LR Run-Rules GSU to Clinch Spot in SBC Tournament
LITTLE ROCK – A 16-1 run-rule win over Georgia State gave Little Rock baseball the series sweep and clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the second consecutive year on Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field.
The last time Little Rock made back-to-back Sun Belt Tournament appearances was in 2000 and 2001.
It was a total offensive onslaught for the Trojans (21-30, 11-16 Sun Belt) as they tallied 13 hits for the day. The Panthers (20-31, 8-19) contributed to the Trojans' offensive domination as by allowing 13 walks. The last time Little Rock walked 13 times in a game was against Georgia State last year at home.
The Trojans' pitching staff had a much different story as it struck out six and allowed two hit-by-pitches and no walks. Chandler Fidel (3-7) earned the win after throwing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and four hits allowed. Keenan Wingfield struck out one and allowed one run on two hits in an inning of relief while Jacob Rateliff struck out one and allowed one hit in one inning of work.
Zach Baker had a near-perfect afternoon as the senior went 4 for 5 with three RBIs, two runs and a double. Dalton Thomas tallied five RBIs and scored twice as he picked up his 20th double of the season and sixth home run of the year. Nik Gifford picked up two RBIs, three runs and his seventh home run of the year as he finished the day 2 for 3.
"Great job by our seniors today," head coach Chris Curry said. "We had senior leadership with Dalton and Zach leading the way, and Gifford had a great weekend. That's what it takes to put ourselves in a position to get into the postseason. What I really like is when these guys' backs are against the wall, they didn't run from the moment. They ran to it, and that's what we've been wanting to see all year."
Georgia State's Jack Thompson went 2 for 2 and was hit by a pitch. Starting pitcher Bryce Conley (2-7) took the loss as he was chased off after allowing seven runs (six earned) on three hits and four walks in just 1.1 innings.
The scoring began in the bottom of the first inning as the Trojans put a four spot on the board. Thomas hit a two-run double before Ty Gunter picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly error in left. An RBI ground out by Kale Emshoff rounded out the scoring.
Little Rock's biggest inning of the afternoon came in the bottom of the second as the Trojans tallied six runs and batted through the order for the second time in two innings. A three-run homer by Thomas, an RBI walk by Christian Reyes and a two-run single by Baker put Little Rock up 10-0.
After a scoreless third inning, the Trojans put up five more runs in the bottom of the fourth. An RBI single by Baker, a run by Emshoff scored on a wild pitch, an RBI single by Hunter Owens, an RBI fielder's choice by Pittman and an RBI single by Gifford gave Little Rock a 15-0 lead.
Georgia State's only run occurred in the top of the sixth as Cam Sperry hit an RBI double to right.
The Trojans scored the game's final run in the bottom of the sixth as Gifford delivered a solo shot to left and put Little Rock up by 15 once again.
The game was called after the top of the seventh inning due to the Sun Belt's 10-run mercy rule on travel days.
"It was a great weekend and a great day for the program," Curry said. "I'm happy for the guys because they've worked extremely hard, and to have the opportunity to go to the postseason in back-to-back years says a lot on where the program is headed. Hopefully this creates the expectations that we're supposed to be in the postseason every year."
Before heading off to the Sun Belt Tournament, Little Rock still has four important games to be played. The Trojans return to Gary Hogan Field for the final time this season on Tuesday to face Central Arkansas in the series-deciding game of this year's Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry. After that, Little Rock will travel up to Jonesboro for a crucial seed-deciding series against rival Arkansas State beginning on Thursday night.
Four-Run Inning Lifts Louisiana To Series Victory Over Bobcats
LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team used a four-run fourth inning to defeat Texas State 4-3 to take the series in the final home game of the season at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park on Sunday.
The series victory is the ninth of the season for the Cajuns (32-20-1, 16-10-1 Sun Belt) and snaps a streak of two straight series losses in conference play.
"Our defense has been good all year, and I think that's been able to keep us grounded," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Being able to turn those two double plays late in the game was huge. It was big to get that four run inning. I preach all the time how big the three run inning can be. We were able to stay away from a three run inning today, got the three run inning and we ended up winning."
Starter Hogan Harris (4-2) earned the victory for the Ragin' Cajuns with his third quality start of the season holding the potent Texas State (25-27, 11-16 Sun Belt) offense to three runs on five hits in six innings of work. Harris struck out a season-low three batters in the outing.
Relievers Nick Lee and Wyatt Marks combined to toss three scoreless innings to close out the game. Marks picked up his seventh save of the year in the contest tossing a perfect ninth inning with a strikeout.
