Newman’s 14th-inning walkoff lifts TXST past reigning national champs
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team vanquished defending national champion and No. 20-ranked Coastal Carolina 5-4 Friday night in 14 innings at Bobcat Ballpark. The contest was the first Sun Belt Conference action of the season for both clubs.
The victory was sealed when sophomore Ryan Newman led off the bottom of the 14th with a walkoff home run. The shot was the first walkoff of his career and the third of the season for the Bobcats (Purdue, Feb. 18 / Richmond, March 5).
TXST (11-7, 1-0 SBC) welcomed the Chanticleers (11-8, 0-1 SBC) into their new league by topping the reigning NCAA champions in a marathon bout that lasted nearly five hours. Texas State was hosting a defending champ for the first time in school history, and the triumph marked the first time since March 18, 2003, that the maroon and gold took down the previous years' champion (3-1 victory at Texas).
This was also the second time in 2017 that TXST defeated a ranked opponent. The Bobcats toppled then-No. 22 Oklahoma State 12-11 on Feb. 27.
Friday's upset victory began on a high note for the visitors, as CCU scored twice in the third and once in the seventh to take a 3-0 lead.
The comeback began after the seventh-inning stretch, when junior Theodore Hoffman led off the frame with his team-leading sixth home run of the season. The mark is also a new career high for the right fielder.
Junior Derek Scheible led off the eighth with a solo shot of his own – his career-high fourth round-tripper of the campaign – and Hoffman would later tie the game on a two-out RBI double from sophomore Jaylen Hubbard.
The Chanticleers got the leadoff batter on base in the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th innings, but the only time they could plate the runner – in the 12th – the Bobcats were able to counter with an unearned run from sophomore Jonathan Ortega to keep the score tied at 4-4.
CCU was sat down in order in the top of the 14th, and that set the stage for Newman's heroics. The two teams combined to leave 14 runners on base in extra innings before Newman was able to end proceedings with the 10th homer of his career.
He finished the game with a career-high five hits (5-for-7), while posting an RBI and a run scored on the walkoff home run. Three of his hits came in extra innings. Hubbard went 3-for-6 at the plate, and Hoffman and junior Jared Huber both had two hits. Hoffman drove in a run and scored twice.
Junior Blake Walden (4-0) tossed the final 3.0 innings and earned his conference-leading fourth victory of the season on the mound. He only conceded one hit, while striking out three and walking four.
Sophomore Connor Reich took the ball first and gave up three runs on nine hits, while walking just three. He posted career highs in innings pitched (6.1), strikeouts (7) and pitches thrown (103). Classmate Anthony Pagano threw the next 4.2 frames and only gave up one run on three hits, while striking out four and walking two.
Chanticleer reliever Patrick Orlando (1-1) took the loss after allowing the walkoff homer. He pitched just 0.2 innings and conceded two hits. Alex Cunningham started for CCU and took a no-decision after 6.2 frames. He gave up one run on five hits, while striking out six. Bobby Holmes and Austin Kitchen bridged the 5.2-inning gap between Cunningham and Orlando by combining for three runs allowed on eight hits, while striking out seven and walking two.
Peyton Isaacson and Jordan Gore paced Coastal Carolina's offense with three hits each. Gore drove in a run and scored twice. Dalton Ewing went 2-for-6.
Kevin Woodall, Jr. entered the contest as the nation's leader in home runs with nine, and, for the first game of the weekend series, the trio of Bobcat pitchers were able to keep him inside the park. He finished just 1-for-5 with a meaningless single in the second inning.
Texas State outhit CCU 15-13, and the Chanticleers finished with three errors to zero for the home club.
Friday's outing was also the longest game for the Bobcats since a 6-5 loss in 14 innings at UTA on May 11, 2013.
The two teams will continue the SBC-opening series at 4 p.m. March 18. The contest will be broadcast regionally on Spectrum Sports (channel 323 in Texas). The Bobcats are scheduled to face Andrew Beckwith (0-1), who was selected as the SBC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. He was also a second team All-American last season and was honored as a preseason first team All-American prior to this year. Texas State will counter with sophomore Wes Engle (2-0).
