Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Warhawks Power Past Tigers, 11-4
MONROE, La. -- ULM scored in six different innings and four players tallied multiple hit efforts as the Warhawks raced past Grambling State on Wednesday night at Warhawk Field.
After Grambling State (2-13) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, ULM responded with a trio of runs in the home half of the first. Nathan Pugh drove in one and another run was able to score as he moved to second on a throwing error by Tiger second baseman Remon Grant. Justin Stawychny drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.
ULM (8-6) increased its lead to 5-2 as Nathan Pugh tallied his second extra-base hit of the game, a two-run homer to right with one out in the third.
The two teams traded a single run in the fourth and the Warhawks tacked on a single run in the fifth to push the lead to four runs (7-3). Vincent Dellocono tallied his first hit of the 2015 season as he drove in Dalton Todd with a double to the gap in right center.
ULM added another run in the seventh as Dellocono drove in his second run of the night with a single to center.
After the Tigers plated their final run of the game, the Warhawks answered with a trio of unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to set the final tally at 11-4. Brian Barefoot highlighted the frame with a two-out, two-RBI single.
Brayden Bouchey (1-1) earned his first win as a Warhawk as he logged four innings of work, surrendering four hits and three runs (two earned). During his pre-determined short start he walked three and struck out three.
Cole Hendrix and Weston Mason made their Warhawk debuts as the pair combined for three scoreless innings. Conner Fiasco and Logan Dopson also tossed a scoreless inning in the win.
Four different Warhawks tallied multiple hit efforts in the win over Grambling State. Pugh finished a triple shy of the cycle and drove in four runs, while Tidwell had three hits and four runs. Dellocono and Barefoot each tallied two hits and two RBI.
For updates throughout the season on the baseball squad, be sure to follow the team on Twitter @ULM_BSB and Facebook (www.facebook.com/ULMBaseball).
#PeddiePostGame
“It was important to get guys like Cole Hendrix and Weston Mason in this game. We still have some guys that we will look to utilize this weekend as we host Mississippi Valley State.”
#WarhawkNotables
-ULM improves to 47-14 all-time against Grambling State… The Warhawks have won five straight in the series.
-Brayden Bouchey made his third start as a Warhawk on Wednesday night…
-Nathan Pugh hit his second homer as a Warhawk… His two-run homer in the third pushed the Warhawk lead to three runs (5-2)… He finished a triple shy of the cycle and finished with a career-best four RBI and scored once.
-Kodie Tidwell tallied three hits, one shy of his career best… He scored four runs, a new career-high for the junior.
-Vincent Dellocono collected his first hit of the season, a RBI double with two outs in the fifth… He finished the game with career-bests in hits (two) and RBI (two).
-Brian Barefoot entered the game as a pinch hitter late in the game and finished 2-for-2 with two RBI.
-Cole Hendrix made his collegiate debut, tossing two scoreless innings in relief.
-Weston Mason made his Warhawk debut against the Tigers, logging one scoreless frame.
#NextGame
ULM will be back in action this weekend as it hosts Mississippi Valley State. The series opener is slated for Friday at 6 p.m., followed by game two on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale (1 p.m.).
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UT Arlington Outlasts Abilene Christian 7-5
Story to Come...
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No. 10 Rice Drops Texas State
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State fell to No. 10 Rice Wednesday night, 14-5, dropping the Bobcats to 1-1 against ranked opponents this season after a thrilling upset of No. 3 Houston back on Feb. 25. Texas State stands at 5-10-1 overall on the year and 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference as the Bobcats prepare to take the road to face Appalachian State in the team's second conference series of the season.
Freshman Derek Scheible led the Bobcats at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance, knocking in an RBI while Cory Geisler, Ben McElroy, Granger Studdard, Dylan Paul and Mickey Scott each tallied a hit in the game.
Paul, another freshman for Texas State, made his hit count, knocking in two RBI in Texas State's big sixth inning and scoring the team's fifth run on a Scheible single. Meanwhile, Cedric Vallieres worked the Rice pitchers for three walks in the game.
Scott jump started Texas State's offense in the sixth inning with a double to right centerfield in a pinch hit situation. Geisler followed with another double to plate Scott, and then McElroy made it three consecutive hits with a single after that to put runners at the corners.
A batter later, Studdard singled to right field to plate Geisler and push McElroy to second, forcing a pitching change from Rice. Both runners advanced on a fly out after that, then Paul brought in Studdard and McElroy with his hit. After a Vallieres walk, Scheible sent his hit up the middle to score Paul and make it a five-run inning for Texas State.
