Leger And Moore Combine To Shutout No. 18 Sam Houston State, 2-0
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Juniors Gunner Leger and Dylan Moore combined to toss a two-hit shutout as the 13th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team took down 18th-ranked Sam Houston State 2-0 on Friday night at Don Sanders Stadium.
The shutout is the second of the season for the Cajuns (2-2), and marks the second time in the last four years that Louisiana has posted two shutouts in the first four contests.
"Tonight we got some timely hitting, and that's what we've been looking for," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "We don't have a lot to show for it, but we didn't need a whole lot to win tonight. We were good in all three phases of the game, with hitting, pitching and defense. We've got to come back tomorrow ready to take the series."
Leger was outstanding in his second start of the year posting six scoreless innings to improve to 1-1 on the year. The left-hander limited SHSU to two hits with a walk and six strikeouts in the outing. Leger retired nine straight hitters from the second through the fourth inning and allowed only three Bearkats to reach base.
"Gunner was really good tonight." Robichaux said. "He's always been on as a starter, and tonight he came out and gave us what we expect from him. We know with Gunner on the mound we always have a chance to win."
Moore notched his second save of the season and 29th of his career in the contest after throwing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts. The junior is now just two saves back from equaling the Sun Belt Conference career saves record set by Hugh Adams of FAU from 2009-13.
Sam Houston State (2-3) starter Heath Donica was handed his first loss of the season despite giving up just one run on four hits in seven innings of work. Donica walked three and struck out 11 on the night.
Offensively, Louisiana outhit the Bearkats 7-2 led by senior first baseman Alex Pinero who went 2-for-4 and scored both runs in the game.
The Ragin' Cajuns jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when second baseman Brenn Conrad was hit by a Donica pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. Louisiana loaded the bases on three singles by Pinero, left fielder Kennon Fontenot and centerfielder Jam Williams.
Sam Houston State threatened in the bottom of the seventh putting a runner on second with one out, but Moore got out of the jam with the aid of two spectacular grabs in left field by Fontenot.
Louisiana added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a two-out, pinch hit RBI single to right field by freshman Todd Lott scoring Pinero from second base to make the score 2-0.
In the bottom half of the ninth, SHSU got a runner in scoring position for the fifth time in the game, but Moore clamped down and retired the next three batters he faced to end the contest.
The Cajuns and Bearkats return to action tomorrow at 3 p.m. Sophomore right-hander Nick Lee (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make the start for Louisiana, while Sam Houston State will counter with left-hander Seth Ballew (0-0, 3.60 ERA). Fans can listen to the contest live on NewsTalk 96.5-FM.
Trojans Offense Explodes in 12-9 Win
NEW ORLEANS, La. – In the true spirit of Mardis Gras, the Trojans scored 12 runs in a hit parade to win the first game of the series with New Orleans (5-1).
Despite falling behind 6-2 after two innings, Troy (3-2) responded with an explosion of hits – sparked by a five-run third inning. Brody Binder continued adding to his power numbers with a three-run bomb. Matt Sanders scored three times and drove in two more in a 3-for-4 performance while, Joey Denison got three hits in five at-bats – and added a double and an RBI.
Corey Childress (0-1, 12.71) started the game for the Trojans, but was relieved after some early trouble by Daren Osby. Osby (1-1, 5.06) got his first career win and picked up five strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work – allowing three runs on seven hits.
The Trojans handed the Privateers, who beat No. 2 LSU earlier this week, their first loss of the season. Owen Magee led the squad – going 3-for-5 with two home runs. William Griffin (1-1) picked up the loss while giving up three runs on three hits and a walk in an inning of work.
NOTEWORTHY
• Steven Whitaker stole four bases – stealing third twice – which is the most by any Troy player in a game since Adam Godwin in 2005.
• Brody Binder went deep for the second game in a row – the first Trojan to do so since Justin Friend last season.
• The Trojans overcame an early four-run deficit to win for the first time since May 2012 against UL-Lafayette.
QUOTABLE
"It was a great win for us," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "They were a powerful hitting team, probably the best we've seen since we played Arizona State years ago. We fell behind early but got great at bats in the third inning and hung on from there. It's always great to get a quality win from behind."
WHAT'S NEXT
Game 2 of the series will start at 12 p.m. tomorrow. The Trojans will send Louisiana-native Evan Hebert (1-0, 1.59) to the mound to face LHP Bryan Warzek (1-0, 0.00).
