Tuesday, March 1
Late Rally Propels Cajuns Past UNO, 7-4
LAFAYETTE, La. – The 16th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to come from behind to defeat New Orleans 7-4 in a midweek contest at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field on Tuesday.
"Hogan (Harris) did what he was supposed to do," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "He never let the game get away from him. (Will) Bacon came in and never let the game get away from him, and we just kept trying to play good defense. We pitched and played defense, that's all we can do now.
"Offensively we loosened up as the game went on and swung the bat with more arrogance. Hitting is contagious. Usually when one guy hits one on the nose it's momentum, and they couldn't stop our momentum."
The victory improves the Cajuns to 5-3 on the season, while the Privateers were handed their second loss of the year to fall to 6-2.
Senior right-hander Will Bacon (1-0) earned the victory going 4.0 innings in relief, holding UNO to two runs on six hits. Bacon had two strikeouts and did not surrender a free pass.
Reagan Bazar and Dylan Moore combined to throw two scoreless innings to close out the ballgame. Moore picked up his first save of the season in the outing as he moved two saves away from tying the school career record of 16 set by Matt Hicks.
Reliever Ryan Leone (0-1) took the loss for New Orleans giving up two runs on two hits with a walk in 0.2 innings pitched.
UNO had a 10-9 edge in hits led by Ryan Calloway and Jay Robinson who were both a perfect 3-for-3 on the night.
Joe Robbins and Ishmael Edwards each had a game-high two hits for the Cajuns including a solo home run. Robbins has posted a hit in seven straight games and an extra-base hit in the last four.
The Privateers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Ryan Calloway scored on a ball hit to short by Aaron Palmer with the bases loaded and no outs.
UNO extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Samuel Capielano.
In the bottom of the fifth, Louisiana would load the bases with no outs following a bunt single by Edwards. In the next at bat, Robbins put the Cajuns on the board with a sacrifice fly to right field to cut the New Orleans advantage to 2-1. UNO starter Bryan Warzek settled down and retired the next two Ragin' Cajuns batters to end the threat without further damage.
The Privateers added to their lead in the top of the seventh scoring two runs on an RBI triple by Jay Robinson and an RBI single by Calloway.
The Cajuns rallied in the bottom half of the seventh scoring four runs on four hits to go in front 5-4. Edwards and Robbins hit back-to-back home runs to pull Louisiana within a run with one out in the inning. Derek Herrington pulled the Ragin' Cajuns even as he singled home Brenn Conrad. Herrington would later score on a single through the left side of the infield by Dylon Poncho to give the Cajuns the lead.
Louisiana tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Conrad and a triple down the right field line by Stefan Trosclair to make the final 7-4.
The Cajuns return to action tomorrow at 6 p.m. as the squad heads to Lake Charles, La. to face McNeese State in a non-conference game at Cowboy Diamond.
Following the matchup with the Cowboys, the Ragin' Cajuns will host Sacred Heart in a three-game series at "The Tigue" starting Friday at 6 p.m. Individual game tickets for the series are available on Ticketmaster.com. Fans who are unable to attend the series are encouraged to return their tickets that will not be used to the Cajundome Box Office or by emailing ULTickets@Cajundome.com.
Warhawks Run Away with 18-9 Win over Valpo
MONROE, La. – ULM rallied from a 6-0 deficit in the second inning to an 18-9 win over Valparaiso on Tuesday night in its home opener.
The Warhawks’ six-run sixth inning not only marked its most in a frame, but also turned the tables completely. Valparaiso scored three runs in the top half to take a 9-6 lead before ULM went on its tear. Seven consecutive batters reached to begin the inning, including back-to-back doubles by Spencer Hemphill and Jacob Stockton. The second two-bagger cut the deficit to 9-8, and Danny Springer’s single tied the game.
