Troy Takes Down No. 5 Auburn
AUBURN, Alabama – Jackson Cofer's three-run homer in the fifth proved to be enough to boost Troy past No. 5 Auburn, 5-2, for the highest ranked victory in the Trojans' Division-I history Tuesday at Plainsman Park.
With two on in the fifth inning, Cofer jumped on the first pitch he saw and blasted a homer over the right field wall to extend Troy's (23-17) lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the frame, No. 5 Auburn (30-13) cut the lead in half on a two-RBI single off the bat of Jay Estes – who finished the game 2-for-4.
The Trojans responded with a Trevor Davis RBI single in the sixth to push the score to 5-2 where it would stand. Davis drove in two in the game and reached safely all five times he batted – going 4-for-4 with a HBP.
Matt Sanders and Brandon Lockridge also turned in multi-hit nights – Sanders went 3-for-6 with a double and Lockridge finished 2-for-5 with a double.
Max Newton (2-0) won his second game in as many career starts on the mound for Troy. Newton allowed only two runs on five hits without walking anyone in five innings of work.
Cory Gill and Marc Skinner combined to shut the Tigers down in the final four innings – scattering only two hits and striking out a collective seven batters. Skinner earned his 10th save of the season – 18th career save – while making his 102nd career appearance for the Trojans. He is now tied for first in school history for career saves and career appearances.
Christian Camacho (2-2) was saddled with the loss for Auburn after allowing four runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work.
QUOTABLE
"Hopefully this five-game win streak will give us momentum through this tough road coming up," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "I really like where our team is right now and I know we'll accept the challenge."
"I knew I would have to have command of all three pitches and I just let my defense work," winning pitcher Max Newton said. "It was really special to get the win over the fifth-ranked team in the country in front of my family and high school teammates."
"I was just trying to get out in front and I did; it went a long way," Jackson Cofer said about his first career homer. "It felt great and it was just a great team win."
SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Troy struck for a run in the first to take an early lead. The Trojans have scored in the first inning in eight of their last nine games – 6-2 in those eight.
• Matt Sanders doubled in the first while singling in the third and the sixth to record his team-leading 44th career multi-hit game – 15th of the season.
• In only his third collegiate start, Jackson Cofer blasted his first career homer with a three-run jack in the fifth to give the Trojans a 4-0 lead.
• Trevor Davis hit safely four times in a game for the first time in his career – first Trojan to do so this season – and drove in two in the game for his eighth multi-RBI game of the season.
• Cory Gill struck out six of the 12 batters he faced in innings of relief – overall, he has fanned 13 of the last 22 he has seen.
• Marc Skinner tied Nate Hill for the most career appearances for the Trojans (102) and tied Josh Storm for the most career saves in school history (18).
• Tuesday's win was Troy's highest-ranked win in Division-I history – the Trojans defeated No. 6 Arkansas, 13-8, in 2007. It also marked the first time in school history that Troy swept both season series with Alabama and Auburn.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Troy will take their five-game win streak to Conway, S.C., to face off with the defending national champion Coastal Carolina this weekend. First pitch for the Sun Belt series opener is set for 6 p.m. Friday.
Wren's Big Night Powers the Eagles past No. 24 Mercer, 15-7
MACON, GA. - Senior Jordan Wren had himself a day, hitting two home runs and adding a double with eight RBIs, leading the Eagles to a 15-7 win over No. 24 Mercer on Tuesday night. Logan Baldwin got in on the action, hitting his first collegiate home run as the Eagles powered past the Bears. Mercer and Georgia Southern will play again on Wednesday at 6 pm on Jack Stallings Field at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The win was Georgia Southern's third-consecutive win over a ranked opponent after defeating No. 28 Coastal Carolina twice last weekend. Mercer entered the game with the nation's best record at 35-7. The Eagles improved their Sun Belt Conference best record to 27-14.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"It just happened to be one of those nights. The guys at the top of the lineup were swinging the bat very well. Mitchell Golden was on base a lot and Jordan Wren had some big hits for us. We got a good effort from Seth Shuman. They had some opportunities with men on base, and we were fortunate to make some big pitches and big plays in some of those situations."
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st - GS 2 - MERCER 0 - Evan McDonald dinked a two out, bases loaded single into left to drive in two runs and give the Eagles an early lead over the Bears.
