Saturday, April 18
Bobcats Split Doubleheader with Cajuns
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State and UL Lafayette split Saturday's doubleheader with the Ragin' Cajuns taking game one by a score of 11-3, but the Bobcats bouncing back in the late game to beat last year's Sun Belt Conference Champions, 10-4.
4/18/2015 Baseball vs. UL Lafayette (April 18) Baseball vs. UL Lafayette (April 18)
Tanner Hill and Cory Geisler paced the Bobcats from the plate all day, combining for nine hits combined in both games and a .529 average. While those two led the squad, nearly all the Bobcats were hitting well with five players hitting .333 or better on the day and the team finishing both games at .324.
It wasn't just average the Bobcats were hitting for as they knocked out three home runs Saturday. Granger Studdard hit his eighth one of the season to tie him with Cedric Vallieres for the team lead while Hill knocked two out in an impressive game two showing, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, four runs and a walk.
After dropping the first game, the Bobcats came out for game two with a renewed vigor, sitting down the Ragin' Cajuns 1-2-3 to start the game and following with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Geisler led off the game with a single up the middle and stole second. He went to third on a throwing error from the catcher on the play. Studdard knocked in the first RBI of game two with a single. Then he came in on Hill's first home run to put the Bobcats up 3-0.
The Ragin' Cajuns proved they would not lay down in the second game, scoring two runs in both the second and third innings to go ahead by one. Hill, however, answered with his second home run, a solo shot to tie the game. After that, the Bobcats scored six runs over the next three innings. In the third, David Paiz walked and scored on a triple from Geisler, making it the second time Saturday that Geisler drove in a run on a triple.
In the fifth, Hill worked the count for a walk and Theodore Hoffman knocked a double down the left field line to put both runners in scoring position. A single from Jared Huber scored both runners, part of a 3-for-8 day for the freshman. He joined Hill for the most RBI on the team Saturday, finishing with three.
Finally, in the sixth inning of game two, Vallieres reached on a catcher's interference and Studdard took the next free base on a hit by pitch. After a single from Hill loaded the bases, Hoffman took a pitch in the small of the back to bring in a run. A groundout after that scored one more, and Colby Targun followed with a single to bring in Hill and put the Bobcats up 10-4, the eventual final score.
Scott Grist went six innings on the mound to get the win, striking out three. Meanwhile, Tyler Giovanoni picked up the first save of his career with three innings pitched, only allowing two hits and striking out one.
Game one was a different story for the Bobcats. The Ragin' Cajuns jumped on Texas State, scoring five runs in the first five innings before the Bobcats could get on the board. Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, Luke Sherley knocked a hit up the middle, and Geisler drove him in with a triple. Geisler would score a batter later on a sacrifice fly from Vallieres. The only other Texas State run scored in the game was on a solo home run from Studdard. UL Lafayette went on to score six combined runs in the seventh and eighth innings to push the team's run total to 11, eventually winning, 11-3.
Both teams will return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday. The pitcher is to be announced for UL Lafayette, but the Bobcats will be pitching Jeremy Hallonquist in the series finale.
Eagles Rally Again, Take Series from UALR
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Georgia Southern baseball team rallied for the second time in the series to win game two 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday at Gary Hogan Field.
Aaron Mizell plated a lead off single from Kody Adams in the 10th inning with a double into the right centerfield gap to give the Eagles (23-16, 13-7) their first lead of the game.
The Trojans (14-21, 10-9) put a pair of runners on base in the bottom half of the 10th inning, but Dalton Busby ranged far to his right to gather a ground ball from Sam Vogel and start a game-ending double play.
The double play was the third of the day for Georgia Southern and secured the save for Chris Brown. Brown (9) allowed a hit and hit a batter but pitched a scoreless 10th inning.
Jason Richman picked up the victory in relief. Richman (5-0) entered in the 9th inning with a runner on base and recorded a fly out and a strikeout to strand a pair of base runners.
Cameron Allen worked 2.2 innings and retired five-straight batters after walking Hunter Thomas in the eighth inning. Allen (3-3) allowed a run for a second-straight day on two hits and two walks.
UALR jumped out to an early lead for the second time in the series and led 3-0 after the first inning.
Tripp Sheppard settled in after allowing three runs on three hits and an error. Sheppard pitched four innings and allowed five hits and two walks.
The bullpen combined to limit the Trojans to one run over six innings. Ryan Frederick struck out three batters and did not allow a hit over 2.2 innings.
Tomorrow's first pitch has been moved to 1 p.m. ET. Freshman Connor Simmons (1-3, 3.60 ERA) will get the call in game three of the series and will face righthander Sam Thoele (2-4, 5.36 ERA).
