Mavs Sweep No. 20 Cajuns, Take Over First Place
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Brady Cox scored three runs and Jakob Hernandez worked his seventh quality start of the year, leading UTA to a sweep-clinching 9-3 win - UTA's eighth straight victory - over No. 20 Louisiana on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
In a battle of the top two teams in the Sun Belt Conference standings entering the weekend, UTA (26-17, 16-5 Sun Belt) posted three dominating wins to earn the first sweep over the Ragin' Cajuns in program history. The sweep moves the Mavs into sole possession of first place in the standings for the first time in 2017.
Louisiana (27-17-1, 13-7-1 Sun Belt) suffered its first three-game sweep in four seasons, dating back to 2013. The Mavs won the opener, 5-4 on Friday and after Saturday's game was postponed to a Sunday doubleheader, the Mavs swept the Cajuns with a 10-2 win in the middle game and a 9-3 sweep clincher in the nightcap.
The red-hot Mavs have now won eight consecutive games, have won 14 of their last 17 games and have won six of their first seven weekend tests in conference play. UTA also equaled the program record with five wins over top-25 teams, also done in 2009. Over the course of its winning streak - which includes four wins over top-25 foes - UTA has hit .295, scoring 63 runs in eight games, while sporting a 3.12 team ERA.
ON THE MOUND
A native of Parker, Colo., Hernandez (5-0) tossed 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and three runs, walking four and striking out eight. It marked his seventh quality start of the year.
With one out in the seventh inning and a runner on, lefty Adam Meyer came on in relief of Hernandez, with Meyer getting two outs to escape the jam. Dylan Schneider opened the eighth on the mound, working around two walks with a strikeout.
UTA's Daniel James worked the ninth inning to secure the series sweep.
LA starter Hogan Harris (3-1) worked 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and six runs - two earned - walking two and striking out five. LA then turned to Wyatt Marks - ranked as the nation's No. 1 reliever this week by D1baseball - in the fifth. Marks allowed two runners to score on wild pitches in the inning but escaped the jam with UTA leading 6-0.
Marks finished working one inning, allowing two unearned runs on a hit and five walks, fanning one. Closer Dylan Moore took over in the sixth inning and fired 2.1 shutout innings, allowing just a hit and striking out two.
LEADING THE MAVS
Cox had three runs scored to lead the Mavs at the plate, with UTA also getting a 2-for-2 game from RJ Williams, with UTA's shortstop laying down three sacrifice bunts in the win. Zac Cook added three runs scored and a walk at the top of the order, with Noah Vaughan also drawing two walks. UTA got hits from Will Olson and Aaron Funk, with Colton Turner driving in a run and drawing a walk.
HOW THEY SCORED
UTA plated two runs on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Cook led off with a walk, taking second on a passed ball and moving to third on a sac bunt. Cox then scored Cook with a double into the gap, with Olson's single plating Cox for a two-run lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, UTA added to its lead and chased the Cajuns starter. Cook started UTA's two-out rally with a single up the middle, stealing second base on the next pitch as the LA catcher struggled during the inning in throwing the ball back to the mound, necessitating a substitution. Williams then singled through the left side, with the shortstop covering second base on what he believed to be a pickoff attempt, and Williams smoking the ball right where he was standings. Cox then reached on an error and Olson loaded the bases with a walk. Rohrbaugh was plunked by a 3-2 pitch to score a run and a pair of wild pitches from Marks scored Cox and Olson for a 6-2 lead.
The Cajuns rallied in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs after a pair of singles and a walk. Alex Pinero then ripped a three-run triple into the right-centerfield gap, cutting the UTA lead to 6-3.
UTA got the three runs back in the bottom of the sixth. Funk led off with a bunt single with a walk from Cook and an error on a sac bunt attempt from Williams loaded the bases. After LA got the lead runner for the first out, Rohrbaugh and Vaughan each drew walks to force in runs. Turner then chopped a grounder that slide under the glove of the second baseman, allowing Cox to score from third for a six-run lead.
NEXT
UTA hits the road for a four-game road swing, starting on Tuesday at Texas, with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game broadcast live on the Longhorn Network.
JAGS RALLY LATE TO SECURE SWEEP OF TEXAS STATE
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat Texas State 7-5 and secure a three-game series sweep Sunday at Stanky Field.
