Cajuns Baseball Sweeps Little Rock In Doubleheader
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team extended its win streak to seven games as the Cajuns swept Little Rock, 9-4 and 7-4, in a doubleheader on Saturday at Gary Hogan Field.
The Sun Belt doubleheader sweep is the first for the Ragin' Cajuns (25-14-1, 12-4-1 Sun Belt) since 2015 when Louisiana swept a doubleheader at ULM. The Cajuns are now unbeaten in 18 straight series and have snapped a streak of two straight series losses to the Trojans (14-26, 6-11 Sun Belt).
"Nick (Lee) grinded his way through this one today," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Sometimes all it takes is just one more punch. You can't lay down, and he kept swinging. Kennon (Fontenot) had a great day today. He was very physical at the plate. Overall, I thought our hitters did a good job of fighting back after a good performance in the first game. I give our guys credit to be able to go back to the hotel last night and have to wait till today and then come out on a miserable day and sweep a doubleheader. They keep grinding, and hopefully this is a sign that we are finally maturing as a ball club."
Louisiana pounded out a combined 23 hits in the two games with Kennon Fontenot, Brad Antchak and Joe Robbins each picking up four hits on the day. Fontenot drove in a team-best four runs in the doubleheader with two home runs. Six Cajuns hitters drove in multiple runs in the pair of victories.
Senior Ishmael Edwards saw his hit streak come to an end at 14 games going hitless in the nightcap of the doubleheader after notching a 2-for-4 effort in the opening game of the series.
Junior left-hander Gunner Leger (8-1) picked up his eighth win of the season in the first game limiting the Trojans to three runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven innings of work. Little Rock starter Ryan LeMoine (1-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up eight runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings.
In the nightcap, sophomore Nick Lee (5-3) shook off a tough first inning to claim his fifth win of the year. Lee allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in six innings. The right-hander tossed five shutout frames after giving up four runs in the first inning.
Reliever Wyatt Marks earned his fifth save of the year in the second game of the doubleheader with three scoreless innings to close things out. Marks struck out four in the outing.
The Ragin' Cajuns scored the most runs of the season on senior Cory Malcom (2-4) in the nightcap as he surrendered seven runs on eight hits with a career-high 13 strikeouts.
The Cajuns grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one on a two-out, two-run homer down the right field line by Steven Sensley.
Alex Pinero added to the lead in the top of the fourth sending a solo homer down the right field live to give Louisiana a 3-0 edge.
The Ragin' Cajuns broke the game open in the top of the sixth plating five runs on three hits and three hit batters to extend to advantage to 8-0. A two-run double by Edwards and a two-run single by Antchak highlighted the scoring in the inning.
Little Rock got on the board in the bottom of the seventh scoring three runs on three hits and a walk to cut the lead to 8-3. The Cajuns and Trojans traded a run in the final two innings to make the final 9-3.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Little Rock exploded for four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning to take its first lead of the series at 4-0. A two-out, two-run double by Zach Baker highlighted the scoring in the inning.
Louisiana started chipping away at the lead in the top of the second as Pinero drove in Sensley on an RBI groundout to shortstop to make the score 4-1.
In the next inning, Robbins singled home Antchak with two outs to cut the Little Rock advantage to 4-2. The Ragin' Cajuns then pulled within a run in the top of the fourth on a leadoff solo blast to left centerfield by Fontenot.
Antchak evened the contest at 4-all in the top of the fifth plating Hunter Kasuls on a double down the right field line. Later in the inning, Fontenot notched his second home run of the game driving a three-run homer to left field to give the Cajuns a 7-4 lead.
Lee and Marks combined to allow just two runners to reach scoring position in the final four innings as Louisiana recorded eight straight scoreless innings to close out the game.
The Cajuns will look to sweep its second series in a row tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the series finale with the Trojans. Sophomore left-hander Hogan Harris (3-0, 2.58 ERA) will make the start for Louisiana, while Little Rock will go with freshman left-hander Chandler Fidel (2-5, 5.23 ERA).
Cox, Patterson Help Mavs Cruise Past ULM
MONROE, La. -- Trae Patterson worked eight shutout innings and Brady Cox collected three hits, leading UTA to a 10-2 win at ULM to clinch the three-game series, on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Warhawk Field.
The Mavs used a five-run top of the first inning to break open the game early, adding two runs in the fourth and fifth and a run in the third inning. Patterson held the Warhawks at bay, surrendering just four singles, before ULM got on the board in the ninth inning.