Rose Home Run in Night Caps Six-Run Rally in 15-13 Win over Mountaineers
Boone, N.C. -- Georgia State scored six runs in the last two innings, capped by Matt Rose's two-run homer in the ninth inning, to win 15-13 at Appalachian State, the fifth straight win for the Sun Belt Conference leaders. The Panthers improved to 13-3 in the Sun Belt, including 7-0 in conference road games.
Rose hit his Sun Belt-leading 12th homer of the season and drove in a career-high five runs on the day with a homer, two doubles and a single.
Georgia State (23-15, 13-3) trailed 12-6 in the eighth inning when Jack Thompson led off with a double, and then Justin Jones drove him in with a triple to the right field corner. After Caden Bailey walked, Rose ripped a double down the third base line to score two, bringing GSU within 12-9.
Joey Roach walked, and then with two outs, Sam Few delivered a run-scoring single and then Cam Sperry tied the game at 12-12 with a two-run double to left.
Apppalachian State (11-28, 4-16) regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the eighth on a pinch-hit double by Avery Jackson, leading to another Panthers' rally in the ninth.
With one out, Jones reached on a bloop double down the right field line. Trae Sweeting, who entered the game when Caden Bailey was ejected in the bottom of the eighth, laced a single up the middle to score Jones with the tying run.
That brought Rose to the plate, and he deposited the 1-0 pitch from left-hander Dallas DeVrieze over the left field fence for the 15-13 lead.
"He threw me a slider that caught a lot of the plate, and I just tried to put a good swing on it," Rose said. "The ball wasn't carrying well today so I knew I had to get a lot on it. I was just trying to hit a single to bring Joey (Roach) up, but thankfully it went out."
Frady added, "Matt Rose, once again, the most gigantic, clutch performer. Last night, Matt didn't have his best day, but today he made a really good adjustment. Not only was the home run big, but he hit all day long."
The Mountaineers mounted a threat in the bottom of the ninth as Noah Holmes and Drake Zupcic led off with back to back singles. But Jerry Stuckey (1-0) got Carson Jones to pop up and Brian Bauk to fly out before ending the game with by striking out pinch hitter Grayson Atwood looking.
Stuckey had come on in the eighth and struck out cleanup hitter Matt Brill with the bases loaded to end that inning. The senior right-hander earned his first victory of the season after saving Friday's win, which he also ended with a strikeout looking.
"We had a ton of things going on this game that made us want to win even more," Stuckey said. "We fell behind two different times, huge deficits, and we kept fighting back. I've got to thank the guys in the field for making great plays behind me."
After scoring three runs in the top of the first, Georgia State fell behind 7-3 after two innings. The Panthers mounted their first rally in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on a sacrifice fly by Sam Few, and run-scoring singles by Sperry and pinch hitter Jack Thompson to pull within 7-6.
But as GSU was rallying, senior second baseman David Levy became ill in the dugout and eventually had to be transported to the hospital for tests. Levy was later discharged and is expected to be fine.
Levy left the stadium during the bottom of the sixth as Appalachian State scored four runs to move ahead 11-6.
"It was a really trying time for us as a team, and it was hard to keep our focus," Frady said. "We all rallied together and dedicated the game to come back and win for him. We're all excited to see David back at the hotel."
"It was just an amazing game," he continued. "In my 28 years of coaching, this is one of my proudest moments, to see our team rally the way they did."
The Panthers, who won 4-3 in 12 innings on Friday, have now won six Sun Belt games in their final at bat.
The series finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
Mavericks, Trojans Split Doubleheaders Saturday
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington split the opening day of its series against Troy, taking game 1 15-4 before falling 7-6 in the second game of the day.
"Overall not a bad day, but when you split it's not a good day either," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "I was very pleased with game 1. I thought we swung the bat and caught some breaks and took advantage of them and Chad [Nack] did a good job for us on the mound."
The Mavericks (16-21, 7-10 Sun Belt) recorded 30 hits on the day to go along with 21 runs. The Trojans (21-19, 10-7 Sun Belt) put up 11 runs in the two games off of 23 hits.
Jackson Morris was explosive in the pair of games, going 5-for-9 with six RBI and a home run. Morris was aided by five other UTA players who hit over .500 on the day. Levi Scott also helped chip in with a 4-for-8 performance that included four RBI and three runs.
"We've got a big game tomorrow," Thomas added. "We've got a chance to win a series against a good club and we need to win a series so tomorrow is a really big game."
The Mavericks will return to action on Sunday in a rubber match against the Trojans with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Game 1: UTA 15, Troy 4
Final Stats
An offensive outburst propelled UT Arlington to a 15-4 victory over Troy in the opening game of a doubleheader at Clay Gould Ballpark on Saturday afternoon.
The Mavericks brought in their 15 runs off of 17 hits with three errors. The Trojans pushed across four runs, notching 10 hits with one error.
Chad Nack (3-3) claimed the win, going seven innings on the mound with eight hits and four earned runs allowed. The Sanger native also fanned three on his way to recording his 100th career strikeout.
