Windham Propels Cajuns Baseball To Win In Extras At Georgia State
ATLANTA – Freshman Jonathan Windham brought home the winning runs in the 11th inning on Saturday as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team defeated Georgia State 6-4 in extra innings to even the series at the GSU Baseball Complex.
The victory improves the Ragin' Cajuns (25-20, 11-9 SBC) to 4-4 in extra-inning games this season with Cajuns picking up their first extra innings win in conference play.
Senior reliever Logan Stoelke recorded his third victory of the season going 4.0 innings with a run on three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Brandon Baker took the loss for the Panthers (21-21, 7-12 SBC) after giving up two unearned runs in an inning of work.
LEADING THE CAJUNS
Junior Daniel Lahare reached base four times in the game going 1-for-3 with a double and three walks, while Gavin Bourgeois had two hits with a double and an RBI. Bourgeois has now driven in nine runs on the week with three RBI in the series.
Senior Kennon Fontenot increased his on-base streak to 25 games drawing a walk in the contest and scored a run.
Starter Hogan Harris went 6.0 innings with three runs on nine hits, four walks and five strikeouts in a no decision.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by Kole McKinnon.
The Panthers broke through in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double to right centerfield by Luke Leonard to tie the game at 1-all. Later in the inning, Leonard came home to score on a double steal to put Georgia State up 2-1.
GSU added a run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI double to left by Will Kilgore to make the score 3-1.
The Ragin' Cajuns rallied in the top of the eighth as Bourgeois doubled home Hayden Cantrelle to cut the Georgia State advantage to 3-2. Bourgeois then scored on a Bryan White wild pitch to knot the game at 3-all. Later in the inning, Hunter Kasuls drove his third home run of the season over the fence in right field to give Louisiana a 4-3 edge.
The lead would not stand up though as the Panthers got the equalizer in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI infield single by Leonard with two outs.
With runners on second and third and one out in the 11th inning, Windham executed the double squeeze to perfection to score both Zach LaFleur and Marco Ramos to put Louisiana back in front 6-4.
Georgia State threatened in the bottom half of the 11th, but the Cajuns were able to cut down a run at the plate for the second out of the inning on a great relay from Lahare and Kasuls. Stoelke then got Kalen Puckett to ground out to shortstop to end the contest.
UP NEXT
Louisiana looks to claim its fourth consecutive series tomorrow at noon CT in the series finale with Georgia State. Sophomore right-hander Jack Burk will take the bump for the Cajuns, while senior right-hander Jordan Lee will make the start for the Panthers. Fans can listen to the game on News Talk 96.5-FM with Jay Walker and Jeff Schneider on the call.
For the latest updates on Ragin' Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin' Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
#16 Coastal Carolina Takes 11-4 Decision From UL Monroe
CONWAY - Four Chanticleers -- Cory Wood, Kevin Woodall Jr., Zach Biermann and Parker Chavers -- each had two hits to lead 16th-ranked Coastal Carolina to an 11-4 victory over UL Monroe Saturday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.
With the victory, Coastal improves to 30-14 overall, 16-4 in the Sun Belt, and clinches the weekend series win. Coastal has won all seven Sun Belt series this season and has won 11 straight dating back to last season. The teams will conclude the series on Sunday with first pitch set for 11 am.
For the Chanticleers, Woodall hit his 15th home run of the season and drove in a pair of runs for the second straight day. Biermann finished with three RBI, Wood two and pinch hitter Turner Buis added two as well. Seth Lancaster accounted for five runs, scoring four times and driving in one, as he was 1-for-2 with three walks.
While the offense was rolling, CCU starter Jason Bilous improved to 6-1 on the season as he only allowed one hit over six innings. He walked four, including two in the first inning, with seven strikeouts. He did allow two runs in the first inning, but both were unearned.
As they did in game one, the Warhawks (18-24, 7-13) scored two in the top of the first inning. Braedon Barrett and Chad Bell walked to start the game. After a sacrifice bunt but runners on third and second, Bilous got a ground out and looked t escape unscathed with a second ground ball, but an error allowed both runners to score.
Coastal answered in the bottom half of the first. Lancaster walked, stole second and scored on a two-out double by Biermann.
The Chants grabbed a 3-2 lead in the third. Lancaster once again walked and stole second. Woodall then hit his 15th home run of the season. Ironically, Woodall also hit his 15th home run of the season last year in game two of the series at ULM.