An overthrow from the shortstop with two outs in the bottom of the sixth allowed Ross Moore to score, and Nathan Reynolds followed suit with a two-run double to the right field corner that made it a 12-9 margin.
Keller Bradford earned his first career win in the process after his career-high 2 2/3 innings on the hill spanned the rally.
ULM added some final blows in its last at-bat, plating another six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Two hits and an error began the inning, all staying within the infield as well. Josh Faciane singled to center field for the first two runs of the inning before back-to-back walks, the last of which coming to Cade Stone on four pitches with the bases loaded that made it a 15-9 margin.
Nathan Pugh and Spencer Hemphill added RBIs on a hit-by-pitch and walk, respectively, before Jacob Stockton drove in the final run on a sacrifice fly that missed being a grand slam by just a few feet.
Valparaiso scored the game’s first six runs, all in the first two innings. Daniel Delaney and Nolan Lodden each had two-run doubles while Nate Palace drove in a pair with a single.
Troy Falls to Alabama, Sets Attendance Record
TROY, Alabama - The Troy baseball team fell to No. 22 Alabama, 2-1, on Tuesday night at Riddle-Pace Field in front of 3,243, a new Riddle-Pace Field record.
The previous attendance record at Riddle-Pace Field was 2,936. That record was set on March 20, 2012 when the Trojans hosted Alabama.
Troy (7-2) picked up the first run of the game in the third inning on a single to right center field by Trevor Davis that scored Bert Givens, who reached on a leadoff single.
The score remained 1-0 until Alabama (7-1) scored two runs in the top of the eighth. Georgie Salem led off the inning with a bunt single. Salem advanced to third on a Chandler Avant double to left center field. The next batter, Hunter Webb, grounded out to second base and Salem scored on the play to tie the game at one. The Crimson Tide took the lead with a single to right field that scored Avant and put the game at rest, 2-1.
The Trojans started the eighth inning off with a single to center field from Matt Sanders, who finished the game 2-for-4 and extended his hit streak to seven games. After a strikeout and a fly out to center field, Sanders stole second, but was stranded there when a strikeout ended the scoring threat.
Troy had three players with multi-hit games. Davis went 2-for-3 and drove in the lone run for the Trojans. Sanders went 2-for-4 with a double and Givens had his first multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-3.
Sam Finnerty (1-0) picked up the win for Alabama. He pitched one inning, struck out one and gave up one hit.
Marc Skinner (0-1) suffered the loss for the Trojans. He pitched two innings, allowed one run on three hits. He struck out three and only walked one. The starter, Cory Gill, went 4.1 innings and didn’t allow a run. He only allowed three hits, walked two and struck out six. Robert Harris pitched 2.2 innings of relief work, allowed one run on three hits and struck out four.
Troy travels to Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday for a game against UAB at Regions Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
The Trojans hosted the Blazers (3-5) last Wednesday and won 2-1. Troy has a chance to tie up the all-time series at 25 between the two teams on Wednesday night.
Bobcats Fall to Texas in Extra-Inning Thriller
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State welcomed Texas to San Marcos on Tuesday night and gave the Longhorns all they could handle through 10 innings in front of a record crowd of 2,776. In a back-and-forth game, freshman Ryan Newman brought the Bobcats back from down 4-3 with an eighth-inning home run to tie the game. Unfortunately, Texas would put together a six-run 11th inning to clinch the game, 10-4, and drop the Bobcats to 5-4 on the season.
In addition to Newman’s home run, Tanner Hill hit his third of the season. Both homers came after the Bobcats scored two runs in the second inning to claim an early 2-0 lead. Texas scored three in the fifth and one in the top of the sixth before Hill and Newman hit their roundtrippers to tie the game.