Louisiana Shuts Out Appalachian State To Open Sun Belt Play
LAFAYETTE, La. – The 14th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team got another stellar outing from junior left-hander Gunner Leger as the Cajuns shutout Appalachian State 3-0 on Friday night in the Sun Belt Conference opener at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.
"I thought for a minute we were going to let them hang around, but (Steven) Sensley got into one and that gave us the room we needed to close this one out," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Gunner gave us what Gunner does, and we have been able to play such good defense. I am so glad that we can pitch and play defense. We still have to do a better job as hitters. We had their starter's pitch count up early and then we let him settle back into the game. We'll need to come out ready tomorrow to win another series."
The shutout is the fifth of the year for the Cajuns (10-5, 1-0 SBC) with Leger taking part in three of the shutout performances.
Leger allowed just two hits in seven innings of work to improve to 4-1 on the year. The Lake Charles, La., native matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts in the game. In his last 27.2 innings, Leger has allowed just one run on nine hits while striking out 33 batters.
Junior right-hander Wyatt Marks closed out the game with two scoreless frames to pick up his second save of the year and third of his career. Marks gave up two hits and a walk while striking out four.
Leger and Marks combined to allow just two runners to reach scoring position in the game with no runners advancing past second base.
Offensively, Louisiana out hit the Mountaineers (8-10, 0-1 SBC) 9-4 in the contest led by centerfielder Ishmael Edwards who went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and one RBI. Right fielder Steven Sensley also went 2-for-4 with a home run and had two RBI on the night.
Senior first baseman Alex Pinero saw his team-best 12-game hit streak come to an end Friday, while Joe Robbins and Todd Lott extended their hit streaks to seven games apiece.
App State starter Travis Holden dropped to 1-3 on the year after giving up three runs on nine hits in a complete-game effort.
Edwards put the Cajuns in front 1-0 in the bottom of the first as he drove a 2-2 pitch from Holden over the fence in right for a leadoff home run. It was the first leadoff home run to start a game for the Ragin' Cajuns since Robbins achieved the feat on Feb. 20, 2016 against Sam Houston State.
After four scoreless innings, Sensley hammered a 1-0 pitch from Holden in the bottom of the sixth over the pine trees in right field for a two-run homer to make the final 3-0.
The Cajuns will look to win their fourth consecutive series tomorrow at 2 p.m. as they face the Mountaineers in game two of the series at Russo Park. Sophomore right-hander Nick Lee (4-0, 2.25 ERA) will take the mound for Louisiana, while App State will counter with sophomore left-hander Colin Schmid (2-2, 2.42 ERA). The Ragin' Cajuns are 19-1 in games started by Lee in the last two seasons.
Fans can listen to the game live on News Talk 96.5 KPEL-FM with Jay Walker on the call. The contest will also be streamed for free on RaginCajuns.com with Dan McDonald providing commentary.
Troy Earns First Sun Belt Victory
TROY, Alabama – Daren Osby delivered a strong outing on the mound to lead Troy to its first Sun Belt Conference win of the season, 7-6, over Little Rock Friday at Gary Hogan Field.
Osby (4-1) got the nod and earned the series opening win for the fourth week in a row – allowing a mere one run on six hits with five strikeouts in seven innings of work. Marc Skinner took the mound in the middle of a ninth inning rally and delivered with his fourth save of the season.
Troy (10-6, 1-0) put up 11 hits and brought home four of their seven runs in a big seventh inning. Joey Denison started the rally with an RBI double and finished the game two-for-four. Brandon Lockridge added a double of his own – finishing two-for-four with a walk.
TJ Binder launched his first homer of the season with a two-run blast in the top of the eighth to give Troy a six-run lead and drove in one more in the second inning.
