Friday, March 25
Cajuns Baseball Defeats Georgia State 7-3 To Clinch Series
LAFAYETTE, La. – The 29th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a two-out, three-run rally in the fifth inning to defeat Georgia State 7-3 and clinch the series Friday night at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field. The series victory is the fourth of the season for the Cajuns and the second in Sun Belt play.
For the second straight night, the Ragin' Cajuns (14-9, 5-3 Sun Belt) were outhit by the Panthers (12-11, 2-3 Sun Belt) as GSU had a 10-6 edge at the plate. Six of the Cajuns seven runs in the contest came with two outs, while the Panthers committed three errors on the night leading to three unearned runs.
"I thought Gunner (Leger) did a good job despite not having his best stuff," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "You could tell he wasn't sharp, but I think he did what a good veteran sophomore does, he kept you in the ball. Then Hogan Harris came on and bridged the gap for us to get us to Jevin (Huval). We got outhit again tonight, but both nights we won. That's because we pitched and played defense both nights."
Brian Mills paced the Ragin' Cajuns going 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored a run. James Clements, Jarrett Hood and Jack Thompson each had a pair of hits for Georgia State.
Leger improved to 3-1 on the year limiting GSU to two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in five innings of work. Harris tossed 1.2 innings before giving way to Huval who went 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the contest and record his second save of the season.
Georgia State starter Marc-Andre Habeck took the loss to fall to 1-1. Habeck surrendered five runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks in five innings.
Louisiana grabbed an early 1-0 lead on Joe Robbins' seventh home run of the year, sending a 3-2 pitch from Habeck over the fence in left for a solo homer.
The Panthers pulled even in the top of the second on a bases-loaded RBI ground out to shortstop by Rhett Harper.
In the top of the third, Georgia State went in front 2-1 on a Clements RBI single to right center scoring Justin Jones from second.
Derek Herrington knotted things up at 2-all in the bottom half of the third scoring Nick Thurman on a sacrifice fly to deep center. Thurman reached on a two-base error by Thompson the first baseman and then advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Joey Roach.
The Ragin' Cajuns regained the lead in the bottom half of the fifth on two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield by Mills. After an error by the shortstop Jones and a Robbins walk loaded the bases, Habeck hit Steven Sensley with a pitch to bring home a run and make the score 4-2. Brenn Conrad scored the final run of the inning scoring on a Habeck wild pitch to give Louisiana a three-run edge.
The Cajuns added two insurance runs in the sixth on back-to-back RBI singles by Mills and Conrad to take a 7-2 advantage. The singles came on consecutive pitches from GSU reliever Alex Hegner.
The Panthers threatened to claw their way back into the game in the seventh as a Hood RBI single cut the lead to 7-3. Georgia State sent the tying run to the plate in the inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but Huval got Ryan Blanton to ground out to second base to end the inning.
Huval would not allow a runner to reach second base over the final two frames to earn the save.
The Cajuns and Panthers close out the series tomorrow at 11 a.m. at The Tigue as the Ragin' Cajuns go for the sweep. Louisiana will send freshman right-hander Nick Lee to the mound, while Georgia State will start right-hander Bryan White.
American Idol finalist MacKenzie Bourg will be on hand to throw out the first pitch and sign the national anthem.
The contest will be broadcast live on myAcadianaTV and ESPN3.com as Dan McDonald and Dave Schultz will call the action.
Wilcox, offense lead UT Arlington to 9-3 win over Incarnate Word
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jake Wilcox helped steer UT Arlington to the series-clinching win over Incarnate Word in a 9-3 result on Friday at Clay Gould Ballpark.
"It was a great outing and we need Jake (Wilcox) to be like that," coach Darin Thomas said following the game. "He was a guy for us early and has struggled the last couple of times out, btu that was really good to see. He was in the zone with more than one pitch, missed some barrels and allowed us a chance to get our offense going. That's what you need from the first guy out of the bullpen."
Wilcox was masterful in 6.2 innings of work out of the pen, helping get UTA out of a second-inning jam on the way to allowing just one hit. The Mavericks improved to 13-11 with their second consecutive win over the Cardinals (5-18) and third straight win overall. The teams conclude the three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m.
"The coaches expect us pitchers to go at any moment," Wilcox said. "I wasn't thinking about going any number of innings, just about going out there and getting out of the situation I was put it. It just so happens I was able to stay in and get a good run out of it."
