SFA Baseball Opens SLC Play at Southeastern La.
3/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 15, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - Stephen F. Austin heads into Southland Conference play with an 11-10 record. It is the first time the Lumberjacks are over .500 since the 2006 opening weekend when it started the season with a 2-1 record. The Lumberjacks are currently riding a four-game win streak that included their second straight home sweep and a 20-4 routing of Centenary in Shreveport, La., Tuesday evening. It was a record-breaking evening for the Lumberjacks as they scored 20 runs and hit five home runs -- both record numbers at SFA. Steven Hill broke the all-time home run record with his 20th career shot and Kevin Croft hit his fourth home run in as many games. On Sunday, Erich Lehmann became tied for the career wins record as he recorded his 12th career win as a Lumberjack with a 2-0 complete game shutout of the Texas-Pan American Broncs.
This weekend:The Lumberjacks are on the road to Hammond, La., to open Southland Conference action against Southeastern Louisiana. SFA is taking a four-game win streak into the weekend.
The Lions: Southeastern Louisiana is currently the winningest Southland Conference team as league play begins. The Lions are 14-5 and have won their last three games. SFA and SLU have won their last seven games combined. The Lions have four players batting over .300 with Chase Burch leading the pack at .353. He has 24 hits and has scored 19 runs. He is leading the team with 16 RBI. He also has two home runs. From the mound, Brent Varnado is a perfect 5-0 in eight appearances. He has only started one game. Varnado has struck out 17 batters and has walked only eight in 23.0 innings of work while holding the opposition to a .209 average. He also has one save on the year. His 1.96 ERA leads the Lions' pitching staff.
Against the Lions: SFA looks to take the upside of the all-time record against the Lions as it heads to Hammond with a 2-2 all-time record against SLU. Last season, the Lumberjacks were able to take one of three from the Lions in Nacogdoches.
The Coaches: SFA's Donnie Watson is in his second season at the helm of the Lumberjacks baseball program. In his time with the 'Jacks, Watson has put together an 26-51 (.337) record. In his first season with SFA, Watson's troops posted a 7-23 SLC record. Jay Artigues is in his second season as the head coach of the Southeastern Louisiana Lions.
The Starters Friday - Jared Schrom: Sophomore Jared Schrom had a career night last Friday, going all nine innings and allowing only three hits in his first career complete game shutout. He also struck out a career-high 10 batters in SFA's 7-0 win over the UT-Pan American Broncs. Schrom is leading the staff with 30 strikeouts on the year and leading the starting rotation with a 1.32 ERA. He is 2-1this season.
Saturday - Lance Luetge: Senior left hander Lance Luetge is second on the staff with a 2.93 ERA in six appearances, including five starts. In 30.2 innings of work, he's struck out 22 batters and walked only eight. He is currently tied for the most wins with a 4-1 record.
Sunday - Erich Lehmann: Sophomore Erich Lehmann pitched his first complete game of the year Sunday and his fourth of his Lumberjack career when he shut out the Broncs, 2-0. In the outing, Lehmann struck out only two batters and walked one, but his fourth win of the season was his 12th overall to tie him for the career record at SFA. The two strikeouts sent his career total to 89, just enough to break into SFA's top five all-time.
Hitter of the Week: Kevin Croft was named the Aeropostale Southland Conference Hitter of the Week after batting .500 with three home runs in three games played against the Texas-Pan American Broncs last weekend. Croft, a sophomore from Lake Jackson, had not hit a home run all season and hit one home run per game in the three-game set. He continued the streak, hitting one out of the park at Centenary Tuesday night. It was the second time this season that a Lumberjack has been awarded the honor.
Game Highs: Noel Trevino and Chris Smith set career highs and single game highs at Centenary Tuesday night. Trevino scored five runs and tied a game high with two home runs. Smith had five RBI for a career high and it was the second five RBI game for a Lumberjack this season.
Home Runs: So far this season, the Lumberjacks have hit 29 home runs as a team after having hit 30 in 2006. SFA hit five home runs Tuesday at Centenary: Jeff Brewer collected his first of the year, Noel Trevino hit two, Kevin Croft hit his fourth in as many games, and Steven Hill collected his 20th Lumberjack home run to break the career record at SFA. The 'Jacks have hit two or more home runs in eight games this season, have hit at least one home run in their last six games, and have gone homer-less in only four games this season. As for opposing teams, SFA pitchers have only given up 10 home runs this year.
Leading Role: Not only is senior Steven Hill leading the team and among the league leaders in multiple categories (with 29 hits, eight doubles, six home runs, 26 RBI, a .648 slugging percentage and eight stolen bases), he has also put himself atop SFA's career records. In his two seasons in a Lumberjack uniform, Hill's 24 doubles and 70 RBI are a career best at SFA. He also now owns SFA's career home run record with 20. Hill, a native of Houston, Texas, is also among the top five in hits with 101, runs scored with 60, stolen bases at 19, and second with three triples.
Up Next: The Lumberjacks will open their longest home stand of the season, starting with a three-game set against Lamar. SFA will host the Cardinals in its conference home opener beginning with a 3 p.m. game on Friday, March 23, and will conclude with 1 p.m. games Saturday and Sunday. The Lumberjacks will play host for a midweek game against Dallas Baptist and close out with a three-game series against SLC newcomer, Central Arkansas the following weekend.