The score was knotted at 5-5 after 7 1/2 innings after the Bobcats pushed across the game-tying run in the top of the seventh when Derek Scheible reached on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
But Jaguar first baseman Wells Davis doubled to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning and scored on a one-out RBI double to left field by Drew LaBounty for a 6-5 advantage. Jared Barnes followed with an RBI single to left-center field to plate LaBounty with the game's final run.
"We had two hits going into the last couple of innings, but we had six walks and a hit by pitch," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "(Paul) Russo came up with a big two-run home run to put us up 2-1, and then it was back and forth. Wells led us off with a good at-bat in the eighth, and (Drew) LaBounty and (Jared) Barnes had big RBI at the end that gave us a little bit of breathing room. I am proud of the guys for the way they battled. When you face us, it's never over; you have to get 27 outs. Our guys know that we play all 27, and that's what we did today. I was proud of our guys' effort not only today but all weekend."
Texas State (22-23, 9-12 SBC) pushed across the game's first run in the top of the third on a two-out RBI single to right field by Jaylen Hubbard for a 1-0 advantage.
USA answered in the bottom of the fourth to take a one-run lead. Wells Davis singled back up the middle to lead off the inning before Paul Russo hit a 3-1 pitch from Bobcat right-hander Cam Baird over the right field wall for a two-run home run – the first of his Jaguar career – for a 2-1 USA lead.
South Alabama (28-17, 15-6 SBC) added three runs to its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dylan Hardy drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second on a hit by pitch to Colton Thomas. Brendan Donovan reached on a fielding error by Bobcat second baseman Jonathan Ortega that allowed Hardy to score for a 3-1 advantage. Donovan then stole second before a pair of Bobcat errors by catcher Felipe Rodriguez and left fielder Jacob Almendarez allowed both Thomas and Donovan to score on the play for a 5-1 lead.
Texas State responded with three runs in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Ortega and a two-out, two-run home run to right-center field by Ryan Newman to cut the Jaguar lead to 5-4 before tying the game an inning later in the seventh.
Jaguar right-hander Matt Peacock (2-2) tossed three scoreless relief innings, and allowed just three hits with two strikeouts and one walk to earn the win. Bobcat right-hander Joe Powell (1-2) allowed three runs on two hits with two walks in 3 1/3 innings in the loss. Jaguar right-hander Tyler Carr allowed four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision.
"I thought Tyler (Carr) was good in spurts," Calvi said. "It seems like in every one of his starts that he will let his guard down a little bit. If he can clean that up and stay locked in for his whole start, I will feel better about it. He has good enough stuff. He is a competitor and he has won some games for us. I like our winning percentage when he takes the ball, I just think he can go deeper and be more dominant in games. That's what I would like him to be, because he is good enough. I'm not going to ask him to be anything that he's not, I just think he's better than what he has done and I think Tyler would tell you that as well. We have a lot of faith in him and we win when he takes the mound. I would like to see him go a little bit deeper, but I am happy with the result."
USA will return to action Fri., May 5, when it hosts Little Rock in the first of a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Stanky Field.
Coastal Carolina Hangs on for 11-8 Win over Troy
CONWAY - Coastal Carolina scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, which proved pivotal in an 11-8 victory versus Troy Sunday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium to secure the series win.
Eight Chanticleers (27-16-1, 13-7-1 Sun Belt) had hits, including five with at least two, but were out-hit by the Trojans (24-19, 10-11), 19-14, thanks to six hits and four runs in the top of the ninth to make the game interesting.
Coastal was led by Dalton Ewing, who hit a two-run single in the in the first inning and a two-run home run in the third. Kevin Woodall Jr., and Wood Myers also had two hits and two RBI each for the Chants, both playing a key role in CCU's four-run eighth. Kieton Rivers added three hits and Jordan Gore had two in the win.
Troy wasted no time in grabbing the advantage as Matt Sanders hit a leadoff home run, his second round-tripper of the year.
Coastal answered in the home half of the first. Leadoff hitter Billy Cooke walked, moved to second on a Gore sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out, RBI single by Myers. Walks to Rivers and Peyton Isaacson loaded the bases to set the stage for a two-run single by Ewing to put the Chants up 3-1.
Kyle Skeels kept the momentum on CCU's side to start the second inning as he hit he second pitch he saw over the left field wall for his third home run of the season and a 4-1 CCU lead.