Bot 1st - GS 2 - MERCER 3 - Mercer struck back in the bottom of the first, converting a walk into a run and tacking on a two run home run to post a 3-2 lead after one.
Top 3rd - GS 4 - MERCER 3 - Jordan Wren put the Eagles ahead again with a two run home run to right field that got out in a hurry. The senior drove in Mitchell Golden who hit his second double of the game just moments earlier.
Top 4th - GS 8 - MERCER 3 - Jordan Wren's second home run of the night capped a four run fourth inning. The senior hit a three run bomb after Steven Curry drove in another run with a single down the right field line.
Bot 6th - GS 8 - MERCER 4 - A leadoff double paved the way for Mercer to cut the lead to four in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.
Top 7th - GS 12 - MERCER 4 - Steven Curry drove in a run with two outs in the seventh for his second hit of the game. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Jordan Wren picked up his sixth, seventh and eighth RBIs with a blast off the wall in right. The ball barely stayed in the park as Wren missed out on his third home run of the game by a matter of inches.
Top 8th - GS 15 - MERCER 4 - Logan Baldwin blasted his first collegiate home run, a three run blast that nearly left the county to extend the lead to 15-4.
Bot 9th - GS 15 - MERCER 7 - Two hits set the table for Mercer's Charlie Madden to hit a three run home run out to left and slice the lead to 15-7.
GAME NOTES
- Jordan Wren's two home run inning was his first multi-home run game of his career and the first multi-home run game for an Eagle hitter since Ryan Cleveland's two bomb game at UT Arlington last year.
- Wren set a new career high with eight RBIs, besting his previous record of four. It was the first eight RBI game for an Eagle batter since March 6, 1999 when Dustin Langley accomplished the feat against Appalachian State.
- Georgia Southern's 15 run haul was their most this season and the most since scoring 16 against Savannah State on April 6, 2016. It was the most runs scored by the Eagles against a ranked opponent since April 8, 2009 when the Eagles defeated No. 8 Georgia Tech 23-2.
- Freshman pitcher Seth Shuman improved to 4-0 on the season with five innings of work. He allowed four runs, all earned off six hits with six strikeouts. The Eagles are 5-0 when Shuman starts the game on the mound where he has gotten 8.6 runs per game of support.
- Before the game, it was announced that former Georgia Southern pitcher Chris Beck was called up to the White Sox from AAA Charlotte. The right handed pitcher is expected to work out of the bullpen for the big club.
NEXT UP
Georgia Southern is back home on Wednesday night for the second half of a midweek non-conference series with Mercer. The Eagles host the Bears starting at 6 pm in a game that can be seen live on GS All-Access at GSEagles.com and on the Georgia Southern Sports Network.
Louisiana Takes Down Texas 8-1 To Increase Win Streak To Nine Games
SUGAR LAND, Texas – The 20th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a six-run second inning to defeat Texas 8-1 Tuesday night at Constellation field to extend the Cajuns win streak to nine games.
"We knew we needed a changeup guy on the mound with all the lefties that they had in the lineup, and Evan (Guillory) did a great job," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Jevin (Huval) was able to get us into the ninth and Wyatt (Marks) came in and closed the door. Our hitters are continuing to have a good approach at the plate. They had a tough time getting things going early in the year, but they didn't let that keep them down. Now you are seeing them stand up and play like they are capable of."
Louisiana (27-14-1) outhit the Longhorns (28-16) 10-6 in the game with senior Joe Robbins going 2-for-5 with a double, home run, four RBI and scored three times. Steven Sensley, Brenn Conrad and Hunter Kasuls each had a pair of hits in the win.
Junior Evan Guillory (3-2) posted his first quality start of the season tossing six scoreless innings with four strikeouts to earn the victory. Guillory did not allow a runner to reach scoring position during the outing scattering three hits.
Senior Jevin Huval went two innings in relief allowing one run on three hits, while Wyatt Marks closed out the game retiring all three batters he faced with one strikeout.
Texas starter Blair Henley (3-4) was handed the loss after giving up five runs on five hits as he was chased after 1.1 innings.
The Ragin' Cajuns jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out RBI single to centerfield by Sensley.
