfect one-hop throw to the plate to nail Carr by five feet for the final out of the inning.
From there, Oller took care of the rest.
He scattered five hits and finished the game strong, throwing 117 pitches in his third complete game, all of which have come in conference play.
The series continues Friday night when NSU’s Josh Oller (5-0, 4.17) takes the mound against Southeastern Louisiana’s Jake Johnson (5-0, 1.86). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The series concludes with a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday. Scheduled starters for Game 3 are Northwestern State right-hander Jeffrey Stovall (3-2, 4.14) and Southeastern Louisiana left-hander Kyle Cedotal (3-2, 1.74).
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Abilene Christian 9, Houston Baptist 2
HOUSTON, Texas – Abilene Christian senior first baseman Tyler Eager homered and tied a career best with four runs batted in Thursday afternoon to lead the Wildcats to a 9-2 win over Houston Baptist in the first game of a three-game Southland Conference baseball series at Husky Field.
The win pushes ACU to 7-19 overall, but, more importantly, to 5-5 and into seventh place in the Southland Conference. The Huskies, meanwhile, fall to 15-13 overall and 6-4. The teams will be back in action Friday at 2 p.m. before wrapping up the series Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats scored in the first inning when Aaron Draper led off with a double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Eager. That hit and run were the only ones for the Wildcats until the sixth inning when the Wildcats scored two runs on a Kyle Carroll single and Eager's two-run home run to right field.
Eager is near the top 10 in several all-time hitting categories, but it was only the second home run of his career. His first came on Feb. 11, 2012, in the 25th at-bat of Eager's career. Since that home run against Colorado Christian in the seventh game of his freshman season, Eager has gone 781 at-bats without a home run before the shot off HBU starting pitcher Taylor Wright.
That home run gave ACU a 3-1 lead before the Huskies answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut ACU's lead to 3-2. But Ladgie Zotyka got a bases-loaded groundout to end the inning and keep the Wildcats in the lead.
That was a theme throughout the game as HBU left 17 runners on base and left the bases loaded in the second, third, fourth and sixth. ACU's first three pitchers – Garrett deMeyere, Nick Palacios and Zotyka – uncharacteristically walked 10 opposing batters, but only one of those scored a run. ACU's defense helped out with two double plays and the team's fourth game without an error this season.
Leading 3-2 going to the seventh, ACU put together three hits and took advantage of one HBU error to score two more runs and get some cushion going into the late innings. Marcelle Carter led off the inning with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single to left field by Russell Crippen.
After a Mason Spracklen single helped move Crippen to third with one out, Colton Hall dropped down a perfect squeeze bunt to drive in Crippen and give the Wildcats a 5-2 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Zotyka worked around two hits by the Huskies, taking advantage of a double play turned by Brayden Gomez (shortstop), Crippen (second base) and Eager to get out of the inning unscathed.
In the top of the ninth, Crippen singled with one out and came home on a two-run home run to left field by Mason Spracklen. Eager drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 8-2, and Draper later scored on an infield single by Jeff Clarke.
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Lamar 3, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0
BEAUMONT, Texas - Derek Wade slammed the door after an "exceptional" start from Chase Angelle that led the Lamar baseball team to a 3-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Thursday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium in Southland Conference action.
The win pushed Lamar to 14-15 overall and 4-6 in league play, and moved the Cards a game in front of the Islanders (12-13, 3-7) Southland Conference), who were tied in the standings with LU.
Angelle (4-3) took his third-straight win, in a many series-opening starts, Thursday on 7.2 innings pitched. In his three starts in that role, Angelle has a 3-0 record, a 0.35 earned run average, and one earned run allowed in 25.2 innings pitched. His strikeout to walk ratio in that span is phenomenal at 23 punchouts to three walks.
Angelle scattered five hits and walked one batter. He finished with five strikeouts, and only allowed five runners to reach scoring position. He retired eight in a row that spanned from the last out of the fourth inning to the first of the sixth.
Of the five that reached scoring position, only one Islander made it to third base, the play before Wade took the mound.
Corpus Christi's Zacarias Hardy singled to lead off the inning down the third base line, he reached third after a single from Casey Thomas and groundout to the right side from Jordan Lee. Wade took the mound and forced a pop to shallow right to end the threat.
He came on in the ninth and stuck out the side in order.
Lamar was able to get on the board early, with two runs in the second inning. Markum punched a one-out single up the middle and took second on a single through the left side from Kevin Sananta. Brendan Satran loaded the bases with a bunt single.
Markum scored after Islander shortstop Thomas booted a ball up the middle, and Santana crossed when CJ Moore beat out an infield single.
The game remained locked at 2-0 until the Jake Nash reached on an infield single that pushed across Stijn van der Meer, who led off with a one-bagger through the left side.
Both van der Meer and Markum recorded two hits in the game, all singles. Not a single extra-base hit was notched from either team.
Nash, Santana, Satran and Moore recorded the four other hits of the team's eight. Van der Meer, Markum and Santana scored runs, and Salazar and Moore (eight and nine-hole batters) recorded RBI.
Islander starter Matt Danton (2-5) suffered the loss and allowed all three runs, two earned, on eight hits and two walks. Kaleb Keith relieved him and worked one-third of an inning.
The second game of the series is schedule for Friday at 6 o'clock and the finale on Saturday at 1 o'clock. After Saturday's contest, Big Red will be on hand dressed as a bunny hiding eggs in the outfield for all kids in attendance.
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Central Arkansas 5, Southern Illinois 2
CARBONDALE, Ill. _ Junior Connor Gilmore tossed a seven-hitter Thursday night, striking out six in a complete-game 5-2 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis in the opening game of their non-conference series at Richard “Itchy” Jones Stadium.
The Bears (15-9) took advantage of 11 walks from three SIU pitchers to go along with just six hits. UCA fell behind 2-1 after five innings but scored four runs over the final four innings to back Gilmore’s second straight and eighth career complete game.
UCA scored first in the top of the first when center fielder Tyler Langley led off with a walk, moved to second on Wesley Hoover’s walk, went to third on Chris Townsend’s sacrifice bunt and came in on Travis Hull’s RBI single. SIU (5-23) tied it in the second inning, and went ahead 2-1 with another in the fifth.
The Bears then manufactured the tying run in the sixth without a hit. The Salukis walked four in the inning _ and picked one off _ before catcher Travis Hull scored on a wild pitch to tie it at 2-2. UCA added two more runs in the seventh when Langley had a bunt single, advanced to third on Hoover’s single and scored on a throwing error. Townsend followed with an RBI double to left center to score Hoover.
With Gilmore cruising, the Bears added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on Matt Anderson’s sacrifice fly that scored Langley again.
Langley finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored, while Hoover was 2-for-4 with a run. Gilmore improved to 4-2 on the season.
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