Cam Baird (1-6) took the loss for the Bobcats allowing four runs on six hits in six innings.
Texas State had a slight 7-6 edge in hits in the contest with Theodore Hoffman posting a game-high three hits with a double and an RBI. Junior Steven Sensley increased his on base streak to 21 games going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
For the third game in the series, Texas State took an early lead on a two-out single to right center by Hoffman to make the score 1-0 in the top of the second inning.
The Bobcats increased their advantage to 2-0 in the third inning when Jaylen Hubbard came home to score on an RBI ground out to second base by Mickey Scott.
The Ragin' Cajuns got on the board in a big way in the bottom of the fourth scoring four runs on four hits and two walks to take a 4-2 edge. Steven Sensley pulled the Cajuns even with a two-run blast to right center for his tenth home run of the season.
After Louisiana loaded the bases with one out, Alex Pinero drove a sacrifice fly to deep right field to plate Joe Robbins and give the Ragin' Cajuns a 3-2 advantage. The Cajuns picked up their final run of the fourth inning on a double steal as Kennon Fontenot came home to score.
Texas State cut into the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI single to right center by Jonathan Ortega to make the score 4-3.
The Bobcats threated in the seventh and eighth innings, but both times Lee got a big ground ball double play to keep the Cajuns in the lead.
Marks came on in the ninth and was perfect as he struck out Derek Scheible looking to end the contest.
Louisiana returns to action on Thursday at 6 p.m. as the squad wraps up the regular season with a three-game series at ULM.
No.29 Coastal Carolina Sweeps No.24 UTA With 5-0 Win
ARLINGTON, Texas - Billy Cooke accounted for four of CCU's five runs while Zack Hopeck stuck out a career-high nine to lead #29 Coastal Carolina to a 5-0 win at #24 UTA Sunday, completing the Chanticleers' second straight road series sweep and marking the first time the Mavericks have been shut out this season.
Overall, Coastal improves to 34-17-1, 19-7-1 in the league, while Sun Belt West Division leader UTA falls to 29-21, 19-8. This was the Chanticleers' fourth series sweep and they have won six and tied one of the nine league series with a final series remaining with Appalachian State this week.
Cooke was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, an RBI single and scored once as well. Jordan Gore, Wood Myers and Cory Wood each added two hits as well with Kevin Woodall Jr., and Kyle Skeels adding an RBI.
Hopeck (4-2) registered a couple of career highs in working 5.2 innings, including nine strikeouts and 112 pitches, while walking just one -- a two-out walk in the sixth before exiting. Overall, Hopeck scattered seven hits in his 5.2 innings, including four in innings one and two combined. Austin Kitchen (2.0 innings) and Cole Schaefer (1.1 innings) closed out the game for CCU to secure the team's seventh shutout of the season.
On the other side, Coastal handed UTA starting pitcher Jakob Hernandez his first loss of the season, falling to 6-1. He allowed seven hits and four runs over six innings.
UTA threatened in both the first and second innings, getting consecutive singles to start each frame, but came up empty both times.
However, it was Coastal that would get on the scoreboard first. Josh Crump reached on a bunt single to start the top of the third. Two batters later, Cooke worked the count full before launching his ninth home run of the season to put the Chants up 2-0.
The Chants added to their lead in the fourth. Myers hit a leadoff single and advanced to third on a Kieton Rivers' double. Skeels plated Myers with a sacrifice fly for the 3-0 lead.
For the third straight inning, Coastal put a tally on the board for a 4-0 advantage. Cooke started the fifth with a walk and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Gore. Gore has now reached base safely (hit/walk/hit by pitch) in 22 straight games and has a hit in 21 including a 14-game hit streak and current seven-game hit streak. Woodall followed with a deep fly ball to right-center field that drove in Cooke.
After extending his league-league to 17 home runs yesterday, Woodall extended his league-leading RBI total to 54 with that sacrifice fly.
In the ninth, Coastal used a double by Wood and RBI single by Cooke to provide the 5-0 final score.
The Chanticleers will close the regular-season at nationally-ranked Clemson (6:30 pm) before hosting Appalachian State Thursday (2 pm), Friday (6 pm) and Saturday (1 pm).
GEYER LEADS JAGS TO SERIES SWEEP AT APP STATE
BOONE, N.C. – Jaguar right-hander Avery Geyer set career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched to lead the University of South Alabama baseball team to an 11-6 win and secure a three-game series sweep of Appalachian State Sunday at Smith Stadium.
Geyer (2-1) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out a career-high nine batters with no walks in a career-best six innings pitched to earn the win. App State left-hander Dallas DeVrieze (2-1) allowed seven runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk in 3 2/3 innings in the loss.