A big reason the Longhorns couldn’t muster any answer to the Bobcat homers late was Pasquale Mazzoccoli. The senior reliever was outstanding for Texas State. He entered the game in the seventh inning with a man on base. The Bobcats caught the runner stealing and Mazzoccoli forced the next batter to hit into a double play. In the eighth inning, he used a fly out, strikeout and groundout to retire three of four batters. He stayed hot into the ninth with another strikeout, putting down three of four batters again. Then, in the 10th inning, he struck out the first two batters and forced a groundout to sit the Longhorns down, 1-2-3.
Offensively for Texas State, their best opportunity to win came in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nick Perez led off with a single, followed by a bunt from Jared Huber. It went down in the book as a sacrifice bunt on a fielder’s choice, but both Bobcat runners were safe. With two runners on, Cody Lovejoy sacrifice bunted both runners into scoring position, and Texas countered with an intentional walk of Jonathan Ortega to load the bases with one out. Texas State, though, could not capitalize on the situation, going down on a fielder’s choice and a groundout.
In the seventh, the Bobcats were on the short end of another scoring opportunity. With arguably the fastest player on the team at third base in Lovejoy, Texas State tried to turn a shallow fly ball into a sacrifice fly. The Longhorns made the throw home in time to catch the speedy Lovejoy and end the inning with the double play.
Then, finally in the 11th inning, with Texas State going to their fourth, fifth and sixth pitchers of the night, Texas took advantage of a hit by pitch, bunt single and a walk to load the bases. From there, a walk, a single, a double, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly scored six runs for Texas for the 10-4 Longhorn win.
Newman led the Bobcats offensively, going 3-for-5 with a home run. Perez was 2-for-4 with a run scored while Hill used a good eye to draw two walks and hit a home run, scoring two runs on a 1-for-3 night. Lovejoy also struck multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3.
Texas State started the scoring in the second inning, and did it with two outs. Hill worked the count for a two-out walk, and Perez followed suit with another one. With runners at first and second, Huber, the team leader in two-out batting, knocked an RBI single to right centerfield for the first run of the game. Shortly after Hill scored, Perez came in on a balk from the UT pitcher to put the Bobcats up, 2-0.
The Longhorns responded in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, UT put a man on second base with a bunt and an error. The runner went to third on a single and scored on a safety squeeze. The next batter hit an RBI double to left field to tie the game, 2-2. Texas kept the rally going with a base hit through the right side to score one more and take a 3-2 lead.
Texas did some more damage in the top of the sixth, adding one run with two outs. After a single and a steal from Travis Jones, Kody Clemens hit a big triple to left field to push the Texas lead to 4-2.
Hill continued to have an impressive day with two outs. After two walks on the night, the first with two outs, Hill struck his homer. It was a solo shot with two outs to pull the Bobcats within one, 4-3. After a scoreless seventh, Newman followed Hill’s lead with a solo bomb to the right field power alley. His second home run of the season and in the last two games tied it up, 4-4.
From there, both teams battled until Texas was able to take it in the 11th inning. Texas State next hosts Incarnate Word for a weekend home stand with games at 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. After that, the Bobcats will travel to Waco for a road midweek game against Baylor before going to Monroe, La., to open Sun Belt Conference action against UL Monroe.
SOLEYMANI, SIX-RUN FIFTH LIFTS JAGS OVER SOUTHERN MISS
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team used a quality start from right-hander Hunter Soleymani and a six-run fifth inning to defeat Southern Mississippi 9-3 Tuesday at Stanky Field.
Soleymani (1-0) allowed three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 6 2/3 innings to earn his first win of the season. Mike Dolloff tossed 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings, and allowed three hits with one strikeout and one walk.
"This was a total team effort that started tonight with senior Hunter Soleymani on the mound," head coach Mark Calvi said. "They (Southern Miss) is a really good team. They are coached well; they have a very good coaching staff that coaches hard and recruits well. But I am proud of our guys tonight and the way they came out and kept battling until the end."