UTA (22-17, 12-5 Sun Belt Conference) clinched the series with the win, markings the fifth series win for the Mavs in their first six conference weekends. UTA is 20-10 since March, have won four consecutive games and are 10-3 over its last 13 games.
The Mavs have vaulted into contention in the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship race. With a 12-5 mark through 17 games, the Mavs sit just a half game behind Coastal Carolina (11-5-1), with Louisiana (11-4-1) also in contention. CCU concludes its series with Georgia Southern on Sunday and Louisiana is in the midst of a doubleheader on Saturday and will conclude the series on Sunday at Little Rock.
ON THE MOUND
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Patterson (4-3) worked eight shutout innings in his sixth quality start of the year. Patterson allowed only four singles and two walks, striking out five. Combined with a shutout innings on Tuesday vs. No. 23 Texas A&M, Patterson threw nine shutout innings during the week.
Logan Austin pitched the ninth inning for the Mavs, allowing two runs with a strikeout.
ULM (11-29, 5-12 Sun Belt) starter Chase Beal (3-5) worked 3.1 innings, allowing nine hits and eight runs, walking one and striking out three. Trey Auger, Stephen Morrison, Matthew Reeves, Payton Coddou and Chase Cater worked in relief.
LEADING THE MAVS
Cox led the Mavs offensively with three hits, driving in a run and have his potential homer in the eighth inning robbed by the rightfielder. UTA also got a pair of doubles and triple from Noah Vaughan, with Easton Johnson and Omar Salinas each adding two hits. Phil Berthiaume, Quintin Rohrbaugh and Christian Hollie each added hits, with Will Olson drawing two walks and earning a ninth inning hit.
HOW THEY SCORED
In the top of the first inning, UTA opened the scoring. Berthiaume led off with a triple into shallow rightfield, with an attempted sliding stop allowing Berthiaume to motor to third. Cox then worked the count to 3-2 before ripping an RBI single up the middle. Salinas then kept the rally going with a shallow single down the leftfield line. Olson replaced Salinas at first base with a fielder's choice, moving Cox to third. Rohrbaugh then singled into left-centerfield, scoring Cox for a 2-0 lead. Vaughan then ripped a two-run triple midway up the wall in right-centerfield, scoring Cox and Rohrbaugh. Hollie then poked an RBI single through the right side, allowing Vaughan to plate.
UTA added a run in the third inning as Salinas led off with a double, taking third on a wild pitch and scoring on a grounder from Hollie that forced an attempted sliding stop at third base with two outs.
In the fourth, Johnson led off with a single, taking third on a knock from Cox. Salinas then hung a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Johnson. A wild pitch and the sac fly moved Cox to third base, with the UTA third baseman scoring on a passed ball.
UTA got two runs in the fifth inning, with Rohrbaugh leading off with a walk and Vaughan doubling down the rightfield line. After a pair of outs, Johnson ripped a two-run single up the middle.
ULM plated two runs in the ninth for the final margin.
NEXT
The series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at Warhawk Stadium. UTA will turn to junior lefty Jakob Hernandez (3-0, 3.21 ERA) for the start.
Eagles Battle To Take Game Two Over Coastal Carolina, 7-6
CONWAY, S.C. - Georgia Southern Baseball downed Coastal Carolina 7-6 on Saturday to even the weekend series at one game each. The Eagles took the lead five times and saw Coastal Carolina even the game four times en route to the 10 inning victory. Mason McWhorter drove in the go ahead run in the 10th as the Eagles held on for the victory. The Eagles and Chanticleers return to the diamond on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the series.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"I was really proud of our guys today. We battled back and overcame a couple of mistakes late. Big catch by Mason McWhorter there in the bottom of the 9th to send it to extra innings. Then Ryan Cleveland was able to get on base and moved up into scoring position. Mason got a good hit and it was good to tack on another run with an RBI from Evan McDonald. We've got to come out here, fight all day tomorrow and continue to compete."
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st - GS 2 - CCU 0 - Steven Curry got on base the painful way to start a two run first inning for the Eagles. Tyler Martin doubled down the left field line and drove in a pair of runs. GS had a chance at a third, but Ryan Cleveland was called out at the plate on the relay throw.
Bot 1st - GS 2 - CCU 1 - A leadoff walk came around to score in the first as Coastal Carolina cut the Georgia Southern advantage in half.
Bot 3rd - GS 2 - CCU 2 - Three singles to start the third drove in a run with no outs. The Chanticleers stranded two runs on base in the inning as the home side tied the game at 2-2.