Six Maverick players recorded a multi-hit outing in the game with Christian Hollie and Morris leading the way. Hollie ended the day 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI, while Morris came away with a 3-for-4 outing that included a three-run shot in the sixth inning to go along with six RBI.
After Troy took a one run lead in the top of the second inning, UTA responded with a six-run scoring outburst in the bottom half to take control of the game. With back-to-back singles by Eric Tate and Brady Cox loading the bases for the Mavs, Hollie stepped into the box and delivered with a two-RBI single through the left side.
With a Matt McLean walk reloading the bases for UT Arlington, Levi Scott came up with a two-out single to right field that brought in a pair of runs. Morris would cap off the scoring spree with a two-out, two-RBI double to right field that pushed across the final two runs of the inning, giving the Mavericks a 6-1 lead heading into the third.
Troy cut into the UTA lead in the third inning with two straight singles that pushed across a pair of runs, slimming the Mavs lead to three runs at 6-3.
Looking to extend its lead in the fifth, UT Arlington used a Darien McLemore single to clear the way for Scott to score, pushing the Maverick lead to four runs.
The scoring continued in the sixth inning for the Mavericks as they brought in five runs to take a 12-3 lead. UTA scored in back-to-back at-bats for the first two runs of the inning. Morris came to the plate and sent the ball over the right-field wall for a three-run shot and his first home run of the season.
Tacking on some insurance runs in the seventh, the Mavs came away with a three-run inning, highlighted by a Travis Sibley single to left field that pushed across two runs and extended the final margin of victory to 11 runs at 15-4.
Game 2: Troy 7, UTA 6
Final Stats
After opening up the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with seven straight scoreless innings, UTA put together a furious eighth inning rally, scoring six runs to cut the Troy lead to one run.
Tate finished the game with a 2-for-3 outing, batting in one run. Jerame Littell also was effective, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.
After giving up five runs in the first two innings, the Maverick bullpen responded with a six-hit, two run outing that put UTA in position to make the comeback.
With Hollie getting hit by a pitch to open up the eighth inning, the Mavericks strung together six straight hits to get within one run. Sibley, Scott, McLemore, Littell and Dalton DeLeon each recorded an RBI single in the inning for UTA.
A McLemore two-out single set the stage for UTA to knot the game up at seven, but a ground ball ended the Mavericks hope of a comeback as they fell 7-6.
Daniel James (2-3) was charged with the loss, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in his two innings on the mound.
Levy Powers A-State Over ULM, 11-3
MONROE, La. (4/18/15) – Arkansas State senior catcher Stuart Levy hit two home runs and drove in six runs, all with two outs, as he helped the A-State baseball squad earn an 11-3 victory over ULM Saturday night at Warhawk Field in a game that featured a 52 minute weather delay.
Levy homered in the sixth and ninth innings as he became the first A-State (15-21, 5-14 SBC) player this season to have two home runs in the same game and the first since Austin Baker hit three against Murray State on March 11, 2014. His second home run was a grand slam, the team’s third of the season, while his six RBIs are the most by a Red Wolves player this year.
Levy’s first homer extended Arkansas State’s advantage to 6-3 in the sixth inning when he hit it to left field off ULM (19-19, 6-11 SBC) reliever Josh Leone, who had just entered the game for Trey Setzer. Matt Burgess walked to begin the inning and Joe Schrimpf walked after two outs to give A-State runners at first and second. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch and Jeremy Brown knocked both runners in on a solid single up the middle to give the Red Wolves their first lead of the game at 4-3.
A-State added another run in the eighth on an error by ULM’s center fielder before Levy’s grand slam in the ninth really put things out of reach. ULM got the first two outs of the inning a walk by Ty White, single by Schrimpf, and walk by Brown set the stage for Levy’s homer and capped the scoring as A-State won 11-3.
Chandler Hawkins picked up the win for A-State to improve to 3-5 as he tossed 3.1 innings and didn’t allow a run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He relieved starter David Owen who went the first 4.2 and allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts before not coming back out to the mound after the rain delay. Trey Setzer took the loss for the Warhawks to fall to 5-2 as he allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits.
Offensively, Schrimpf also had two hits for the Red Wolves in addition to Levy’s big night. Zach George also had a hit and an RBI as he extended his on-base streak to a nation-high 53 games. The Warhawks had three players tally two hits on the night.
ULM got on the scoreboard first in the game on a passed ball in the bottom of the second inning and took a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk by Nathan Pugh with one out. Owen stranded the rest of the runners in that inning with a strikeout and fly out to center field to end the Warhawks’ threat.