The Trojans got a run back in the top of the third. Brandon Lockridge hit a leadoff single and moved to third on a Trevor Davis single. With two outs, Mason Rogers walked but a passed ball on the play allowed Lockridge to score and cut the deficit in half, 4-2.
Coastal got that run back and two more in the bottom of the third. Rivers hit a leadoff single, moved to third on a Isaacson single and scored on a wild pitch. Ewing followed with a two-run home run to put the Chants on top 7-2.
Troy opened the fifth inning by loading the bases as Davis was hit by a pitch, Justin Friend singled and Mason Rogers singled. A wild pitch allowed Davis to score and Friend later scored on a sacrifice fly from Drew Frederic to make the core 7-4.
Coastal pushed its advantage to 11-4 with four critical insurance runs in the eighth. Skeels walked and moved to third on a Gore single. Woodall beat the shift Troy had and lined a two-run double down the right field line. Myers welcomed new Troy pitcher Jimmy Robbins with an RBI single back up the middle. Myers stole second and moved to third on an infield single by Rivers. Isaacson plated Myers with a sacrifice fly to cap the scoring for CCU.
In the top of the ninth, Troy had six consecutive hits to start the frame to score three runs. The fourth and final run came on a sacrifice fly and Bobby Holmes induced a game-ending double play to seal the win.
Holmes picked up his third save of the season, entering with bases loaded in the ninth. Will Latcham (2-0) earned the win In relief. The junior pitched 2.2 innings scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Troy starter Austin Crook (5-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in two innings. The Trojans were led offensively by Sanders (4-for-6) and Lockridge (3-for-5) while four others had two hits.
Coastal Carolina will take the week off for final exams and return to action with a weekend series at UL Monroe (May 5-7).
WHITE, THOMSON PITCH PANTHERS TO 6-1 WIN TO CLINCH SERIES
ATLANTA -- Bryan White, Tanner Thomson and Logan Barnette combined to allow just one run and Jarrett Hood and Payton Mann drove in two runs each to lead Georgia State to a 6-1 series-clinching win over UL Monroe Sunday at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Georgia State (16-26, 6-15) followed Saturday's 4-3, 11-inning victory to win the series, two games to one.
White (1-2), the junior right-hander, struck out a career-high eight in five innings. After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, he shut out the Warhawks for the first four innings before allowing a run in the fifth. His final line included four hits and two walks.
"We had all three phases today with pitching, hitting and defense," head coach Greg Frady said. "I think it was huge for Bryan to work out
of that bases-loaded situation in the first inning. That gave him confidence, and he really settled in after that, and it gave our team
confidence. Then we were able to take the lead soon after that, which was big."
In his last two starts, White has allowed just one run in 10 innings with 12 strikeouts.
Thomson followed with three scoreless innings, including four strikeouts. He retired the first eight batters he faced in order before allowing a two-out single in the eighth.
Barnette finished the job with a scoreless ninth inning.
For the first time in the series, Georgia State scored first as Luke Leonard smacked a triple to right center in the second inning and then came home on an infield single by Mann.
The Panthers took control with three runs in the third. Hood led off with a single and Darius Sewell walked to put runners at first and second with one out. Mann delivered a single through the left side and Hood raced home from second, just beating the tag. Then Brandon Gonzalez singled to right field to bring home Sewell, and Mann also scored when the throw to the plate bounced away from the catcher.
Leading 4-1, Georgia State added a run in fifth on Hood's sarifice fly. Then Hood produced another run and a 6-1 lead with an RBI-single in the seventh to score Justin Jones, who led off with a single, moved to second on a ground ball and to third on a wild pitch.
The Panthers now hit the road for five straight games. GSU plays two mid-week games at Big Ten foe Minnesota, then goes straight to San Marcos, Texas for a weekend series at Texas State. Tuesday's game at Minnesota will air on the Big Ten Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Strong Pitching, Timely Hitting Give @AStateBaseball 4-1 Win at Appalachian State
BOONE, N.C. (4/30/17) – Peyton Culbertson and Tyler Mitzel combined to hold the App State offense to one run, while A-State scored its first two runs with two outs in a 4-1 victory over the Mountaineers in the series finale at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium in Boone, N.C., Sunday afternoon.
The win gave the Red Wolves (22-21, 10-11 SBC) a series win over Appalachian State (18-26, 7-14 SBC) and its second conference road series win of the season.
Culbertson improved to 4-5 on the year after allowing one run (earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and on walk in six innings. The quality start gave Culbertson a team-best three on the season. Mitzel tossed the final three innings to register his first career save. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native walked two and struck out three without giving up a hit.