Top 4th - GS 3 - CCU 2 - Ryan Cleveland took the lead back for the Eagles in the fourth inning with a solo home run to right. His 10th home run of the year gave the Eagles a 3-2 advantage.
Bot 5th - GS 3 - CCU 3 - A leadoff double in the fifth came around to score thanks to a sacrifice bunt and a passed ball to even the score at 3-3.
Top 6th - GS 4 - CCU 3 - Mason McWhorter hit his second home run of the series to re-take the lead at 4-3. It was his fifth home run of the season which ranks second on the team.
Bot 7th - GS 4 - CCU 4 - A walk and two bunt singles loaded the bases for Coastal with no outs in the seventh. The Eagles got a double play as the Chanticleers tied the game at 4-4.
Top 9th - GS 5 - CCU 4 - A leadoff single by Mason McWhorter came good when Evan McDonald drove him in later in the inning to give the Eagles their fourth lead of the game.
Bot 9th - GS 5 - CCU 5 - Coastal got a leadoff hit and played small ball to get him into scoring position. After a walk, the Eagles had a chance for a double play, but Cleveland's errant throw allowed the tying run to score. A foul out to first and a diving catch by McWhorter ended the threat and sent the game to extra innings.
Top 10th - GS 7 - CCU 5 - Mason McWhorter drove in his second run of the game with his third hit of the day to put the Eagles ahead 6-5. Evan McDonald added an insurance run with a single to right to plate McWhorter from third and extend the lead to 7-5.
Bot 10th - GS 7 - CCU 6 - A one out triple, followed by an infield ground out cut the lead to one with two outs in the frame. A strikeout ended the game as the Eagles evened the series one game each.
GAME NOTES
- Starting pitcher Evan Challenger worked five innings in his return to the rotation. He worked around seven hits and was charged with three runs, one earned. Challenger left in line for the win, but the tying run in the seventh handed the senior a no decision.
- Mason McWhorter posted his second-straight three hit game on Saturday. He is 6-for-9 in the series with a pair of home runs and three RBIs.
- Landon Hughes picked up his fifth win of the season, working the final three frames. He allowed two runs, one earned off two hits with two strikeouts.
- The Eagles are now 3-1 this season in extra innings with three straight wins and two this week in extras.
- Georgia Southern is a perfect 18-0 this season when leading after six innings. The squad is now 18-6 when scoring first in the game.
NEXT UP
Georgia Southern and Coastal Carolina close out the series on Sunday with a rubber match set for 1 p.m. There will be no video streaming of the game, but the contest can be heard live on the Georgia Southern Sports Network.
App State Blasts Panthers in Day Two, 6-1, 13-1
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University baseball exploded with seven multi-hit efforts in two games to conclude the series, downing Georgia State in a doubleheader, 6-1, 13-1.
The Mountaineers (16-24, 6-12 Sun Belt) won their second conference series of the season and their fourth win in its last six games by limiting the Panthers (14-25, 4-14 Sun Belt) to just two runs all day.
GAME ONE: APP STATE 6, GEORGIA STATE 1
Appalachian trailed to start the first game of the doubleheader as Georgia State was able to get a home run in the second inning to start things off. However, the scoring would end there as the Black and Gold immediately responded in the bottom half with an Avery Jackson homer – his third in the last five games.
The Mountaineers stayed on the attack, getting to more runs in the third as a Jason Curtis hit-by-pitch and a Tyler Stroup double down the right-field line set up great positioning. Drake Zupcic continued his strong weekend by bringing the play to fruition with a shot down the right-field line to bring both home.
Moving to the seventh, App State used a center field rocket by Calev Grubbs and two Panther errors to set up Curtis scoring on a wild pitch. They put the final runs on the board an inning later when a Conner Leonard single through the left side set up a two-RBI jack to right field by Brian Bauk – his first of the season.
On the mound, the Mountaineers kept the throttle punched for nearly the entire game. Luke Watts received the win on the day for throwing six scoreless innings (seven total), allowing just five hits overall and striking out five. Matt Brill got his third save of the year, pitching the remaining two innings of the game, allowing just one hit and one walk, while also getting a strikeout.
GAME TWO: APP STATE 13, GEORGIA STATE 1 (7 inn.)
Without any letdown from Game One, Appalachian State continued to rake, getting 16 total hits for the game and six batters with two or more hits.
Once again, the Panthers were the first to get on the board, getting one run off two hits in the top of the first, but the Diamond Apps used a four-run second inning to blow past them and never look back in the series.