Louisiana exploded for six runs on four hits and two free passes in the top of second inning to extend the lead to 7-0. After a Kasuls RBI single gave the Cajuns a 2-0 edge, shortstop Brad Antchak drew a bases-loaded walk to make the score 3-0. In the next at bat, Robbins crushed a 3-2 pitch from Jon Malmin over the fence in left center for a grand slam to increase the advantage to 7-0. The home run is the fifth of the season for Robbins and the first grand slam by a Louisiana player this season.
The Cajuns picked their final run of the game in the top of the seven when Robbins scored on a wild pitch by Connor Mayes with two outs.
Tyler Rand broke up the Ragin' Cajuns shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single to centerfield to make the final 8-1.
Louisiana returns to action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. with a non-conference contest against McNeese at Russo Park. The Cajuns will give left-hander Colten Schmidt (0-0, 0.00 ERA) his first career start in the contest, while the Cowboys will counter with right-hander Aidan Anderson (3-2, 7.67 ERA).
Coastal Carolina Takes 9-6 Win at The Citadel
CHARLESTON - Coastal Carolina allowed four runs in the first inning, but settled down and scored nine unanswered before allowing two runs in the ninth to claim a 9-6 victory over region rival The Citadel Tuesday evening at Riley Park.
After allowing the home run in the first to go down 4-0, Anthony Veneziano retired 14 straight with five strikeouts and no walks before exiting after five innings. Overall, CCU pitchers would retire 16 in a row after the home run and 24 of their next 28 through the eighth inning. On the flip side, the CCU offense pounded out 14 hits with eight Chants getting at least one hit in the win -- six getting two hits each.
Billy Cooke, Kevin Woodall Jr., Wood Myers, Peyton Isaacson, Dalton Ewing and Seth Lancaster each had two hits with Woodall, who had two doubles, driving in three and Isaacson getting two RBI. Jordan Gore scored a game-high three runs.
Bobby Holmes came in for Veneziano and picked up the win to improve to 3-3. The junior allowed one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
The Citadel raced out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jonathan Sabo and Bryce Leasure had back-to-back singles. William Kinney followed with an RBI double. Joe Sabatini cleared the bases with a three-run home run go the early 4-0 lead.
Coastal answered with a run in the top of the second. Myers singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Isaacson.
While Veneziano was putting up zeros, the Chants were able to tie the game, 4-4, in the fifth. Lancaster doubled to right-center field and later scored on an RBI single to center by Cooke. After a walk to Gore, Woodall welcomed new Citadel pitcher Aaron Lesiak with a two-run double off the centerfield wall, scoring both Cooke and Gore.
In the seventh, Coastal took its first lead. Cooke hit a one-out double and Gore was hit by a pitch. After an out, Myers walked to load the bases. Kieton Rivers then delivered a sharp single to right field to bring home Cooke and put CCU on top 5-4. Isaacson ran the count full before drawing a walk to force home Gore to put the Chants up two.
In the bottom of the seventh, Bobby Holmes allowed a leadoff triple but rallied to strikeout the next three to leave the runner stranded.
Coastal rode that positive momentum into the top of the eighth, scoring twice for an 8-4 lead. Lancaster walked to start the frame and moved to second on a Matt Beaird sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Gore lined a single back up the middle to bring home Lancaster. Then, for the second time, Woodall doubled to drive in Gore.
The Chanticleers padded their advantage in the ninth. Isaacson and Ewing had back-to-back singles. Lancaster followed with an RBI single off the left-center field wall for a 9-4 cushion.
The Bulldogs tacked on two runs in the bottom of the ninth to provide the 9-6 final.
Coastal Carolina will return home to face Sun Belt foe Troy for a three-game weekend set. Game times are 6 pm Friday, 2 pm Saturday and 1 pm Sunday.
Jackson’s Walkoff Completes App’s Rally over ETSU
BOONE, N.C. – Avery Jackson’s walk off home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth rallied Appalachian State University baseball past ETSU, 8-7, on Tuesday night at Smith Stadium.
Jackson sailed the third pitch from ETSU reliever Dillon Cate (L, 0-1) just inside the left field foul pole to set off a wild celebration at the plate. The Mountaineers (17-24), who trailed for most of the night, scored the final three runs to overcome a two-run deficit in their final four at-bats.