The Jags pushed the game's first run across in the bottom of the third. Drew LaBounty reached on a one-out walk, and Jared Barnes followed with a single to right field to put runners at the corners with one out. Ben Gann then lifted a sacrifice fly to right-center field to plate LaBounty with the first run of the game. Danny Martinez and Matt Bolger drew consecutive two-out walks to load the bases. But USM right-hander Austin Millet worked out of the jam with an inning-ending strikeout of Tanner Halstead.
USM (7-1) answered to tie the game in the top of the fifth. Chase Scott drew a leadoff walk from Soleymani, and scored to tie the game later in the inning on a two-out RBI triple to the left-center gap by Nick Dawson.
USA (7-1) responded with its biggest inning of the game in the bottom of the fifth to take a six-run lead. LaBounty led off the inning with a walk from Millet, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Barnes. Gann followed with a base on balls, and Martinez drew a walk from USM left-hander Luke Lowery to load the bases with one out. Bolger followed with a two-run single back up the middle to score LaBounty and Gann for a 3-1 Jaguar lead. Halstead then reached on a fielder's choice to third to load the bases for Adam Wolfe, who lifted a 1-0 pitch from Lowery over the left-center field wall for a grand slam and 7-1 USA advantage.
"I was just trying to stay back and wait for my pitch," Wolfe said. "I was waiting for a fastball, and he left one up and I put a good swing on it."
The Golden Eagles pushed across their final runs of the game in the top of the seventh. USM scored its second run of the game on a two-out RBI single to right field by Dawson to cut the Jaguar lead to 7-2. A walk by Dylan Burdeaux from USA right-hander Mike Dolloff loaded the bases for Jake Sandlin, who then delivered an RBI single back up the middle to cut the USM deficit to 7-3.
South Alabama responded with the final two runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Bolger led off the inning with a walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Halstead. Wolfe then reached on a hit by pitch before Brendan Donovan singled to center field to load the bases. Cole Billingsley then reached on a fielder's choice to second to score Bolger and extend the USA lead to 8-3. Wolfe scored later in the inning on a wild pitch with the final run of the game.
Millet (1-1) allowed two runs with three walks and one strikeout in 1 2/3 relief innings in the loss. Wolfe finished 1-for-3 with a home run – his second in as many games – four RBI and two runs scored to lead the Jags at the plate. Bolger went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, and Billingsley and Gann drove in one run apiece. Dawson finished 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI to lead the Golden Eagles offensively.
South Alabama will return to action Wednesday when it faces Southern Mississippi at 7:05 p.m. at MGM Park in Biloxi, Miss.
Three Eagles' Home Runs Down App State
DURHAM, N.C. — In its midweek contest with in-state school NC Central, Appalachian State University baseball gave up home runs in the first, seventh, and eighth innings on its way to dropping a 4-1 game at historic Durham Park.
Starting pitching Breydan Gorham (Burlington, N.C./Western Alamance) made his second start of the season and pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and struck out four batters.
The Eagles (4-4) took the lead in the bottom of the first inning on Carlos Ortiz’ home run over the right field wall. The Mountaineers (1-8) looked as if they would answer in the top of the third. With a man on base, Tanner Mann-Fix (Charlotte, N.C./Olympic) singled into right field and tried to advance as the right fielder threw into third base but was thrown out at second.
In the sixth inning, Mann-Fix leveled the score with a solo shot of his own. With two outs, Mann-Fix lifted the ball over the raised right field wall for the Mountaineers only run of the game. In the bottom have of the inning, Ortiz drove a ball into center field that looked as if it would easily sail over App State defense, but Mann-Fix made a brilliant diving grab to end the inning.
After NC Central regained the lead with a homer in the seventh, the Eagles walked lead-off batter, Matt Vernon (Advance, N.C./Davie County) (Florence-Darlington Tech). Henry Davis (Darlington, S.C./Mayo H.S. for Math, Science and Technology) entered the game to run for Vernon. One batter later, Davis took off for second base and the NC Central catcher threw the ball into center field, allowing Davis to scamper over to third. Appalachian was unable to capitalize with a man on third in what turned out to be their last scoring threat.