Both teams struggled to get base runners early on, but Jake Bakamus tripled to center field with one out in the top of the fifth to represent A-State's first scoring threat. However, Drew Tipton struck out for the second out of the inning before Derek Birginske hit a ground ball up-the-middle to score Bakamus and put the Red Wolves on top 1-0. Birginske advanced to second base on a wild pitch before a single by Grant Hawkins plated him for the second run of the frame.
Appalachian State scored its only run of the contest when Jared McCarver swatted a home run to left field to begin the bottom half of the fifth inning. Arkansas State wasted little time responding with Justin Felix leading off the sixth with a single and Garrett Rucker bunting for a base hit to set up a successful sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Brown. Alex Howard stepped to the plate and lined a single to left field to score both runs and put A-State in front 4-1.
The 4-1 score would prove to be the final after Mitzel nailed down the save in his third inning of work in the bottom of the ninth. The right-handed reliever walked the lead-off hitter before two strikeouts and a fly out to Rucker in center field ended the game.
The Red Wolves out hit the Mountaineers 9-5 with Joe Schrimpf recording two hits to lead the way as no other player tallied more than one on the afternoon. App State starter Luke Watts took the loss after allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Watts retired the first 10 A-State hitters of the game before the Red Wolves were able to string together some hits.
Arkansas State returns to action May 5-7 against UT Arlington in Jonesboro. First pitch for Friday's game from Tomlinson Stadium/Kell Field against the Mavericks is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday's game will also feature a start time of 6:30 p.m., before Sunday's series finale will begin at 1 p.m.
GS Baseball Clinches Series over Little Rock with 9-2 Win on Sunday
STATESBORO, GA. - A seven run fifth inning and a complete game performance from Chase Cohen lifted the Eagles to a 9-2 win over Little Rock on Sunday to clinch the series win. The Eagles trailed early, but evened the score with runs in the third and fourth before busting loose in the fifth. The Eagles improve to 30-15 on the year and 13-8 in league play. Georgia Southern visits Louisiana next weekend for three games against the Ragin' Cajuns.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"We got a really good effort from Chase Cohen. I thought it was really big for him to go out there and put up a big zero for us after we got those runs in the fifth, it really kept the momentum for us. We had a good approach in the fifth inning, we laid off some pitches and got some walks. Then we got some big two out hits and it resulted in a big inning."
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st - LR 1 - GS 0 - Little Rock strung together a pair of two out hits including a double to the gap in right to take an early 1-0 lead.
Top 3rd - LR 2 - GS 0 - Zach Baker extended the Little Rock lead to 2-0 with a wall-scraping solo home run to left after a 10 minute rain delay in the inning.
Bot 3rd - LR 2 - GS 1 - C.J. Brazil logged Georgia Southern's first hit of the game with an RBI single. He drove in Jordan Wren who reached on a walk and moved up to second on a balk.
Bot 4th - LR 2 - GS 2 - Tyler Martin got the Eagles back on level terms in the fourth with a solo home run to left field that got out in a hurry. It was his fifth bomb of the year and his first since April 15th against App State.
Bot 5th - LR 2 - GS 9 - Georgia Southern busted out with seven runs off two hits in the fifth inning to take a 9-2 lead. All seven runs came with two outs. The Trojans walked four batters and hit another to plate the first two runs. A Tyler Martin single through the left side sent two more home. Ryan Cleveland drove in three with his 11th home run of the season.
GAME NOTES
- Chase Cohen recorded Georgia Southern's second-straight complete game performance on the hill, scattering four hits. He allowed two runs, both earned with six strikeouts to improve to 3-3 on the season. After allowing the home run in the third, Cohen worked five hitless frames before allowing another hit in the ninth inning with two outs.
- Tyler Martin went 2-for-4 on the day with three RBIs including his fifth home run of the season.
- Ryan Cleveland also added three RBIs to his ledger, hitting his 11th home run of the season.
- The game clocked in at 2:09, the fastest home game for Georgia Southern this season. There was a 10 minute stoppage of the game in the third inning for a rain shower. The mound and plate were tarped, but play resumed quickly.
NEXT UP
Georgia Southern will break for final exams this week before facing Louisiana this weekend in Lafayette. First pitch on Friday night is set for 7 p.m. (ET) / 6 p.m. (CT).