In most games, that would be an offensive explosion, but, unfortunately for the Bobcats, they would need much more as Rice scored 14 runs in the first three innings. After a run in the first, the Owls scored four in the second, aided by an error and three hits. In the third, Rice exploded for nine runs with seven hits and a Texas State error. After that, though, the Bobcats held Rice scoreless the rest of the way, not allowing a run in the final five Rice at-bats.
On the mound, Tyler Giovanoni did well for himself with two strikeouts in the sixth inning, his only inning to pitch. Joe Powell and Jeremy Hallonquist also notched strikeouts in the game for the Bobcats.
Texas State will look to keep the team's winning record in Sun Belt Conference action as the team travels to Boone, N.C. for an SBC series against Appalachian State over the weekend. After that, the Bobcats return to San Marcos to host UTSA at 6 p.m. Tuesday before taking the road again for an SBC series at South Alabama.
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Troy Baseball Defeated by UAB
TROY, Alabama – The Troy University baseball team fell to UAB 7-1 on Tuesday at Riddle-Pace Field. It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Trojans. The team will look to rebound on the road against Jacksonville State on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
For the third time in four games, the Trojans (7-9) struck in the first inning. With two outs in the frame, Logan Hill doubled to right-center field. On the very next pitch, Trevin Hall drove in his 12th run of the season with a single to left. Clay Holcomb led off the game with a single, it marked the fourth consecutive game the senior outfielder has led off by reached base. Holcomb was later caught stealing for the second out.
Trevin Hall finished the game 3-for-4, extending his hitting streak to six games and his reached base streak to eight games.
UAB (10-4) was able to load the bases with two outs in the third before Troy starter Tucker Simpson walked in the tying run.
Simpson (1-3) pitched four innings surrendering three runs on six hits; he struck out two.
The Blazers took the lead in the fourth on an RBI double from Tyler Mims and later added another run on Alex Smith's RBI single.
UAB scored a pair of insurance runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth. The Blazers out-hit Troy 15-5.
For more information on Troy baseball, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansBSB.
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Georgia Stifles Mountaineers, 4-0
ATHENS, Ga. — Three Georgia pitchers combined to throw a five-hitter and Appalachian State University baseball suffered its sixth-straight defeat with a 4-0 loss to UGA on Wednesday afternoon at Foley Field.
Appalachian State (5-11) banged out four hits in the first four innings but managed only one more the rest of the game. The shutout loss was the Mountaineers’ first of the season.
Georgia (12-5) scored the only run it needed on cleanup hitter Daniel Nichols’ solo homer in the bottom of the second inning. The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to account for the final margin.
App State’s best scoring opportunity of the afternoon came in the fourth inning when Dillon Dobson doubled into the right-field corner with one out and the Mountaineers trailing just 1-0. However, two pitches later, the scoring threat was squelched when Dobson was caught trying to steal third base.
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UALR Baseball Falls 9-2 to Wichita State
WICHITA, Kan. – UALR baseball fell to 4-8 on the season after taking a 9-2 loss at Wichita State on Wednesday afternoon.
UALR got on the board quick in the first inning. Jason Prevatt opened the game with a leadoff single to center and was followed up by Ryan Scott’s fourth double of the season. Tanner Rockwell then walked on a full count to load the bases with no outs. With one out, Joseph Paulino earned his first RBI of the season as he grounded out to second, scoring Prevatt from third.
The Shockers struck back in the bottom of the second. Wichita singled up the middle to begin the inning, and then the runner advanced to second on a ground out. Another single up the middle scored the runner from second to tie the game at 1-1.
Scott earned his second hit of the game with a single up the middle. Rockwell made it safely to first after a fielding error by the third baseman, advancing Scott to second. The Trojans then grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, Mitchell Scheuler was hit by a pitch with one out and proceeded to take second for his second steal of the season. Justin Steelmon reached on a fielder’s choice but Scheuler was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score. Steelmon then took second for his first stolen base of the season. Drew Merten then reached first with two outs after an errant throw from third pulled the first baseman off the bag while Steelmon made it to third. The Trojans’ chance to score ended with a strikeout.
Prevatt led off the fifth inning with a stand-up double down the right field line to record his second double of the year. Scott then tallied his third hit of the game with a screaming line drive to center, scoring Prevatt from second to take a 2-1 lead. Rockwell kept the hit party going with a single through the left side, advancing Scott to second. Kyle Kirk reached on a fielder’s choice, but Scott was forced out at third. The Trojans then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the top of the fifth with a one-run lead.
Wichita made another offensive surge in the bottom of the fifth with two consecutive singles to lead things off. Runners advanced to third and second after a sacrifice bunt and bases were loaded after a one-out walk. The Shockers then scored on a fielder’s choice to tie it at 2-2. Reed Willenborg relieved starter Chad Bradford after 4.1 innings. The next batter for the Shockers sent a sac fly to deep right, scoring the runner from third to take a 3-2 lead.