Eight of UTA's nine starters reached safely as UTA scattered 13 hits. Quintin Rohrbaugh led the way with a 3-for-5 effort that included a triple, two RBI and a run. Matt McLean, Noah Vaughan and Cody Farrell each recorded two hits. McLean and Farrell finished with a pair of doubles, while McClean crossed the plate for two runs.
"We've been swiniging the bats pretty good all year, and until this weekend we've just been beating it into the wind a lot," Thomas said. "But I'm happy with how we are swinging it."
UTA starter Daniel James did not factor into the decision after just 1.1 innings in his first start of the year after making 11 appearances out of the bullpen. James allowed three earned runs, gave up six hits and struck out one. Jacob Moreland, replacing Wilcox on the bump in the ninth, was able to escape a bases-loaded jam as a groundout to third finished the game off.
The Mavs jumped out of the gates for a second consecutive day to send runs across the plate in the first. Brady Cox opened scoring with a liner up the middle before Rohrbaugh made it 2-0 with a two-out single to right to bring home Cox.
UTA's lead did not last long however, Incarnate Word put together a three-run rally in the second to pull ahead. The Cardinals got started with a leadoff homer to left and would put together a rally that saw two more cross. Wilcox came in to relieve the UTA starter and got out of the jam with back-to-back outs to leave two on.
Rohrbaugh helped tie the game just one inning later with his second RBI of the day. The junior grounded out to short to all Noah Vaughan to come home.
The game turned into a brief pitcher's duel with just one base runner reaching for the Mavs again until the sixth. Rohrbaugh then scorched a leadoff triple to the left-center field wall to put UTA in business. He'd come home just one at-bat later with Darien McLemore's liner to left. Farrell gave UTA an insurance run with a one-out double to right.
UTA pushed the game beyond reach with a four-run rally in the eighth.
Lance Moszkowicz fell to 0-2 for UIW as he picked up the decision after 2.2 innings in relief. Moszkowicz allowed six earned after entering with the game tied at three apiece.
Bryce Shepherd led the Cardinals with three hits.
JAGS CLINCH TEXAS STATE SERIES BEHIND HILL
SAN MARCOS, Texas – University of South Alabama right-hander Kevin Hill tossed 8 1/3 innings to lead the Jaguars to a 7-3 series-clinching win over Texas State Friday at Bobcat Baseball Stadium.
Hill (5-1) allowed two earned runs and scattered nine hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts to earn his fifth win of the season.
"Kevin's line was great, but he didn't have his best stuff," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "Texas State did a fantastic job of not striking out, and really not getting to two strikes. They took advantage of some mistakes that Kevin made and got some hits on him. But Kevin was Kevin. He finds a way to come up with a big pitch when he really needs it. It's been bend but not break. He hasn't been dominant, yet, to this point. But the kid gives us a chance to win every single ball game, and that's all you can ask of any pitcher you run out there."
Bobcat right-hander Jeremy Hallonquist (2-1) allowed four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk in the loss.
South Alabama (17-6, 8-0 SBC) jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the second on a two-out RBI single to right field by Adam Wolfe to score Ben Gann, who singled earlier in the inning. Travis Swaggerty followed with a two-run double to left-center field that scored Tanner Halstead and Adam Wolfe and extend the Jaguar lead to 3-0.
Texas State (15-8, 6-2 SBC) answered with a leadoff solo home run to left field to cut the USA lead to 3-1.
USA added to its lead in the top of the seventh. Gann drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Halstead and advanced to third on a one-out single to center field by Wolfe. A wild pitch from TXST left-hander Wes Engle later in the inning allowed Gann to score and extend the Jaguar lead to 4-1. Cole Billingsley then delivered a two-out RBI triple to right field to plate Swaggerty and push the USA advantage to four runs.
Martinez led off the top of the eighth with a single to left field and moved to second when Carter Perkins reached on an error by Bobcat third baseman Jaylen Hubbard. A sacrifice bunt from Brendan Donovan advanced both runners into scoring position before Martinez scored on a wild pitch to extend the USA lead to 6-1.
Ryan Raspino drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by Bobcat first baseman Dylan Paul. A two-out RBI single to right field by LaBounty scored Raspino with the final Jaguar run of the game.