Relievers Tristan Helms and Sean Mason (W, 1-2) combined for 3.1 scoreless innings to hold ETSU (19-19) down after the Buccaneers took a 7-5 lead in the top of the sixth. Mason struck out two in 2.2 innings of work and did not allow a hit.
App trailed early, falling behind 2-0 in the first, but chipped away at ETSU’s lead all night, scoring once in the sixth, again in the eighth, and finally walking off on the ninth.
Jason Curtis’ RBI single with the infield in scored Matt Vernon to tie the game in the seventh. Vernon tripled off the centerfield fence with one out and Curtis lined a single off the glove of reliever Peyton Taylor to knot it at 7-7. App took advantage of three ETSU wild pitches in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-6 at the time.
App cut into the lead in the third on a two-out, RBI single from Jackson to score pinch runner Connor Baldy and make it 4-3, ETSU.
The Mountaineers grabbed the lead an inning later on an RBI single from Bradley Davis to score Brian Bauk, who reached with a leadoff double. Vernon followed with a double down the left field line to plate Davis and give the Apps their first advantage at 5-4.
ETSU would re-tie the game in the fifth as the see-saw continued, taking a two-run lead in the sixth.
The Mountaineers would close the gap in the sixth as Vernon was able to score off a wild pitch after reaching by walk before they tied the game in the eighth. Vernon shot a triple to center field before being driven home by a Curtis RBI single up the middle.
Vernon finished 3-for-4 and scored three times, while Jackson went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Mountaineers will conclude their seven-game homestand with a three-game series with Arkansas State on Friday night at Smith Stadium. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
Eight-Run Inning Powers Little Rock Past UCA
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Eight runs in the fourth inning powered Little Rock baseball past Central Arkansas with a final score of 11-6 on Tuesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park.
The Trojans (15-26) tallied 11 runs and 13 hits for the evening — its most against the Bears (22-19) since 2007.
Little Rock's victory improved its record to 3-1 against Central Arkansas when playing at Dickey-Stephens Park, and it was the Trojans' first win at Dickey-Stephens since 2013.
"I'm obviously pleased with our club for getting the win, but I'm even more pleased with the way they responded after the five runs UCA put up in the second inning," Little Rock head coach Chris Curry said. "For the first time in a long time, our club didn't blink, panic or show body language."
Little Rock had four players tally multiple hits for the night. Zach Baker went 3 for 4 with a couple of RBIs, a run and a double, and Riley Pittman went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs. Cameron Knight went 2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs, two runs and a walk.
UCA's Keaton Presley had the Bears' only multiple-hit game as he finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs.
Trojan reliever Corbin Osburn (1-0) picked up his first career win after throwing 1.1 innings of relief. Justin Garcia earned his second save of the year after throwing four strikeouts and allowing just one walk in a team-high three innings of work. UCA's Gavin Tillery (0-1) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Little Rock had a rough go of it in the bottom of the second inning as Central Arkansas scored five runs on two hits and two errors. UCA's Rigo Aguilar put an RBI single into right for the game's first run. With runners on the corners and one out, Eddie Sanchez reached on a fielder's choice, but the Trojans committed two throwing errors on the play and allowed two UCA runs. After Michael Haun walked, a Keaton Presley double scored two runs and put the Bears up 5-0.
The Trojans bounced back with vengeance in the top of the fourth by scoring eight runs — their most in an inning since 2012 against Florida Atlantic. The scoring began with an RBI single by Kale Emshoff before Christian Reyes was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. Owens then walked on four straight balls to plate another run. Dalton Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Gunter, but a throwing error allowed Reyes and Hunter Owens to move into scoring position. Pittman then gave Little Rock the lead with a two-run single up the middle. Knight roped an RBI double down the right field line to score Pittman before Baker wrapped up the scoring fest with an RBI double to left center.
UCA loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with one out. The Trojans made a somewhat unusual move as they called on weekend starter Cory Malcom to make his first midweek appearance since his freshman year in 2014. Malcom limited the damage as the Bears added just one run on an RBI ground out by Hunter Strong.
The Trojans ran their run total up to 11 in the top of the sixth inning with three runs on three hits. An RBI double by Knight plated Thomas before Pittman scored on a passed ball. A sacrifice fly by Baker to left then scored Knight from third for the game's final run.
