'Jacks Open Home Slate Today
2/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - After playing nine games on the road during the last three weeks, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks are finally able to play on their own turf starting Tuesday afternoon. The Centenary Gents make the trip to Jaycees Field in Nacogdoches for a 2 p.m. game Tuesday to open the 'Jacks' 2007 home slate.
SFA will hit the road once more Wednesday afternoon to face the Prairie View A&M Panthers at 3 p.m. in Prairie View. Over the weekend, however, the Lumberjacks will play three straight games at Jaycees Field against the Youngstown State Penguins. Friday's game against the Penguins will begin at 2 p.m. with the Saturday and Sunday games beginning at 1 p.m.
Taking the mound for the Lumberjacks Tuesday will be sophomore Erich Lehmann. In three starts this season, Lehmann has posted a 5.40 ERA in 15.0 innings pitched. He's given up 10 runs off 17 hits. He's also struck out 14 batters and walked four. In his last start, the former Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America gave up eight runs, seven earned, off ten hits in 3.1 innings against Baylor last Friday.
SFA enters its busiest week yet - playing five games in six days - with a 2-7 record. While the 'Jacks' bats and relief pitching has struggled some this season, the record is not a big surprise as SFA has faced some quality teams in Texas Tech, Houston, and Baylor.
Leading the Lumberjacks offense is newcomer Noel Trevino who made his SFA debut at second base against Baylor. Trevino, a junior transfer from Forth Worth, started all three games against the Bears after suffering an injury right before the season began. In 12 at-bats, Trevino put together five hits, including two doubles. He scored three of SFA's six runs in Waco.
Only seniors Jeremy Arterburn (.364) and David Jeans (.300) join Trevino as the only Lumberjacks batting .300 or higher. Senior Chris Smith and junior transfer Jared Pitts are the only 'Jacks with more than one home run. Pitts hit his third of the year Sunday against Baylor, a two-run shot over the left field wall, and Smith has collected two. The duo also has the most RBI on the team - Pitts has eight and Smith has six.
Starting pitchers Jared Schrom and Lance Luetge have been great assets on the mound for the 'Jacks. In three starts, Schrom has given up 11 hits and five runs, three earned. He's struck out 12 in 14.1 innings of work while walking only six. The sophomore has posted a 1.88 ERA this season. Luetge, who has made two starts this season after sitting out last year recovering from Tommy John surgery, struck out nine batters, a career high, in six innings pitched Sunday at Baylor. He has a 1.98 ERA on the year.
-SFA-