"Avery was phenomenal," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "He's been working hard, and worked on dropping his arm slot a little bit this week and he was fantastic. Aside from the two-run home run, he was phenomenal. Maybe he's one of the extra guys that we've been looking for to step up down the stretch the last month. That works against anyone we face. His fastball had some run and his slider was shorter; his slider looked like his fastball and then broke away. He had a lot of swing-and-misses on his slider and he threw it for strikes. Before, he was throwing sliders and guys would take them because they saw it early or they'd get a good look at it and they would hit it. He had to be perfect with his slider. Today, his slider was better; it was later and tighter and his fastball had really good movement. Moving his arm slot out a little bit – this was the first time he's pitched in a game since he's done it – give Avery credit for being an athlete and making an adjustment on the fly because that was outstanding. I'm really proud of Avery today."
Appalachian State put its first two batters on base via consecutive singles in the bottom of the first inning before a wild pitch from Jaguar left-hander Thomas Huston allowed both runners to move into scoring position with no outs. Tyler Stroup drew a walk to load the bases for Drake Zupcic, who lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Jason Curtis with the game's first run.
But South Alabama answered with a pair of runs in the top of the second when Wells Davis lifted a 2-2 pitch from App State left-hander Dallas DeVrieze over the right field wall for a two-run home run, his 10th of the year and fourth of the series, for a 2-1 Jaguar lead.
The Mountaineers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third on a single by Matt Vernon, a walk by Tyler Stroup and a hit by pitch to Zupcic. Brian Bauk followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Vernon and tie the game at 2-2.
USA took a three-run lead in the top of the fourth inning when Jared Barnes lifted a 2-2 pitch from DeVrieze on the ninth pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall for a three-run home run, his 13th of the year and third of the series, for a 5-2 Jaguar advantage. Will Luft singled to center field with two outs later in the inning, and Dylan Hardy reached on a fielding error by App State third baseman Calev Grubbs before Drew LaBounty delivered a two-run double to the left-center field gap to score Luft and Hardy for a 7-2 lead.
App State answered in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run from Connor Leonard to cut the USA lead to 7-4.
The Jags added a run to their lead in the top of the seventh. Brendan Donovan doubled to right field to lead off the top of the seventh, and Davis reached on a one-out walk before Hunter Stokes delivered an RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Donovan and double the Jaguar advantage at 8-4. A wild pitch from App State right-hander Matt Brill moved both Davis and Stokes into scoring position with one out. Following a Mountaineer pitching change later in the inning, Barnes delivered a two-out, two-run single to left field to score Davis and Stokes for a 10-4 lead.
The Mountaineers responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out, two-run home run to left-center field by Vernon to cut the Jaguar lead to 10-6.
USA added the game's final run in the top of the eighth on a two-out solo home run to right-center field by Donovan on a 2-1 pitch from Mountaineer right-hander Sean Mason.
Barnes went 2-for-5 with a home run, a career-high five RBI and one run scored, and Davis finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Vernon went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Mountaineers offensively.
"I thought they (App State) were some of the best arms, collectively, that we have seen on a weekend all year long, especially out of the bullpen. Their starter was solid; they're very solid on the mound. They had very good pitching numbers. They were in the top third (in the Sun Belt Conference) in terms of pitching, and that was my concern coming up here on the weekend. But I thought this was as good or better than any other weekend that our guys have been locked in for three games. It was the most they made an opposing pitching staff work. We put some crooked numbers up there and hit some home runs, but it was the guys who drew walks to get on and got two-strike, two-out hits that was the difference this weekend. We had very good pitching and very good offense."
USA will return to action Thu., May 18, when it opens a three-game SBC series with Troy at Stanky Field at 6:30 p.m.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Eagles Down Arkansas State 6-1 on Sunday to Take Series Win
STATESBORO, GA. - Georgia Southern Baseball took a 6-1 Senior Day win over Arkansas State on Sunday in the final home regular season game of 2017. Seth Shuman improved to 6-0 with six innings on the hill while Tyler Martin hit a three-run home run in the third that put the Eagles up for good. The Eagles play four games next week in Atlanta against Georgia Tech and Georgia State.
The Eagles took the series 2-1 to improve to 35-17 on the season. Georgia Southern is 17-10 in Sun Belt play which would be good for the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Championships if the season ended today. Arkansas State is 23-26 overall and 11-16 in league play.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"It was good to bounce back after a tough one last night. Seth Shuman gave us a good effort, all three pitchers for us pitched well today. Tyler Martin's home run helped us loosen up and swing the bats a little better after that. It is always nice to go out with a win on Senior Day in the last regular season home game. Now we've got to continue to push going into the final week of the regular season."