NC Central sealed the game with an eighth inning two-run shot to right-center field off reliever Travis Holden (Advance, N.C./West Forsyth). App State couldn’t register a hit in the ninth to keep the game alive.
Brian Bauk (Salisbury, N.C./Salisbury), Grayson Atwood (Mt. Pleasant, N.C./Mt. Pleasant), and Will Herman (Dunwoody, Ga./St. Pius X Catholic) all recorded hits to go along with Mann-Fix’s two. Gorham suffered the loss and dropped to 0-2 on the season.
The Mountaineers are back in action this weekend in Elon, N.C. for games versus Stony Brook, Bowling Green, and Elon.
Panthers Lead Early but Fall to Georgia Tech
ATLANTA -- Joey Roach's three-run home run in the first inning put Georgia State in front at No. 13 Georgia Tech, but the Panthers (5-3) fell to the undefeated Yellow Jackets (8-0) 11-6 Tuesday at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Roach had three hits on the day, and sophomore first baseman Jack Thompson belted his second homer of the season with a two-run shot in the sixth inning. Jaylen Woullard and Ryan Blanton each had two of the Panthers' 12 hits.
Georgia State led off the game with back-to-back hits by Jaylen Woulard and Justin Jones, and after two were out, Roach hit the 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for the opposite field home run and a 3-0 lead.
That was the 17th career homer for the senior catcher, who hit his first round-tripper on this same field as a freshman.
But Georgia Tech answered with Brandon Gold's two-out, two run double to the right field corner, pulling within 3-2. That snapped a string of 24 straight scoreless innings for the GSU pitching staff.
The Panthers still led 3-2 when Tech put up three runs in the fourth on Brandt Stalling's three-run homer and then five more in the fifth to pull ahead 10-3.
Thompson's long ball, his second of the season, made the score 10-5, and Georgia State added one more on a pinch hit, RBI-single by freshman Nick Gatewood.
In addition to his three hits, Roach threw out a runner attempting to steal. The Panthers also picked off two Tech runners at first base.
"I thought it was a competitive game, and for the most part, I'm relatively happy with the way we played," head coach Greg Frady said.. We hit with them, we hit home runs, we didn't make any errors, but the game got away from us in the middle part of the game. When you give up eight runs in two innings, it's really hard to win like that.
"All in all, there were more positives in this game, but there are some things we have to clean up. We just need more time for this team to come together and jell."
Georgia State returns home to host a three-game series with Minnesota, beginning Friday at 4 p.m.
Georgia Southern Defeats College of Charleston, 10-6
TATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern gained a lead early and solidified a 10-6 win over College of Charleston Tuesday night at home. The Eagles (5-4) face Memphis in a three-game weekend series starting on March 4, with the first pitch set for 7 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"It was a good win against a good team. Tonight our offense picked us up and that's good to see," Coach Hennon said. "We got some big two-out hits early on and I thought our hitters did a good job using the middle of the field and staying on the ball. We hit some hard ground balls and some good line drives against their starter and I thought we ran the bases well tonight and played pretty clean defensively."
Player of the Game
Will Hudgins // INF // So. // Dunwoody, GA
4-for-5 // 2 RBI // 1 SB
Hudgins had four hits at five at-bats to post a new career high for the infielder. Hudgins had two RBIs early in the game to match his career high. He also stole a base and had an outstanding defensive grab late in the game.
Scoring Recap
Top 1st – With two outs and no one on base, Bradley Jones homered to left center to score the first and only run of the inning for College of Charleston.
Bottom 1st – A single by Hudgins gave CJ Ballad and Ryan Cleveland the go ahead to score the first two runs for the Eagles. Cal Baker picked up his second RBI of the season when he singled to left field, sending Hudgins home.