The second inning began with an Avery Jackson hit-by-pitch and Brian Bauk double to right center that gave Bradley Davis the opportunity to get his first career RBI after getting his first collegiate hit the game prior and he took advantage. Davis sent a bullet to right field to bring home Jackson and allow Calev Grubbs to sacrifice Bauk home and move Davis to second.
Matt Vernon then sent one to deep left field, which brought home Davis and pushed the lead out further. Jason Curtis drew a four-pitch walk before Tyler Stroup joined the hit party, singling through the left side to bring home Vernon.
In the next at-bat for the Mountaineers in the third, the offense took advantage of Jackson reaching on a fielding error and Conner Leonard drawing a four-pitch walk, which set up an RBI single for Bauk, bringing home Jackson. Grubbs then laid down a beautiful bunt that he was able to stretch to a single before Vernon hit a sacrifice fly that plated Leonard.
Appalachian extended its lead in the fourth by one run as Bauk continued to plant seeds in the outfield, this time bringing home Drake Zupcic.
In the fifth inning, App State had its second four-run inning of the afternoon, as a Vernon walk and Curtis single up the middle starting things off. Zupcic fired one through the left side to bring home Vernon and then Jackson was able to get the walk. Leonard once again came through clutch with the bases loaded, sending a screamer right down the right field line to plate everyone and stand up at second.
App State’s offense finished its job in the sixth when Grubbs got his second hit of the day through the ride side before Vernon doubled down the left field line. Curtis then hit a sacrifice fly to score Grubbs before Stroup finished things up with a first-pitch shot up the middle to bring in Vernon.
The Game Three run rule ended the game after the top of the seventh.
Zupcic and Leonard led in the second game, going 3-for-5 and 3-for-4, respectively. Vernon, Curtis, Stroup and Grubbs all finished with two hits while Leonard led all with his three RBI.
After going for just an inning on Friday due to the rain delay, Travis Holden was able to get his full start in for Game Three, once again having a fine outing. Holden went 5.0 innings and allowed five hits, striking out three batters on the night.
Matt Schaeffer provided an inning of relief, allowing just a hit and getting a strikeout, while Dallas DeVrieze finished the final inning off without allowing a hit and striking out one as well.
The Mountaineers continue this seven-game homestand when they host East Tennessee State on Tuesday, April 25. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
A-State Baseball Splits Doubleheader with South Alabama
JONESBORO, Ark. (4/22/17) – The Arkansas State baseball team built a 9-0 advantage in game one before holding on for a 12-10 win, but dropped the second game to South Alabama 12-2 to split a doubleheader Saturday at Tomlinson Stadium.
A-State (20-18, 8-9 SBC) began the scoring in game one with an Alex Howard RBI single in the second inning before a seven-run bottom of the third inning. Grant Hawkins doubled home the first two runs off South Alabama (24-16, 11-6 SBC) starter Thomas Huston in the frame before Justin Felix delivered the big blow with a three-run shot to left field. Huston exited and Howard tagged reliever Will Eiland for a two-run bomb to left field to make the score 8-0.
A sacrifice fly by Garrett Rucker extended the A-State lead to 9-0, but the Jaguars got to starter Bradey Welsh in the fifth inning for five runs, including a two-run home run by Brendan Donovan. Welsh was able to finish the inning and gave way to Tanner Kirby, who gave up a solo shot to Jared Barnes to cut into the A-State lead further at 9-6.
However, the Red Wolves struck back with runs on a Jeremy Brown single and Howard sacrifice fly to push the advantage to 11-6, which proved to be important as Colton Thomas ripped a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to make the score 11-9. The Red Wolves responded with a RBI single by Felix to make it 12-9.
Tyler Zuber came on to close out the game, but gave up a lead-off home run to Travis Swaggerty to make it 12-10. The next two batters singled to put runners at the corners before two strikeouts and a fly out to left field clinched the series opener for the Red Wolves. It was Zuber’s team-high fifth save of the year.
Welsh earned the win after lasting five innings with all five runs he gave up coming in the fifth inning. Kirby tossed three innings, but gave up four runs on four hits. USA’s Huston was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs (five earned) on four hits in 2.1 innings. South Alabama used five pitchers in the game.
Howard and Felix led A-State with four RBI each, while Hawkins drove in two runs on two hits. Wells Davis had three hits to lead the Jaguars. Both teams ended the game with 13 hits apiece.
Game two began with South Alabama taking its first lead of the day with a sacrifice fly by Donovan in the top of the first, but A-State responded with a solo homer by Felix to even the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. However, the Jaguars added nine runs from the third through fifth innings to take control at 10-1. Donovan swatted a solo homer to down the left-field line in the fifth, before Barnes hit a three-run homer later in the inning.