SCORING PLAYS
Bot 3rd - ASU 0 - GS 3 - A two out walk to Steven Curry and a single by Ryan Cleveland set the table for sophomore Tyler Martin. The Eagle designated hitter clobbered the 2-1 pitch down the left field line for his seventh home run of the season.
Top 4th - ASU 1 - GS 3 - The Red Wolves stole a run back in the fourth with a leadoff single and a stolen base to put the runner in scoring position. An RBI single through the left side plated Arkansas State's only run of the day.
Bot 5th - ASU 1 - GS 6 - The Eagles got two walks early in the fifth to open the door for a crooked number. Logan Baldwin knocked an RBI single to center, but the ball was muffed by the Red Wolves, allowing a second run to score with two outs. After another walk, Cal Baker singled to left to drive in the inning's third run and pushed the lead to 6-1.
GAME NOTES
- Seth Shuman improved his record to 6-0 this season with another strong performance on Sunday. He went six innings and scattered six hits while allowing the one run. He did not walk a batter and struck out three in his second-straight quality start.
- Steven Curry finished the weekend with a 2-for-4 game on Sunday with a run scored. He went 5-for-11 (.455) in the weekend series.
- Tyler Martin's seventh home run of the season gave the Eagles a lead which would not be relinquished. He went 1-for-3 on Sunday to close a 4-for-10 weekend which featured three extra base hits and a .900 slugging percentage.
- Before the game, Georgia Southern Baseball honored its class of 12 seniors. The class featured five student-athletes who have already earned their degrees from Georgia Southern.
NEXT UP
The Eagles travel to Hotlanta for the final four games of the regular season next week. Georgia Southern visits Georgia Tech on Tuesday night before opening the final regular season series of the season on Thursday against Georgia State. Tuesday's game against the Yellow Jackets is set for 6 p.m. in Midtown.
Troy Completes Series Sweep of ULM on Senior Day
TROY, Alabama – Troy wrapped up its home slate with an 8-3 victory over ULM to sweep the Sun Belt series Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.
The Trojans (30-21, 15-12) have now won five games in a row and have clinched a first-round bye in the Sun Belt Championship.
Chase Smartt finished 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs to lead Troy offensively – he turned in three hits in all three games of the set.
Trojan right fielder Mason Rogers went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. He has hit safely multiple times in six of the last seven games for Troy.
Daren Osby (5-4) allowed three solo home runs but only allowed two other hits in the game to earn the win on the mound for the Trojans – overall, allowing only the three runs on five hits in six innings of work.
Troy's all-time career saves and appearances leader Marc Skinner entered the game in the ninth inning and secured the victory for the Trojans.
Cade Harper led the Warhawks (12-40, 6-21) at the plate with a 3-for-4 day that included two home runs.
Stephen Morrison (0-3) suffered the loss after allowing six runs – five earned – on five hits and two walks in three innings on the mound.
QUOTABLE
"I'm really proud of how we competed to win the game," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "I'm really proud to get that win on Senior Day and Mother's Day. (Daren) Osby's stuff looked good; he didn't walk guys and he wasn't behind in the count consistently. Plus, our lineup is starting to lengthen out and we're making it difficult for opposing pitchers to make it through our whole lineup."
"We're starting to swing the bat well and we've been pitching great all year," senior left fielder Trevor Davis said. "I'm glad we went out of Riddle-Pace Field with a win."
"I was excited to get out there on Senior Day," Troy all-time leader in career saves and appearances Marc Skinner said. "That mound has meant a lot to me in my four years. But now I'm looking forward to these games that are coming up because you can feel the confidence and the belief building up on our team."
SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Chase Smartt's three-hit game was his third of the weekend series – he previously had only six three-hit games in his career. It also marks back-to-back Sun Belt series that a Trojan has had multi-hit games in all three games of the set.
• Mason Rogers finished the game 2-for-4 to turn in his sixth multi-hit game in the last seven. Rogers has climbed from .218 to .287 in the past nine games.
• Daren Osby's win was his first since defeating Little Rock on March 17 – when he allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work.
• With the win, Troy has won five straight and six of their last seven games following a three-game losing streak. The Trojans have also improved to 13-6 all-time against ULM at home.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
The Trojans will travel to one of the most historic college baseball venues in the country as they face off with No. 6 Mississippi State in Starkville Tuesday night. First pitch for the mid-week contest is set for 6:30 p.m.