The Bobcats added the game's final runs in the bottom of the ninth on a fielder's choice RBI by Jonathan Ortega and a fielding error by Martinez at first base on a grounder off the bat of Newman.
Billingsley went 3-for-5 with a triple, one RBI and two stolen bases to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Martinez finished 2-for-5 with one run scored, Wolfe went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored and Swaggerty added a double, two RBI and one run scored. Jaylen Hubbard went 3-for-4 with a triple and one run scored to lead the Bobcats offensively.
The series will conclude with game three at noon Saturday.
Ring's Walk-Off Single Lifts A-State to 6-5 Win Over Georgia Southern
JONESBORO, Ark. (3/25/16) – Senior third baseman Tanner Ring lined a 1-2 pitch into left field to score Tim Seldomridge in the bottom of the ninth to give the Arkansas State baseball team a 6-5 walk-off victory over Georgia Southern Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium/Kell Field in Jonesboro.
Georgia Southern (14-8, 5-3 SBC) reliever Chris Brown walked Seldomridge to begin the frame before hitting Ty White to put runners on first on second. Brown walked Jake Bakamus to load the bases to set up Ring’s walk-off hit.
Ring finished the night 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to give A-State (11-11, 3-5 SBC) a 1-0 edge over the Eagles. Neil Lambert and Tony Ortiz each had two hits apiece with Lambert recording his first career triple. Ortiz knocked in two runs, while Lambert and Seldomridge each had one RBI each.
A-State appeared to be on cruise control through the first six innings and held a 5-1 advantage before things began to unravel in the top of the seventh.
Cody Jackson surrendered a pinch-hit home run to Drew Kelley to get the Eagles within three runs and a throwing error by Lambert at shortstop allowed the inning to continue. Following a walk to Hunter Thomas to bring the tying run to the plate, Jackson gave up a three-run home run to Ryan Cleveland that tied the game at 5-5.
Ring’s fourth home run of the year in the bottom of the first inning was a mammoth shot over the fence in the leftfield. Ring battled Georgia Southern starting pitcher Chase Cohen in an 11-pitch at-bat that included six foul balls before finally getting a pitch he could handle and send it over the wall for a home run.
The Red Wolves added to the lead in the second inning on Lambert’s triple that plated Ortiz to make the score 2-0. Connor Simmons replaced Cohen in the bottom of the third, but walked Joe Schrimpf to load the bases and Ortiz followed with a two-run single that scored Ring and Bakamus to give Arkansas State a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Arkansas State starter Adam Grantham worked out of trouble in the fourth inning after loading the bases with no outs, but escaped by getting a groundball out to second that plated a run and then struck out the next two he faced to limit the damage.
The senior from Kennett, Mo., tossed five innings and struck out seven, while giving up one run on three hits, but didn’t factor in the decision. Coulton Lee picked up the win, his third of the year, after throwing 2.1 innings out of the bullpen with no runs allowed on one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.
Brown took the loss for Georgia Southern after failing to record an out in the ninth inning. Simmons was very effective for the Eagles in relief with four innings out of the pen and only one run allowed (earned) on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Logan Baldwin led the Eagles with three hits, while Cleveland’s three RBIs led the visitors.
Arkansas State hosts Georgia Southern in Saturday’s series finale at Tomlinson Stadium/Kell Field with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
Little Rock Wins Series Against Troy
LITTLE ROCK – An eighth-inning comeback was the difference as Little Rock baseball (11-11, 4-4 Sun Belt) clinched the series with Troy (13-11, 3-5) by a score of 4-3 on Friday night at Gary Hogan Field.
Nik Gifford, Cameron Knight and Zach Baker each finished the night 2 for 4. Knight earned Little Rock's only RBI for the night and had a run.
Dalton Thomas extended his hitting streak to 18 games, the longest for a Little Rock player since at least 1998, as he went 1 for 4 with a run.
Troy put the first run on the board in the top of the second inning. With one out, T.J. Binder was hit by a pitch, then advanced to second as Chase Smartt walked. Cameron Sanders singled through the right side, but the lead runner held up at third to load the bases. Justin Friend hit a sacrifice fly to right field as Binder scored to put Troy up 1-0.
Little Rock tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, a pair of singles from Gifford and Knight put runners on the base paths. Kyle Kirk grounded a ball to short as Knight was forced out at second. When trying to turn a double play, the second baseman threw the ball wide to first and allowed Gifford to score as Kirk reached on the fielder's choice.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Troy's Shaw Pinnell hit a bunt single to get on base. Brandon Lockridge moved Pinnell over on a sacrifice bunt before Pinnell stole third. Payton Fuller hit an RBI single through the left side to put Troy up 2-1.