App State Outlasts Pesky Gardner-Webb, 5-4
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Appalachian State University baseball came away with its second victory of the season as it downed Gardner-Webb, 5-4, in the first of a three-game series on Friday evening at Bill Masters Field.
The Mountaineers (2-3) never trailed in the effort, going up 2-0 in the top of the first and never looking back despite a late push by the Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-4) in the bottom of the ninth.
The hot bats started early in the first when senior Matt Vernon doubled to center as the second at-bat of the game. Junior Tyler Stroup drew a walk to set the stage for a Chandler Seagle double to left field to drive both Stroup and Vernon home.
After that, right-hander Travis Holden held Gardner-Webb scoreless through five innings. Holden finished the game with 5.2 innings pitched, seven hits, but only one run allowed, striking our four batters.
Starting off the top of the six for Appalachian, Drake Zupcic hit a solo bomb to left center to go up 3-0. The Runnin’ Bulldogs then responded with a solo home run of their own to left field to end their drought.
Right-handed junior Reed Howell provided relief with two outs in the sixth before throwing 10-straight strikes, keeping Gardner-Webb off the scoreboard until the ninth. Howell finished with three punchouts in 2.1 innings pitched, throwing 25 strikes in 37 pitches total.
In the top of the ninth, freshman Calev Grubbs and Vernon again came across the plate on a Brian Bauk laser up the middle. The Runnin’ Bulldogs attempted to rally in the bottom-half of the inning by scoring three on back-to-back doubles, but closer right-hander Matt Brill put them away without allowing any more damage.
The Mountaineers will continue its three-game series with Gardner-Webb on Saturday, Feb. 25. First pitch at 2 p.m. and is broadcast on Big South Network.
Schrimpf, Kirby Lead @AStateBaseball to 3-2 Win at Northwestern State
NATCHITOCHES, La. (2/24/17) – The Arkansas State baseball team got four scoreless innings out of the bullpen from Tanner Kirby and Joe Schrimpf knocked in two runs as A-State held on for a 3-2 victory Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, La.
The game was tied 2-2 in the top of the fifth with two outs when Schrimpf stepped up to the plate and hit a hard ground ball that deflected off the glove of a diving Northwestern State (2-2) third baseman Matthew Alford into left field to score Derek Birginske, who led off the inning with a single, for a 3-2 edge. Justin Felix stepped up and laced a 3-2 pitch destined to be a double down the third-base line, but Alford made a diving snag and threw the A-State catcher out to prevent further damage.
Arkansas State (5-2) starter Bryan Ayers came out to pitch the fifth inning and struck out two hitters to run his strikeout count to nine. However, the Vilonia, Ark., native walked five batters in the contest and exited after the inning having thrown 120 pitches. He allowed two runs on seven hits.
Enter Kirby, who tossed the final four innings of the contest, to preserve the victory for Ayers, who moved to 2-0 on the season, and pick up his first save of the season. He allowed four hits, but struck out six and only walked two.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the junior reliever from Maumelle, Ark., as he had to strike out two batters with the tying and go-ahead runs on second and third base with one in the bottom of the seventh. Kirby found himself in trouble again in the eighth inning with the bases loaded for third and fourth hitters in the lineup, but he struck out David Fry, who homered earlier in the contest, on three pitches and got Regan Kaufman to ground out to short. He threw a perfect ninth to clinch the win for A-State.
Schrimpf and Birginske had two hits apiece as the Red Wolves tallied just five hits to the Demons’ 11. Felix had the other hit, a double in the fourth inning, to extend his hit streak to four games. Northwestern State had four players register two hits each. Nathan Jones took the loss for the home team as he allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
The Red Wolves struck in the top of the first when Grant Hawkins walked and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt to set up a Schrimpf sacrifice fly. A-State tacked on another run in the top of the third when Northwestern State’s right fielder couldn’t complete a running catch on a ball off the bat of Jake Bakamus that allowed Drew Tipton, who stole two bases after being hit by a pitch, to score the unearned run.
The Red Wolves and Demons are back at it against Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, La. Due to the Red Wolves’ home women’s basketball game tomorrow, the baseball game can be heard on News Talk 101.3 FM and will stream on 1013kbtm.com.
No.18 Coastal Gets By Ball State, 1-0
CONWAY - Coastal Carolina only had three hits, but did not need any in getting a 1-0 victory over Ball State Friday afternoon as part of the ninth annual Caravelle Resort Tournament at Springs Brooks Stadium. The 18th-ranked Chanticleers improve to 3-3 while the Cardinals fall to 2-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Chanticleer freshman Cory Wood drew a one out walk. He then stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Billy Cooke was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and third. Seth Lancaster executed a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring Wood for what proved to be the game winner.