With this year's Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry now tied at a game apiece, both squads will meet in the deciding third game at Gary Hogan Field on May 16.
"I appreciate all the fans for coming out," Curry said. "I hope this game gets bigger and bigger every year. Both fan bases are really passionate about their teams, and hopefully, that can create a fun game for the community."
Little Rock will now go on a six-game road trip with its first stop scheduled to take place at Georgia Southern this weekend in Statesboro, Georgia. The three-game series will begin on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (CT).
JAGS FALL TO NO. 25 SOUTHERN MISS
MOBILE, Ala. – No. 25 Southern Mississippi pushed 10 runs across in its first four at-bats en route to a 13-7 win over the University of South Alabama baseball team Tuesday at Stanky Field.
Eight USM starters hit safely in the game, led by Cole Donaldson who went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Mason Irby finished 2-for-6 with a triple and a game-high four RBI. Travis Swaggerty tied a career high in hits, finishing 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate.
USM (31-12) pushed across the game's first run in the top of the first inning. Dylan Burdeaux led off the game with a double to the right field corner, moved to third with one out on a groundout to second by Irby and scored one batter later on a 3-4-3 groundout to second off the bat of Hunter Slater for a 1-0 lead.
South Alabama (25-17) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first for a one-run lead. Dylan Hardy led off the inning with a single to center field, and moved to third on a single to center by Brendan Donovan. Swaggerty followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Hardy and tie the game 1-1. Swaggerty stole second before an RBI groundout to shortstop scored Donovan for a 2-1 Jaguar lead.
The Golden Eagles responded with three runs in the top of the second for a two-run advantage. Donaldson doubled down the left field line with one out in the inning, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Matthew Guidry drew a one-out walk to put runners at the corners before LeeMarcus Boyd singled through the left side of the infield to score Donaldson and tie the game 2-2. Irby then delivered a two-out, two-run triple to the right-center gap to score Guidry and Boyd and double the USM lead at 4-2.
USA pushed across a run in the bottom of the second to cut its deficit to one. Will Luft and Jared Barnes drew consecutive walks to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Hunter Stokes put both runners in scoring position with one out. Hardy then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Luft and cut the USM lead to 4-3.
USM scored four runs in the top of the third inning to take a five-run lead. Taylor Braley drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second on a single through the right side of the infield by Matt Wallner. Jaguar left-hander Zach Melton hit USM pinch-hitter Daniel Keating to load the bases with no outs for Donaldson, who reached on an RBI fielder's choice on a flare into shallow right field that scored Braley and extended the USM lead to 5-3. Guidry drew a one-out walk to load the bases for Boyd, who reached on a walk to score Wallner and double the Golden Eagle lead at 6-3. Irby delivered a two-out, two-run single to left field later in the inning to push the USM lead to 8-3.
The Jags answered in the bottom of the third on a one-out solo home run over the left-center field wall by Swaggerty, his seventh of the season, to cut the USM lead in half at 8-4.
Southern Miss increased its lead to 10-4 in the top of the fourth on a one-out, two-run home run to center field by Daniel Keating.
South Alabama cut the USM lead in half in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single to right field by LaBounty that scored Swaggerty, who reached on a two-out walk, to cut the Golden Eagle lead to 10-5.
USM added to its lead in the top of the seventh on a one-out RBI single to left field by Burdeaux for an 11-5 advantage.
The Jags responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut their deficit to four. Donovan and Swaggerty reached on consecutive one-out singles before a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Wells Davis drew a walk to load the bases with one out for LaBounty, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Donovan and cut the Golden Eagle lead to 11-6. Luft drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Barnes, who reached on an RBI infield single to third that scored Swaggerty and cut the USM lead to 11-7.
Southern Miss added the game's final runs in the top of the eighth on a two-out RBI single to right field by Donaldson and RBI infield single by Boyd for a 13-7 advantage.
USM left-hander Stevie Powers (3-0) allowed two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 3 1/3 innings in the win. Jaguar right-hander Sean Trimble (2-1) allowed six runs on six hits with two walks in two innings pitched in the loss.