Little Rock starter Cory Malcom had his best outing of the season as he went 6.0 innings with four strikeouts while allowing four hits, two earned runs and two walks on 96 pitches. Jarrid Garcia came on for Malcom to begin the seventh and worked efficiently as he earned two strikeouts and a pop up on just 12 pitches.
Keenan Wingfield came on to begin the eighth and quickly got himself into a jam after walking two and hitting a batter to load the bases. Trevor Davis hit into a fielder's choice to third as the throw came home to get the force out. Dylan Slayton (1-1) made his way into the game with one out and bases still loaded. Slayton was effective as he struck out the first batter he faced and got a fly out to right to end the inning.
Troy starter Grant Bennett (3-1) pitched well into the eighth inning before being pulled. Thomas got Little Rock started with a single to left before advancing to second on a Gifford ground out. Knight came up with the RBI single to tie the game at 2-2 as Thomas scored. Knight advanced to second on a ground out by Kirk before Troy finally went to the bullpen in favor of Marc Skinner. Riley Pittman then reached and advanced to second on a throwing error to first by the Troy third baseman. In the meantime, Thomas rounded third and scored the go-ahead run. Christian Reyes came on to pinch run for Pittman before Reyes moved to third on an infield single by Baker. With Hayden Martin at the plate, Baker stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Martin then reached on an error by Troy's second baseman as Reyes scored to put Little Rock up 4-2.
Cody McGill came on to close out the game for Little Rock in the top of the ninth inning. A quick inning wasn't in the cards for McGill as he hit Sanders with a pitch to begin the inning, then allowed a walk on five pitches. Pinnell then reached on a throwing error to first by McGill to load the bases. Lockridge hit a sacrifice fly to center as Sanders scored to put Troy within a run at 4-3. As McGill got Fuller swinging for the second out, runners pulled off the double steal to put the go-ahead run at second. With a 1-1 count, McGill earned his fourth save of the season with a pop up to first to end the game.
The victory gave Little Rock back-to-back series wins for the first time since the end of the 2014 season and gave the program a five-game winning streak.
Little Rock will look for the series sweep of Troy and its first six-game winning streak since 2012 tomorrow at 1 p.m., at Gary Hogan Field.
App State Drops ULM to Even Series
MONROE, La. — Brian Bauk hit an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning that brought the tying and winning runs across the plate in Appalachian State University's come-from-behind, 5-4, victory over ULM in game two of the weekend Sun Belt series.
The Mountaineers (5-18, 1-7 Sun Belt) trailed, 4-2, going into the eighth inning. Two errors by the Warhawks (9-13, 1-3 Sun Belt) allowed Bauk to reach second. Tyler Stroup singled into left field bringing Bauk home to get the Apps within one run.
In the ninth inning, Henry Davis came on to pinch run for Conner Leonard after he was hit by a pitch. Jason Curtis hit a ground ball that ULM tried to turn into a double play, but the Warhawk second baseman committed their fourth error in the last two innings, allowing both men to reach safely.
After a wild pitch move the runners to second and third base, Bauk's base hit brought Davis and Curtis home for the Mountaineers' first lead since the top of the third inning.
ULM made a push in the bottom of the ninth after a catcher's interference and hit batter put men on first and second with two outs. Jacob Stockton was the only Warhawk to get a hit of Reed Howell with his infield hit to third base. Howell then struck out the final batter to seal the win.
With the Mountaineers down 4-2, Howell came into game in the sixth inning to relieve starter Bobby Hampton. Howell retired the first ten batters he faced en route to pitching four scoreless inning, allowing just one hit, and striking out four Warhawks. Howell picked up his second win of the season.
Appalachian struck first in the third inning when Stoup drove in Chandler Seagle with an RBI ground out followed by Bauk scoring on fielding error. ULM committed five errors on the day.
ULM plated three runs in the bottom of the third, starting with a solo home run by Anthony Herrera followed by an RBI double and an RBI single. The Warhawks added another in the fifth inning with an RBI single after a lead-off double.
The Mountaineers will try for their first Sun Belt series win on Saturday in game three of the series vs. ULM. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. ET