“I thought Chad Bradford came out and pitched really well,” head coach Chris Curry said. “He got into some trouble there at the end and ran out of a gas a little bit.”
The hits and runs kept on coming in the bottom of the sixth for the Shockers. After striking out to lead off the inning, Wichita State walked, doubled in three consecutive at-bats, singled and scored four runs to take a 7-2 lead. Stephen Chandler came on to relieve Willenborg with one out in the inning. After the pitching change, Wichita State hit a deep sac fly to center and scored its fifth run of the inning to take an 8-2 lead.
Preston Oberling made his third appearance of the season in the bottom of the eighth, getting a ground out and a strikeout before walking home a run to increase Wichita’s lead to 9-2. Oberling ended the inning with a second strikeout.
“We proceeded to walk four batters over the next four and half innings, and that’s why we got beat," Curry said. "Once again, it’s the same story. They got the big hit and we did not. We left seven on base and they left 10, but we had opportunities early where we had bases loaded and nobody out. You need to come out of that situation with at least two runs and we did not. That’s what has been plaguing us."
Scott ended the day 3 for 4, extending his hitting and reached base streak to nine games. Prevatt scored the Trojans only two runs and had two hits, including a double.
"The pitching kept us in the game early," Curry said. "We had some offense going, and we had runners on. Then, we let them hang around a little bit and it ended up costing us. Our team has to learn what they’re being taught which is when you’re at bat or pitching in the moment you need to slow your breathing down, slow yourself down and understand that the pressure is on the other team and not you. Don’t try to force the situation and let it come to you. That takes time and experience.”
UALR will return home for a three-game series with conference foe Louisiana starting on Friday at 6 p.m.
UGA starter Jared Walsh (2-0) blanked Appalachian over seven innings before Connor Jones and Drew Moody worked a hitless frame apiece to close out the ballgame.
Mountaineer starter Taylor Thurber surrendered four runs in 4.2 innings of work to suffer his third-straight defeat and fall to 2-3 on the campaign. Despite the three-consecutive losses, Thurber’s ERA has only risen to 2.00 for the season.
After 16-straight games away from home to start the season, Appalachian State finally returns to Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith this weekend for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series versus Texas State. Game times are set for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
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Georgia Southern Baseball Falls at Home to North Florida
STATESBORO, Ga. – Brad Deppermann was perfect through five innings as the North Florida Ospreys defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles 13-3 at J.I. Clements Stadium and swept the two-game season series.
North Florida (10-8) scored five runs over the first three innings and tacked on three more in the sixth inning to lead 9-0 before Georgia Southern (11-7) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning.
"I am really disappointed in the way we have played the game the last two days. That is not acceptable. I don't want to take anything away from North Florida. Their starter was outstanding," Head Coach Rodney Hennon said.
Depperman set down the first 15 batters he faced before Cal Baker led off the sixth with a single. The Eagles scored three runs in the frame on a wild pitch, Aaron Mizell sac fly and an Andrew Kelley single to right center.
Depperman (1-0) picked up his first career win. He allowed three hits and struck out seven batters, including two in each of the second and third innings, in his second start of the season.
"We finally got to him [Depperman] a little bit later in the game. The thing is if we don't give away free bases, we are right there in the game but the mistakes we made take ourselves right out of the game," Hennon said.
Avery Fagan made his 2015 debut and took the loss after allowing a run in the second inning. Fagan (0-1) walked two batters and struck out three over two innings.
The Ospreys finished with 14 hits. Patrick Ervin and Nick Karmeris recorded four hits each, while Ryan Roberson and James Abbatinozzi both tallied three hits each.
The Eagles were held to five hits with two coming off the bat of Baker. Baker made his first appearance of the season and started at second base.
GS will travel to Troy for the first road Sun Belt Conference series in program history. First pitch against the Trojans is set for Friday at7 p.m. The series continues with a 7 p.m. start on Saturday and 2 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. All times are eastern.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.
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Jag Baseball Falls to Southeastern
MOBILE, Ala. – Southeastern Louisiana used a pair of late runs and a quality start from right-hander Pat Cashman to defeat University of South Alabama baseball 4-1 Wednesday at Stanky Field.
SLU (13-5) held a one-run lead after eight innings, and loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with one out. Brooks Morse then reached on a bunt single, while attempting a suicide squeeze, to plate the third Lion run of the game. Southeastern Louisiana added the game's final run on a fielding error by Ryan Raspino at shortstop.