"I give credit where credit is due," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "We knew how good Southern Miss is. They are coached very well. I have as much respect for Coach (Scott) Berry and his staff as any staff in this country. We knew we had to pitch it tonight; we knew we couldn't give free bases. They (USM) are hitting .313 as a team – that's no fluke. They play a very good schedule like we do. When you add their hits and some walks, that's when you get some crooked numbers.
"We just couldn't do enough offensively to stay up with them. They pitched it a little bit better than we did tonight. Those second, third and fourth innings were too much to overcome. We couldn't get enough offense against their pitching staff, and that was the story of the game. Our guys swung the bats pretty well all night, they (USM) just made some pitches when they had to and we didn't. They got a couple of hits when they needed to and we didn't. The free bases were the story of the night tonight."
South Alabama will return to action this weekend when it hosts Texas State in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field, with the series opener set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Friday.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Memphis Sneaks Past @AStateBaseball 2-1
JONESBORO, Ark. (4/25/17) – The Arkansas State baseball team allowed Memphis to score the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning and the Tigers held on for a 2-1 victory Tuesday night at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.
A-State (20-20) reliever Tanner Kirby walked Jason Santana to begin the top of the ninth inning with the score tied 1-1 before a soft line out on a sacrifice bunt attempt and fly out to right field kept Santana at first. However, Santana advanced to second on a wild pitch and a walk put runners on first and second to bring up Tyler Webb. Webb hit a line drive into left field on a 3-2 pitch to plate Santana and put the Tigers (23-19) in front 2-1.
Alex Howard laced a single to center field with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Memphis closer Colton Hathcock picked up his 11th save of the year by retiring pinch-hitter Tobias Johnson on a ground out and Drew Tipton on a line out to right field to preserve the victory for the Tigers.
Blake Bennett picked up the win for the Tigers after tossing a scoreless bottom of the eighth despite allowing three base runners. Kirby took the loss, the first of the season for the junior, to fall to 4-1 on the year. Collin Cahill pitched the first five innings for the Red Wolves to tie a career high and allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts against four walks. Bo Ritter pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings for A-State.
Memphis scored its run off Cahill in the top of the second inning on a RBI ground out by Carlos Williams, before A-State got on the board in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Connor Alexander. Winston Welch smoked a double to right-center field to plate Jake Bakamus, but Howard was thrown out trying to score on the play from first. The RBI was the first of Welch’s career. The Red Wolves picked up six hits to the Tigers’ five with Joe Schrimpf and Howard picking up two hits.
Arkansas State returns to action with a three-game league series at Appalachian State April 28-30 in Boone, N.C. First pitch for Friday’s contest is set for 5 p.m. (CT).
Bobcats fall 10-2 at Baylor
WACO, Texas – The Texas State baseball team dropped a 10-2 decision to Baylor Tuesday night at Baylor Ballpark.
The Bobcats (22-20) lost their fifth-straight game, while the Bears improved to 25-16 on the season and completed the two-game season sweep over TXST.
Baylor struck first with a three-spot in the home half of the first, and the home team added two in the second to pull ahead 5-0. The maroon and gold got on the board with a tally in the third, but the Bears answered right back in the bottom of the fourth.
Texas State scored again in the top of the seventh, but Baylor countered with four in the home half of the frame for the final result.
Junior Theodore Hoffman paced TXST with a 2-for-5 effort. The two runs came courtesy of juniors Derek Scheible and Luke Sherley. Sophomore Jaylen Hubbard finished with the team's lone RBI.
Sophomore Wes Engle (2-2) took the ball first and was saddled with the loss after conceding five runs on seven hits in the first 1.2 innings. Senior Brandon Courville tossed the next 2.1 frames and gave up just one run on one hit. Senior Quinn Atwood, junior Blake Walden, sophomore Anthony Pagano and true freshmen Zachary Leigh, Shane Daughety and Broc Bosse also saw time on the hill.
Shea Langeliers finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs for BU, while Steven McLean, Matt Menard and Aaron Dodson all added a pair of hits. Dodson and Menard drove in two runs each, and Richard Cunningham scored three runs.
Kyle Hill was the most effective of five pitchers to see the mound. He went 3.0 innings and conceded one run on two hits. Hayden Kettler (1-0) started and collected the victory after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings.
Texas State will continue its nine-game road stretch with a three-game series at South Alabama April 28-30 in Mobile, Alabama.