Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Colonels Score Early in Win
3/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 17, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Nicholls State got out to a quick start with four runs in the first inning, and those four proved to be the difference in the Colonels' 7-3 win over the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Friday at Jaycees Field. With the loss, SFA fell to 4-18 overall and 1-6 in Southland Conference action.
The Lumberjacks scratched for single runs in the second, sixth and eighth innings, but a big inning to match Nicholls State's opening stanza escaped them, as they left six runners on base, including three stranded on third. Brian Steinocher (1-3) worked eight complete innings for SFA and took the loss. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with no walks, while striking out five. Erik Gregerson gave up one run on two hits in the ninth. Justin Breaux started for Nicholls State and lasted eight innings. He was touched for three runs (two earned) on five hits with five walks.
Catcher Steven Hill led SFA at the plate. He went 1-for-2 with a home run - his sixth of the season - and two runs scored. Hill also walked twice and threw out a base runner.
Nicholls opened the game with two straight hits and a sacrifice bunt to put runners on second and third with one out. Catcher Jose Higuera then doubled down the left field line, plating two runs. The next batter, Keith Delahoussaye, was hit by a pitch, then Delahoussaye and Higuera moved to second and third, respectively on a wild pitch. They both scored when Chris Barnes singled through the left side of the infield. Steinocher got the next batter to line one back at him, then escaped the inning with a ground-out to the short stop.
Steinocher and the Lumberjack defense settled down after the opening inning, and Nicholls State didn't advance a runner past first base in any of the next four innings. Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks put up a run in the bottom of the second. Second baseman Buck Britton drew a two-out walk, then stole second base. Left fielder David Jeans brought him around with a single to right field. Jeans then stole second and took third on an errant throw, but Breaux got Clay Britton to ground out to first base to end the inning.
Nicholls State added a run in the sixth, but SFA answered with Hill's homer. The catcher's sixth bomb of the year went out opposite-field, over the wall in right, to make it a 5-2 game.
The two teams traded runs again in the eighth inning. The Lumberjacks' run came when Hill led off with a walk, then advanced on a ground-out and a passed ball. First baseman Adam Bosley drew a two-out walk, then got into an intentional run-down between first and second, giving Hill the chance to scamper home.
The Colonels set the final score with a triple and an RBI single in the ninth inning.
Saturday's start time for Game 2 has been moved from 1 p.m. to 11 a.m. to try and avoid inclement weather scheduled to hit the area later in the day.
- SFA -