The Red Wolves began a rally in the top of the fifth inning when Schrimpf led off with a single and Brown was hit by a pitch to put the first two runners of the inning on base. Levy sacrifice-bunted both runners up a base and A-State got on the board on a George RBI ground out to shortstop. Lucas Feddersen hit a sharp ground ball right to third base and caught a break when it was bobbled and allowed the Red Wolves to tie things up at 2-2 on E5.
ULM quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Kodie Tidwell hit a home run over the right-field fence for a 3-2 edge. The game would end up going into a rain delay in the inning with runners on the corners for the Warhawks and two outs in the frame. The weather delay lasted 52 minutes before play resumed and Hawkins relieved Owen to get the final out of the frame.
Evansville Sweeps South Alabama on Saturday
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Evansville swept a doubleheader to clinch its series with the University of South Alabama baseball team Saturday at Braun Stadium. The Purple Aces evened the series with a 6-5 win in the first game of Saturday's twinbill, and took the series with a 9-5 decision in the finale.
Game 1 – Evansville 6, South Alabama 5
South Alabama put the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the top of the ninth and trailing by a run, but Evansville right-hander Brent Jurceka induced a groundout to first base off the bat of Danny Martinez for the final out of the game and a 6-5 win for the Purple Aces that evened the series at one game apiece.
USA took the game's first lead on a two-out RBI single to center field by Matt Bolger that scored Ryan Raspino, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the frame. Gann followed with an RBI single to left field to plate Cole Billingsley, who reached on a one-out single earlier in the inning, for a 2-0 Jaguar lead.
The Purple Aces cut the South Alabama lead in half in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out RBI double to left-center field by Jonathan Ramon, and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a throwing error by Collura on a grounder to third by Ramon.
UE loaded the bases later in the bottom of the sixth with one out, and took a 4-2 lead on a two-run single to center field by Max Foley. Travis Tokarek followed with an RBI single to center field for a 5-2 Purple Ace advantage. Shain Showers then singled to left field to push the sixth UE run across in the game.
Consecutive singles from Garrett DeGallier and Raspino started the top of the seventh for USA. A groundout to second by Billingsley moved both runners into scoring position for Collura who singled on a line drive just out of the reach of Ramon at third to score DeGallier and cut the Jaguar deficit in half at 6-3. Collura then stole second before a two-out single to center field by Gann for the final Jaguar run of the game.
Eight Jaguars recorded at least one hit in the game, led by Gann went 3-for-4 with three RBI. Foley finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to lead the Evansville offense.
UE left-hander Brodie Harkness (5-2) allowed five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and three walks to earn his fifth win of the season. Jurceka allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning to record his sixth save of the year. USA right-hander Cameron Cochran (1-1) allowed five runs, all of which were unearned, on three hits with one strikeout and a pair of walks in the loss. Austin Bembnowski allowed just one run on four hits with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings without factoring in the decision.
Game 2 – Evansville 9, South Alabama 5
Evansville (20-16) scored six runs in the first two innings en route to a series-clinching win in the series finale.
Consecutive singles by Showers and Jarod Perry led off the UE bottom of the first. Kaczmarski delivered a two-run single to center field with one out later in the inning for a 2-0 Evansville lead. Gates issued consecutive walks behind Kaczmarski's single to load the bases with one out. Billy Lipari later singled to center field with two outs to score two additional Purple Aces for a 4-0 lead.
An RBI double by Josh Jyawook in the bottom of the second extended the Evansville lead to 5-0. Kaczmarski followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to push the UE lead to 6-0.
EU right-hander Connor Strain did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth when Bolger singled back up the middle with one out, and didn't allow a run until the top of the sixth when Gann delivered a two-run home run over the left-center field wall to cut the Evansville lead to 6-2. Martinez reached on a fielder's choice later in the inning, and eventually scored on a passed ball by Lipari to cut the Evansville lead in half. Gleason followed with a two-out double to right-center field before Bolger reached on a fielding error by Showers at shortstop that allowed Gleason to score and cut the EU lead to 6-4. Knapp then singled to shallow right field to put runners at the corners for Raspino who then reached on a fielding error Showers that scored Bolger and cut the Jaguar deficit to one run.
Evansville answered in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI triple to right-center field by Kaczmarski and sacrifice fly to center field by Jonathan Ramon to push its lead back to three runs.
The Purple Aces loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, and added the final run of the game on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Perry.
Strain (2-4) allowed five runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts and four walks in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. Jaguar southpaw Jared Gates (3-2) allowed four runs on five hits with two walks in two-thirds of an inning in the loss.
Gleason went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored, Bolger added two hits and a run and Gann homered, drove in two runs and scored once to lead the Jaguar offense. Kaczmarski finished 2-for-4 with a triple, four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Purple Aces at the plate.
South Alabama (25-15) will return to action with a pair of midweek games at Jacksonville State this week, with the first game scheduled for Tue., April 21, at 6 p.m. in Jacksonville, Ala. The two-game set will conclude at 3 p.m. Wednesday.