Coastal opened its lead to 5-2 in the fourth. Cameron Pearcey walked and Matt Beaird singled. After a sacrifice bunt by Keaton Weisz, Wood lined a two-run single to left field.
In the fifth, Coastal loaded the bases on an error, bunt single and a second error on a sacrifice bunt. Beaird delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Kieton Rivers for a 6-2 cushion.
Coastal tackled on three runs in the sixth. Wood hit a leadoff double and scored on seeing-eye single through the right side by Lancaster. Woodall followed with a hit-and-run single. Biermann then hit a double to score Lancaster from third and Woodall from first.
Buis put the Chants up 11-2 in the eighth as he had a pinch hit, two-run single in the eighth inning, scoring Lancaster and Woodall.
ULM pushed two across the plate in the ninth to provide the 11-4 final score. With one out, pinch hitters Pierce Khan and Jacob Charron singled. Will Daniels was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a strikeout, Barrett hit a two-out, two-run single.
Trey Jeans (2-6) suffered the loss, allowing four hits and five runs over four innings.
McDaniel's Homer Breaks Tie In Uplifting Win
BOONE, N.C. — It was no shoo-in, but Appalachian State's baseball team came away with an impressive Sun Belt Conference win.
Joel McDaniel's tiebreaking home run to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning lifted App State to a 7-6 home victory against division-leading Little Rock on Saturday at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
"I felt good all day today, so I was glad I could come through for the boys right there," he said.
A strong start from hard-luck pitcher Andrew Vaccacio and two RBI doubles from Drew Beck helped the Mountaineers establish a 6-2 lead through five innings. The Trojans tied the game with a three-run top of the eighth, scoring the last two runs on a two-out error with the bases loaded, but their chance to take the lead ended when McDaniel moved left from his spot at shortstop to field a bouncing ball behind second base and make a hurried flip to Bailey Welch for a forceout.
Two pitches into App State's half of the eighth, McDaniel drilled a fastball over the left-field fence for a no-doubt homer off Justin Garcia, who entered the game with nine saves and a whopping 65 strikeouts in 44.0 innings.
Pitching in injured teammate Drake Zupcic's shoes after he ripped a shoelace while covering home plate in the previous inning, closer Luke Watts earned the win by throwing a scoreless ninth. A runner reached first base before the game ended on a deep line drive to defensive substitute Bobby Hampton, who has been contributing as a left fielder even though his primary role is as a relief pitcher.
"Joel McDaniel comes up and makes a really big swing, and then you hand the ball right back to Watty, who you've got confidence in to go back out and finish it," fill-in head coach and full-time assistant Britt Johnson said as he rocked his three-month-old twin boys, Cade Royster and Dax Ficklen, in his arms. "He walks out and makes some big pitches, and it was a really nice play by Bobby Hampton — that's not an easy play with a pitcher out in left field with some of the injuries we've had. Bobby goes out there in no-doubles (defense) and makes a big catch.
"I'm just really proud of the resiliency of our guys today."
Vaccacio gave up six hits and just one earned run while amassing six strikeouts in six innings, marking the fifth time in nine healthy starts this season that the left-handed starter with one win has allowed two earned runs or less in at least six innings of work.
Offensively, McDaniel's 3-for-4 day also included a double, and Beck finished with three RBIs thanks to a 2-for-3 performance in which he scored twice. CJ Brown also went 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Beau Myers had a sacrifice fly to produce App State's first run.
After McDaniel scored on Myers' third-inning flyball to tie the game, Beck drove in Riley Smith from first with a fourth-inning double and scored on Brown's double in the next at-bat. Little Rock cut App State's lead to 3-2 before Alex Leshock and Smith scored with two away on a looping double down the left-field line by Beck, who alertly scored from second when a wide throw pulled the first baseman off the bag on Brown's chopper to the right side.
Taking a 6-3 lead into the eighth inning following a scoreless seventh from relief pitcher Kaleb Bowman, App State (12-30, 4-16) still had a three-run advantage with two out and one runner on. The Trojans (22-18, 11-8) followed an RBI single with a single that put two runners on, prompting a move to Watts, and he damaged his left shoe midway through issuing a walk that loaded the bases.
A weakly hit, end-of-the bat chopper that traveled about 70 feet down the first-base line forced Watts to make a high-velocity, close-range throw that couldn't be secured as Little Rock hitter Chase Coker approached first, and two runs scored on the play.
