Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Lumberjacks Split with Nicholls State
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 18, 2006
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack baseball team wrapped up its weekend series against Southland Conference foe Nicholls State by splitting a doubleheader with the Colonels Saturday at Jaycees Field. The Lumberjacks won the opener, 3-2, in 10 innings, but Nicholls State notched a 9-2 victory in the second game. That win gave the Colonels (7-15, 2-4) a 2-1 edge in the series.
The Lumberjacks (5-19, 2-7) were solid in Saturday's first game. Freshman pitcher Sammy Hardwick earned his first start of the season and threw a one-hit shutout through eight innings. The Colonels got to him for two runs in the ninth to tie the score before he gave way to Erich Lehmann to start the final inning. Hardwick finished with a no decision after working nine innings with two earned runs on two hits and two walks. He recorded eight strikeouts and had faced the minimum number of batters before issuing two walks and a base hit in the ninth.
Kyle Freeman led off the SFA half of the 10th inning with a single, then advanced to third base, thanks to a muffed throw by Nicholls first baseman Patrick Thompson on a failed pickoff attempt. Two batters later, Angel Hernandez brought Freeman home for the winning run with a squeeze bunt.
SFA scored the game's first runs in the seventh inning. David Jeans got a one-out infield single then scored on Buck Britton's triple to center field. Pinch-hitter Adam Bosley singled to right-center to score Britton and give the Lumberjacks a 2-0 lead.
Lehmann worked one inning in relief and didn't allow a hit. He gave up one walk and recorded a strikeout in earning the win. Michael Bartek pitched the 10th inning for Nicholls State and took the loss. The Colonels' starter, Aaron George, lasted nine innings and gave up two runs on eight hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
In Game 2, Nicholls State touched SFA starter Jake Leonhardt for five runs on four hits and three walks. Leonhardt left after three-and-two-thirds innings and was saddled with the loss. Russ Fornea came on for Leonhardt and was the first of five relief pitchers the Lumberjacks would use in the game.
Nicholls State, meanwhile, rode the arm of Chris Greer all the way to the win. He earned the complete-game victory by holding SFA to two runs on six hits and three walks. Greer recorded eight strikeouts.
The Colonels did their most damage in the fourth inning, when they scored six runs on five hits. Nicholls State had put up one run in the second and would add one each in the fifth and ninth innings. The Lumberjacks scored two runs in the fourth. Catcher Steven Hill led off with a double down the left field line. Kevin Croft came in to run for Hill and scored five batters later when Jared Schrom hit a bases-loaded, two-out single up the middle. Clay Britton - who had walked earlier - chased Croft home for SFA's second run.
The Lumberjacks will return to action on Friday, March 24, when they open a three-game road series against Lamar. The first game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start from Beaumont, Texas.
- SFA -