Ball State threatened in the ninth. CCU starter Alex Cunningham walked the leadoff batter and he gave way to Austin Kitchen. The sophomore got a quick out, but walked the next batter, Trent Theisen, to put runners on first and second.
Bobby Holmes was called upon to close out the game, but had to work around a jam to do so. He allowed an infield single to load the bases. Facing an 0-2 count, Holmes struck out C.J. Alexander looking before getting a ground out to third to secure the win.
Cunningham (2-0) scattered five hits over 8.0-plus scoreless innings with three walks and six strikeouts. The Coastal Carolina graduate is now 21-5 for his career with 187 strikeouts. Holmes earns his first save of the season and the ninth of his career.
Ball State starter BJ Butler (0-1) was the tough-luck loser. He did allow the one CCU runs, but only allowed two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in seven innings.
Wood, Cooke and Peyton Isaacson accounted for Coastal's three hits.
Coastal Carolina will return to action Saturday at 2 pm and host West Virginia.
Warhawks Comeback, Walkoff in Friday Series Opener
MONROE, La. – Down to its final three outs of the night, the ULM baseball team tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on Nate Reynolds' double before Blake Buckman made the Warhawks walkoff winners in the 11th inning on Friday night as the hosts grabbed a 4-3 extra inning victory over Southern Illinois in the series opener.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: ULM 4, Southern Illinois 3 (11 innings)
LOCATION: Warhawk Field / Monroe, La.
RECORDS: ULM (2-3, 0-0 SBC)
Southern Illinois (3-1, 0-0 MVC)
TURNING POINT
-Turner Francis led off the bottom of the 11th with a single up the middle before Hunter Johnson came in to pinch hit and delivered a perfect bunt that he beat out and saw the Southern Illinois pitcher throw over the first baseman’s head to advance Francis to third. With the infield drawn in, Buckman lifted a base hit into shallow center field to give the Warhawks the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-ULM struck first on Chad Bell’s solo home run in the bottom of the fourth before the hosts added a second run in the bottom of the sixth when Spencer Hemphill singled and later scored via a Southern Illinois error to give the Warhawks a 2-0 lead.
-Warhawk starter Josh Leone exited the game in the top of the seventh inning with two on after 6 1/3 innings of work in which he allowed four hits and had three strikeouts. Leone’s final stat line included two runs given up after Anthony Herrera came on in relief and saw the inherited runners score on a triple before Southern Illinois took the lead moments later on a two-out check swing infield single.
-Southern Illinois looked to add to the lead in the top of the ninth after getting the first two runners on base, but Herrera struck out the side to send the game to the bottom of the ninth.
-In the bottom of the ninth, Brian Barefoot opened the frame with a pinch hit single and was advanced to second on Buckman’s sacrifice bunt. Reynolds stepped in and delivered a double down the left field line to plate the tying run, but he was thrown out trying to stretch for third base and the game went to extra innings.
-The extra innings featured a couple tense moments, first when Chase Cater entered the game in the 10th with two on and notched a strikeout to end the inning, and then in the 11th when Southern Illinois received a double before the Warhawks stranded him at third to end the threat and set up the bottom of the 11th.
-ULM finished with 11 hits on the night, with two each from Hemphill and Francis. Reynolds, Herrera, Bell, Cade Harper (double), Barefoot and Buckman each finished with one hit.
-Cater (1-0) earned the win after his 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in extra innings.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
-Buckman’s walkoff single was just his second hit of the season in what was his first start of the season on Friday night.
-Bell becomes the third ULM player to notch a home run this season, joining Reynolds and Herrera, who also have one long ball.
-Leone has now turned in two starts on the young season without factoring in either decision. He allowed just two runs (one earned) and one hit in the season opener last Friday at Dallas Baptist before exiting against Southern Illinois after 6 1/3 innings of work in which he went through the batting order perfect through three innings before giving up a hit to open the fourth.
-The Warhawks had lost four straight extra inning contests dating back to last season. The last ULM extra inning victory was nearly a year ago to the date, when the Warhawks grabbed a 6-5 win in 10 innings over Southeastern Louisiana on February 21, 2016.
UP NEXT
-The Warhawks continue the weekend series with Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch followed by a Sunday afternoon series finale.