Despite the deflating turn of events, McDaniel made a stellar play in the field and responded with a quick-strike answer for Appalachian.
The three-game series concludes Sunday at 11 a.m., and the first 100 kids in attendance will receive a free App State mini-helmet.
App State Director of Track & Field and Cross Country John Weaver will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday morning. Weaver plans to retire after the 2017-18 season to cap a 47-year coaching career in which he's already won 43 conference coach of the year awards.
Single-game tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE. Weekend games are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.
A-State Strikes Early, Alberius Tames Jaguars in Series-Clinching Win
MOBILE, Ala (4/28/18) – The Arkansas State baseball team scored six runs in the first four innings and Nate Alberius was able to limit the South Alabama offense to three runs as the Red Wolves won 6-3 Saturday night at Stanky Field to clinch its first series victory over the Jaguars since 2014.
Alberius improved to 5-2 on the year and claimed his team-high eighth quality start of the season after tossing 8.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts against three walks. Bo Ritter recorded the final two outs of the contest after Alberius tossed 124 pitches. Alberius was at 90 pitches through five innings, but threw 34 the rest of the game to get into the ninth frame.
The Arkansas State (15-24, 6-14 SBC) offense out hit South Alabama (24-17, 12-7 SBC) 9-5 with three of the hits going for triples for a season high. Grant Hawkins and Kyle MacDonald each had two hits apiece, including a triple each, to lead the team. Jeremy Brown singled in the first inning to move his hit streak to 20 games, tied with three other players for the fifth longest in school history. Drew Tipton also picked up a hit to improve his hit streak to 14 games.
A-State jumped out front early with two runs in the top of the first on a RBI triple by Hawkins and RBI single from Brown. South Alabama was able to get one run back on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first to make the score 2-1.
The Red Wolves got that run back in the second on a bases-loaded walk by MacDonald and then scored three more in the top of the fourth to stretch their lead to 6-1. Hawkins singled home a run before Andrew Leggo hit his first career triple later in the frame to score the other two. The Jaguars added single runs in the fifth and ninth innings to set the final at 6-3.
USA starter Noah Michael only lasted 1.1 innings and allowed three runs before reliever JoJo Booker allowed the other three runs in two innings. Dylan Hardy and Brendan Donovan each had two hits.
Arkansas State goes for the sweep Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
For the latest on A-State baseball follow the team by logging onto the Arkansas State Baseball Facebook page or by following the team on Twitter (@AStateBaseball) and Instagram (arkansasstatebaseball).
Eagles Down Texas State 7-6 in 11 Innings to Even the Series
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - It may have taken 11 innings and lasted nearly four hours, but Georgia Southern ground out a 7-6 win over Texas State on Saturday to even the weekend series at one game each. Christian Avant scored the winning run on a failed pickoff attempt and hit his first collegiate home run to pace the Eagle offense.
The rubber match of the weekend series is set for Noon (CT) / 1 p.m. (ET) as the Eagles and Bobcats square off to close the series.
SCORING PLAYS
Top 3rd - A two outs walk to Christian Avant gave the Eagles a chance in the third, plating the run off a Jason Swan RBI triple. His second triple of the season was his 24th RBI of the season. The hit also broke up Texas State's early no-hit bid.
Bottom 3rd - Three Eagle errors in the third inning opened the door for three Texas State runs in the third as home team took a 3-1 lead.
Top 7th - Sophomore Mason McWhorter cut the lead to 3-2 with a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. It was McWhorter's seventh home run of the season. Two hits with one out put runners aboard for Christian Avant who lashed his first collegiate home run, a three run bomb, to left to give the Eagles a 5-3 lead. The Eagles would bat around for the first time since March 31st against Coastal Carolina, sending 10 to the plate while tallying six hits.
Top 8th - A Mitchell Golden double down the left field line scored Chandler Corley with one out to push the lead to 6-3.
Bottom 8th - Texas State got three runs in the eighth inning, all with two outs, to tie the game at 6-6.
Top 11th - A one out walk to Christian Avant came around to score thanks to a stolen base, a Swan single and a throwing error by the pitcher. A failed pickoff attempt at third base by the pitcher allowed the go-ahead run to score when nobody was home on the throw over.
NOTES
- Chase Cohen picked up his fourth win of the season by working four relief innings and scattering four hits and three runs while striking out four.