The Jaguars added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to make the score 12-1 before a Jake Bakamus sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth set the final at 12-2. Randy Bell went eight innings and only gave up one run on two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts to earn the win for the Jaguars. Tyler Mitzel took the loss after allowing seven runs (three earned) in 4.2 innings.
Felix led A-State with one RBI, while Howard and Joe Schrimpf each had one hit. Donovan and Davis each had two hits with Davis driving in three runs to lead South Alabama offensively. The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro with Peyton Culbertson set to face off with Tyler Carr.
Troy Sweeps Doubleheader, Series from Texas State
TROY, Alabama – Outstanding pitching, timely hits and costly miscues lifted Troy to a doubleheader and series sweep of Texas State in Sun Belt action Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field.
The Trojans won the opener, 4-3, in 11 innings on a walk-off error and took the nightcap, 6-3, on the strength of Austin Crook’s arm and a Trevor Davis homer.
Crook (5-1) struck out six and scattered three hits over six scoreless innings in game two, while Daren Osby allowed just one earned run in five innings of work in the opener.
Marc Skinner (3-3) picked up the win in game one with two scoreless innings out the bullpen before recording his ninth save of the season in game two. The save was the 17th of his career, which is just one shy of tying the Troy career record.
The Trojans (22-17, 9-9 Sun Belt) belted out 11 hits in the opener, none bigger than Matt Sanders’ third hit of the game. Troy’s junior shortstop drove a 1-out single through the right-side of the infield to tie the game at 3-all in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Jackson Cofer led off the bottom of the 11th with his second hit of the game; he moved to second on a sac bunt and to third an infield single from Steven Whitaker. The Bobcats (22-19, 9-9) went to the bullpen for Brayden Theriot, who before throwing a pitch misfired on a pickoff attempt allowing Cofer to score the winning run.
In the nightcap, Troy took advantage of two errors, a passed ball and three walks in the first to stake a 2-0 advantage. The lead swelled to 4-0 in the third on an RBI double from Justin Friend and RBI single off the bat of Chase Smartt before Davis hit a towering 2-run homer in the fifth to push the lead out to 6-0.
Felipe Rodriguez had a flare for the dramatic in both games for Texas State with a 3-run homer in the top of the ninth in game two and a go-ahead double in the eighth inning of the opener.
Joe Powell (1-1) was tagged with the loss in game one for Texas State after allowing two unearned runs in 4.1 innings. Starter Cam Baird (1-5) allowed four runs – two earned – in 2.2 innings to take the loss in game two.
SOUND “SMARTT” WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Game One
• Brandon Lockridge has hit safely in 22 of the last 23 games and has now reached base safely in 37-of-38 games this season.
• Steven Whitaker’s triple in the second inning was Troy’s fourth in the past three games and the second-consecutive game with a triple for Whitaker. He finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored for his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
• Matt Sanders went 3-for-4 for his 14th multi-hit game of the season and team-leading 44th of his career. It was his 14th career three-hit game and the second of the season.
• Jackson Cofer recorded his first career multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance and scored the winning run after leading off the 11th inning with a single.
• Chase Smartt and Mason Rogers extended their team-leading reached base streaks out to 11 games.
• Troy improved to 3-2 in extra innings with the 4-3 victory in 11 innings.
• Closer Marc Skinner made the 100th appearance of his career and picked up the victory on the mound.
Game Two
• Brandon Lockridge has hit safely in 23 of the last 24 games and has now reached base safely in 38-of-39 games this season.
• Trevor Davis snapped a streak of 16 games and 51 at-bats without a home run with his towering two-run blast in the fifth inning to extend Troy’s lead to 6-0 – his fourth of the season.
• Austin Crook recorded his fifth quality start of the season as he made his eighth start of the year – 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K.
• Troy improved to 18-7 on the season when its starting pitcher goes at least five innings in a game and 11-5 when a Trojan hits a home run.
• Marc Skinner picked up his ninth save of the season to move into sole possession of fourth place on the single season list. It was his 17th career save tying him with Josh Dew for second all-time in Troy history, just one shy of Josh Strom’s school record. The appearance was Skinner’s 101st of his career, just one shy of Nate Hill’s school record.
• Chase Smartt and Mason Rogers extended their team-leading reached base streaks out to 12 games.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Troy travels to Auburn for a mid-week tilt with No. 10 Auburn at Plainsman Park. Troy is 5-2 in mid-week contests this season, including an 12-11 victory over Alabama back on April 4. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.