Bottom 2nd – With a single up the middle, Eric Furphy earned an RBI by sending Evan McDonald home to score. Cleveland blasted his second homerun of the season to center field with Furphy on base, scoring two more Eagle runs later in the frame.
Bottom 4th – Furphy advanced to first after being hit by a pitch. Two wild pitches by Anthony Burke and a single up the middle by Jordan Wren followed, sending Furphy home to score.
Top 5th - A balk by Landon Hughes put Tommy Richter on third and allowed for Logan McRae to score for the Cougars. After an Eagles pitching change, Richter scored on a wild pitch by Ryan Frederick, scoring the second run of the inning for the Cougars.
Bottom 5th – With no outs and one on, Matt Anderson doubled to left allowing Cal Baker to score the only run of the inning for the Eagles.
Bottom 6th – The Cougars were quick to get two outs in the bottom of the sixth before Logan Baldwin hit an off-the-wall double, sending Hudgins home.
Top 8th – Another blast by Jones started the inning for the Cougars, this time to right center, and added the only run of the inning for College of Charleston.
Bottom 8th – A wild pitch by Clay Helvey put runners on second and third. Wren scored for the Eagles on a throwing error by catcher Erven Roper.
Top 9th – With runners on second and third, Bradley Dixon singled to center field for an RBI, allowing Connor Grant to score. A wild pitch sent Richter home to score the last run of the game for the Cougars.
Mavs Pick Up 13-5 Win over SFA
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The UT Arlington Mavericks pounded out 14 hits and pushed across 13 runs in picking up a 13-5 win over Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday at Jaycees Field.
Five Mavs (5-4) put together multi-hit games on the night as UTA claimed the rubber match of the season series with the ‘Jacks (5-4). RJ Williams led the charge with three hits and three stolen bases on the night, scoring four times with a pair of RBI. Colton Turner connected on his second home run on the season, while Darien McLemore, Matt McLean and Noah Vaughan finished with two hits apiece.
UTA threw six arms at the Lumberjacks with Kadon Simmons picking up his second win of the season with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings of work. Jacob Moreland did not allow a base runner in 2.1 innings of relief and Daniel James loaded the bases before striking out the side in a scoreless ninth.
SFA starter Austin Hagy was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs in 3.0 frames, all in a six-run second inning that blew things open early on for the Mavs.
The Mavs loaded the bases with no outs in that inning before getting an RBI ground out from Cody Farrell and a two-run double from Darien McLemore to plate the first three runs. McLean added an RBI single of his own and Christian Hollie capped the inning off with a two-run single to score both RJ Williams and McLean.
SFA scored an unearned run in its half of the third, but the Mavs responded with three more in the top of the fourth to up its lead to 9-1. Williams had the big hit of the inning with a two-run double to score both McLemore and McLean, then came home to score himself two batters later on an SFA error.
The ‘Jacks got a pair of doubles from Conner Fikes and Zach Valenzuela to open the SFA fourth, cutting the UTA lead to 9-2. But Mavs’ reliever Dylan Schneider struck out the next two hitters before getting Matthew Dickey to ground out and end the rally. He finished with four punchouts on the night in 2.0 innings of relief work.
Colton Turner made it an 11-2 UTA advantage in the top of the sixth with a no-doubt two-run home run to left field, but SFA made things interesting in the bottom half of the inning. The Mavs were all set to get out of a scoreless inning but a fielding miscue scored two SFA runs and the ‘Jacks proceeded to load the bases in front of slugger Kyle Thornell who drew a walk to cut the lead to 11-5. UTA then went to Moreland and the senior got a nice defensive play from Hollie at third base on the first pitch to pinch hitter Tyler Pinkston to end the rally.
Moreland went on to shut the ‘Jacks down in both the seventh and the eighth, and the Mavs offense added two more runs in the final two innings for the game’s final margin.
UTA will now head home to open up a four-game series with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday at Clay Gould Ballpark.