South Alabama (11-6) jumped out to a one-run lead in the first inning. Bud Collura led off with a single back up the middle, and eventually made his way around to score on a throwing error by SLU second baseman Carson Crites on a fielder's choice off the bat of Cole Billingsley for a 1-0 USA lead.
But SLU answered a half-inning later. The Lions loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second on a hit by pitch from Jaguar left-hander Zach McMullen that was sandwiched between a pair of singles. Jacob Seward then reached on a hit by pitch from McMullen with the bases full to force home the tying run. Julian Service followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate the second Lion run of the inning.
The Jags loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second after Raspino reached on a fielder's choice behind a hit by pitch to Matt Bolger and single by Collura. But SLU right-hander Pat Cashman escaped the jam with an inning-ending double play in which Adam Ballew lined to Seward in center field, who then threw home to cut down Raspino attempting to tag from third.
SLU threatened in the top of the fourth. Menard and Seward reached on consecutive singles to lead off the inning and put runners at the corners. But Jaguar right-hander Austin Bembnowski ended the threat with a strikeout for the first out of the frame, followed by an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
SLU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, but Jaguar left-hander Joey Jones induced an inning-ending double play off the bat of Service on a line drive to Collura at third who stepped on the bag to complete the double play and keep the Jaguar deficit at one run.
Collura finished 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Jags at the plate, while Seward went 3-for-3 with an RBI, one run scored and two stolen bases to lead the Lions offensively.
Cashman (2-2) allowed one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. Mac Sceroler tossed 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings, and struck out three to record his first save of the season. McMullen (0-2) took the loss in two innings, allowing two runs on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
USA (11-6) will return to action this weekend when it travels to Arlington, Texas, for a three-game Sun Belt Conference matchup with Texas-Arlington. The series will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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Late Rally Falls Short For Arkansas State Baseball
JONESBORO, Ark. (3/11/15) – The Arkansas State baseball team scored the final three runs of the game, but couldn’t complete the comeback as the Red Wolves dropped a nonconference contest to Missouri State Wednesday at Tomlinson Field by a score of 6-3.
The Red Wolves (8-6) entered the bottom of the eighth inning down 6-0, but pinch-hitter Eric Wilcoxson led off the inning with an infield base hit and Joe Schrimpf followed with a single to right-center field to put runners on the corners with no outs. Stuart Levy followed with a soft line drive to right field to plate Wilcoxson and, after a strikeout, Matt Burgess grounded out to second to score Schrimpf to put the score at 6-2. However, Missouri State (9-4) reliever Sam Perez was able to get pinch-hitter Collin Massanelli to ground out to end the threat.
Arkansas State’s Zach George doubled to the right-center field gap with one out in the bottom of the ninth and scored on Wilcoxson’s two-out single up the middle to set the score at 6-3. However, the Bears’ reliever Bryan Young, who had entered the game to begin the inning, was able to get Schrimpf to fly out to center field on a full-count pitch to end the game.
Perez earned the victory for Missouri State and improved to 2-1 after tossing 3.1 innings of relief for starter Jordan Knutson. Perez gave up two runs (both earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk. A-State starter Chandler Hawkins took the loss to fall to 1-3 as the senior left-hander threw 5.1 innings and allowed four runs (all earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Offensively, George led the Red Wolves at the plate with three hits, including a double, and a walk, while Tanner Ring and Wilcoxson, who pinch hit for Ring in the bottom of the eighth, both collected two hits apiece. Wilcoxson, Levy, and Burgess drove in A-State’s runs as the Red Wolves outhit the Bears 11-6 in the game. Jake Burger was 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Missouri State.
The Bears struck first in the game in the top of the second when Hawkins allowed a two-out single and walked a batter in consecutive at-bats to open the door for Cory Kay’s double that scored both runners.
Missouri State tacked onto its lead in the top of the sixth after a lead-off double, sacrifice bunt, and walk ended Hawkins’ day. Colton Kibler came in the game, but walked the first guy he faced to load the bases and gave up a two-run double to Burger to put the score at 4-0. Missouri State added another run on a RBI ground out to take a 5-0 edge later in the inning. The Bears added another run in the top of eighth inning on another double from Burger for a 6-0 advantage.
After Kibler exited the game, the A-State bullpen of Cody Jackson, Tanner Kirby, Collin Nord, and Bo Ritter combined to pitch the final three innings and only gave up an unearned run on two hits with no walks and one strikeout.
The Red Wolves return to action Friday, March 13 at 6 p.m. as the team welcomes Georgia State to Tomlinson Stadium for its first home Sun Belt Conference series of the season. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.astate.edu or by calling the A-State Ticket Office at 1-888-ASUFANS. For the latest on A-State baseball follow the team by logging onto the team’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/astatebaseball and following them on Twitter (@ASTATEBaseball).