Little Rock (7-11, 0-1) failed to quit down six – scoring five runs in the last two innings. Three of the runs came off the bat of Dalton Thomas, who took one deep in the bottom of the ninth to cut the game to one. Thomas finished the game two-for-four with two runs scored and three RBIs.
Cory Malcom (1-1) suffered the loss for Little Rock after allowing four runs – only one earned – on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work.
SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Drew Frederic singled in the third to extend his hitting streak to eight games – which is the second longest of the season for the Trojans.
• Lockridge brought his reached base streak to 16 games after reaching three times.
• Skinner's 12th career save moves him into a tie with Nate Hill for third most in Troy history.
• Friday's win is Troy's first in Little Rock since April 19, 2014 – when the Trojans defeated Little Rock 3-0.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday at Gary Hogan Field. Senior LHP Austin Crook (2-0, 1.32) will toe the rubber with a chance to clinch the series for Troy.
Salinas Powers Mavs To 10-7 Win At Georgia State
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Omar Salinas belted his first career home run and drove in four runs, leading UTA to a 10-7 win at Georgia State to open its Sun Belt Conference schedule, on Friday night at the GSU Baseball Complex.
UTA (10-9, 1-0 SBC) won its conference opener for the third consecutive season, bouncing back after allowing a GSU grand slam in the second inning. UTA plated eight unanswered to stretch its lead to 8-4, including a two-run homer and a two-run double from Salinas. GSU rallied in the eighth inning with a three-run homer before the Mavs answered with a pair in the ninth.
ON THE MOUND
UTA senior righty Kadon Simmons (2-2) earned the win in his fifth start of the year. The native of Cut & Shoot, Texas, worked seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, walking three and striking out one. Simmons has worked into the seventh inning at least in 15 of his 20 starts and in 11 of his last 12 starts.
With a four-run lead to enter the eighth inning, sophomore Dylan Schneider took over on the bump. Schneider got an out in the eighth -- surrendering a three-run homer -- before the Mavs turned to righty Daniel James. James got the final two outs in the eighth and secure the win with three outs in the ninth inning, earning his second save of the week.
Georgia State (9-9, 0-1 SBC) righty Bryce Conley (2-3) worked five innings, allowing five hits and six runs, walking two and striking out one. GSU also used Tanner Thomson, Chris Sperry and Rhett Harper in relief.
AT THE DISH
A product of Arlington High School, Salinas led the Mavs at the plate with his 2-for-4, four-RBI game with Noah Vaughan also cranking a homer -- his team-leading fourth of the year. UTA also got a hit from Easton Johnson and Aaron Funk, and two knocks from Will Olson, with freshman shortstop Zac Cook collecting a career-best four-hit game. Phil Berthiaume, Quintin Rohrbaugh and Colton Turner each scored runs with key walks in the game.
HOW THEY SCORED
GSU got on the board first in the bottom of the second, getting an infield single down the third base line to leadoff and a first-pitch hit by pitch. After a sacrifice bunt pushed the pair of runners into scoring position, Will Kilgore drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Ryan Blanton then spanked the first pitch he saw over the rightfield fence for a grand slam, his fourth homer of the year.
The Mavs answered in the top of the third inning, as Johnson reached on a dropped fly ball in shallow leftfield and Salinas belted his first career homer over the wall in centerfield.
UTA took its first lead with four runs in the fourth inning. After Olson reached on a fielding error in the hole on the right side, Vaughan smashed a no-doubt, two-run homer over the fence in right-centerfield, his fourth of the year. Turner then drew a one-out walk, taking second on a wild pitch and scoring after Cook painted a double down the rightfield line. Cook then scored after Johnson ripped a line-drive single up the middle with two outs.
In the top of the sixth inning, UTA added two its lead, getting a single from Cook and a walk from Phil Berthiaume. Salinas then pounded a double off the top of the wall in centerfield, scoring the pair.
GSU got three runs back in the bottom of the eighth inning, getting a three-run homer from Jaylen Woullard, the first of his season.