- Christian Avant went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored and a pair of walks to lead the way offensively for the Eagles. He also stole two bases in the game, raising his season total to six.
- Mitchell Golden had a 2-for-5 outing, driving in a run for his fifth multi-hit game this season.
- Seth Shuman went six innings for his seventh quality start of the season. He allowed three runs, one earned off seven hits, but left in line for the win after the four run seventh inning. He, however, did not factor in to the decision after Texas State tied the game in the eighth inning.
- The 11 inning game was the longest by innings this season for the Eagles. It clocked in at 3:48, matching the season opener at Georgia for the longest game by time this season.
UP NEXT
The series finale between Georgia Southern and Texas State is on tap for high noon on Sunday. The game is the final contest for the Eagles before final exams start on Monday.
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Mosley’s Walk-Off Single Caps Four-Run Troy Rally
TROY, Ala. – Rigsby Mosley hit a grand slam in Troy's series opening victory over UT Arlington on Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field. He one-upped himself on Saturday with a walk-off single in the ninth inning to complete a four-run Troy rally in a 7-6 victory over UTA to clinch the Trojans' first-ever series victory over the Mavs.
Mosley, who finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a double, came to the plate with runners on first and second and one out after UTA elected to intentionally walk Brandon Lockridge. The freshman fell behind in the count 1-2 and then battled off five foul balls around a pair of pitches outside the zone. On the 11th pitch of the at-bat, he lined a single through the right side of the infield and Drew Frederic scored the winning run for Troy's first walk-off victory of the season.
"When you win a game down three in the eighth you have something special," head coach Mark Smartt said. "We beat two really good pitchers – their best two guys out of the pen – and I couldn't be prouder of the at-bats in the eighth and the ninth innings. They are a hard team to beat because they keep playing, but I couldn't be prouder of my team for showing the courage to keep swinging and keep fighting."
Matt Sanders worked an eight-pitch walk to leadoff the fateful ninth inning and Frederic put the pair in scoring position with a single to center field and some aggressive base running. Joey Denison tied the game with a sac fly to left field ahead of the intentional walk to Lockridge.
Troy (30-13, 13-7 Sun Belt) needed the late-game heroics after UTA (20-23, 10-10) took a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning on a three-run double from Christian Hollie.
Brody Binder delivered an RBI single and Chase Smartt added a run-producing groundout in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull the Trojans within one, 6-5, heading into the final frame.
Zack Lightsey (3-0) pitched a perfect top of the ninth and took home the win for Troy, while Daniel James (1-4) was saddled with the loss for UTA after allowing two runs in an inning of work.
UTA opened the scoring in the second on a solo home run by Jakob Nunez and Lockridge answered in the home half of the inning scoring on back-to-back wild pitches after a double. Lockridge finished 2-for-3 as he added his 12th career triple to become Troy's all-time leader in the category in the fourth inning.
After the Mavs regained the lead with a run in the third, Mosley laced a double into the left-center field gap to score Frederic and Sanders and put Troy in front 3-2 in the sixth inning. Omar Salinas tied the game in the seventh with an RBI single.
Sound "Smartt" with Your Friends
Troy has now won five straight Sun Belt Conference games to improve to 13-7 in league play. The Trojans have won five of their seven league series this season and could sweep their second consecutive series with a win on Sunday.
Quotable – Head Coach Mark Smartt
"The drama in the ninth was incredible, but how about (Mosley's) at-bat in the sixth with a double to give us the lead. He is growing up right in front of our eyes. He is a good hitter. I'm not sure he knows how good he is yet, but he is a competitive hitter that is hard to strikeout. He struck out earlier in the game, and I knew he wasn't going to strikeout in the ninth. He was too determined to get the ball in play, and he got rewarded with the big game-winning hit."
Notable
• With his fourth-inning triple, Brandon Lockridge set Troy's all-time career triples record with 12. Troy already holds the school's single-season team record with 22 this year and ranks second nationally in the category.
• Daren Osby has thrown at least five innings in 10 of his 11 starts this season – he worked 6.1 innings Saturday.
• Saturday's victory over UT Arlington clinched the Sun Belt Conference series in Troy's favor. It marks the first time that Troy has won a series over UTA. The Trojans improved to 6-10 all-time against the Mavs and have won three straight games after losing six of the previous seven.