The Mavs rallied in the ninth, getting Olson on with a single and Rohrbaugh with a hit by pitch. Funk then came off the bench to rip a pinch-hit, run-scoring single to plate Olson. Cook followed with his fourth hit of the game, a single to score Rohrbaugh.
NEXT
UTA returns to the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT at the GSU Baseball Complex. The Mavs will start junior righty Trae Patterson (1-1, 2.88 ERA) in his fifth start.
Eagles Rally For 8-5 Win Over South Alabama in Sun Belt Opener
STATESBORO, GA. - Georgia Southern Baseball defeated South Alabama 8-5 to close St. Patrick's Day 2017, and opened Sun Belt play on a winning note. The Eagles trailed 5-2 through four innings, but got a pair of runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings to improve to 1-0 in league play. Georgia Southern and South Alabama are back at it on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"I liked the way we played tonight. We made some mistakes early, but our guys kept battling today. Jacob Condra-Bogan came in at a critical moment of the game and kept us in the ballgame. I felt like we made some big defensive plays tonight. Mitchell Golden made a great play at third to save a run and Logan Baldwin made a throw to get a guy at the plate."
CRUICIAL MOMENTS
Top 2nd - USA 1, GS 0 - South Alabama got a run in the second by cashing in on a Georgia Southern error. A sacrifice fly to left plated the run to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
Bot 3rd - USA 1, GS 2 - The Eagles bit back in the third with a pair of runs. A single by C.J. Brazil opened the frame and small ball moved him on to second. Mitchell Golden's RBI single that took a hop over the USA shortstop plated the first run, while a single through the right side of the infield gave the Eagles their first lead of the day.
Top 4th - USA 5, GS 2 - Four hits and a walk to start the fourth inning ended Evan Challenger's day on the mound. The Jaguars would plate four runs off five hits in the frame to post a 5-2 lead. Challenger left after 3.1 innings, allowing five runs, four earned off eight hits.
Bot 5th - USA 5, GS 4 - The rally started in the fifth inning following Mitchell Golden's leadoff single. A Ryan Cleveland double sent Golden home. After a ground out to the pitcher moved the Eagle first baseman over to third, Jordan Wren stepped up with a clutch two strike sacrifice fly which sent Cleveland home.
Bot 7th - USA 5, GS 6 - The dreaded leadoff walk came good for the Eagles in the seventh. A ground out around an intentional walk to Cleveland brought Wren up two outs. The senior right fielder sprayed a fly ball to left which was misplayed by the South Alabama outfielder, bringing two runs home for a 6-5 Georgia Southern advantage.
Bot 8th - USA 5, GS 8 - The Eagles manufactured another run, using a hit and run to move C.J. Brazil to third after his one out walk. A balk plated Brazil from third and moved Evan McDonald to second following the senior's hit. Steven Curry laced a two strike single to left to plate McDonald and add a third insurance run for the Eagle bullpen.
GAME NOTES
- Four Eagle batters had multi-hit games, with Steven Curry (2), Mitchell Golden (3), Ryan Cleveland (2) and C.J. Brazil (2) posting big days at the plate.
- Ryan Cleveland extended his hit streak to 10-straight games. He is hitting .388 (14-of-36) over the last 10 games.
- After Challenger's exit in the fourth, the Eagle bullpen closed ranks and did not allow any more runs on their accounts. Jacob Condra-Bogan tossed 3.2 innings of four-hit ball with three strikeouts. Connor Simmons worked a clean six pitch eighth inning while Landon Hughes closed things out with a nine pitch ninth which included a strikeout to end the game. Hughes earned his first save of the season, while Condra-Bogan picked up his first win in an Eagle uniform.
NEXT UP
Georgia Southern and South Alabama continue the three game series with a Saturday evening contest in Statesboro. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN3 from Jack Stallings Field at J.I. Clements Stadium. Fans who show a picture of the scoreboard at the Schenkel Invitational can purchase special discounted tickets for the game.