Lumberjacks to Host Central Arkansas
3/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks will take the field Friday at 3 p.m. as they host the Central Arkansas Bears in the first of a three-game set. Starting Saturday, you'll be seeing green this weekend as the Lumberjacks join the Ladyjacks softball team in the fight against Hodgkin's Lymphoma on behalf of Ladyjack Krystil Burney who was stricken with the disease in 2005. The teams will be "Goin' to Bat for Burney" Saturday with a full day of activities aimed at raising money and awareness for the battle against the cancer. The Lumberjacks will be wearing lime green jerseys for Saturday's and Sunday's games against Central Arkansas. Lime green is the color associated with the fight against Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Krystil Burney will be in attendance and will throw out the first pitch at baseball at 2 p.m. Saturday with her brother, Justin, who's a member of the SFA baseball team, on the receiving end of the pitch.
This weekend: The Central Arkansas Bears will be in Nacogdoches for a three-game set against the Lumberjacks in SFA's final leg of a seven-game home stand.
The Bears: Southland Conference newcomer Central Arkansas has started off its SLC play with a 1-5 record. The Bears were able to take the league opener from Sam Houston State, but have gone on to lose their next five conference contests. Overall, UCA is 11-13. Matt Warren is only one of two players on the UCA squad to start all 24 games. He is second on the team with a .363 batting average and is leading the Bears with 33 hits, 23 runs scored, seven home runs and 22 RBI. On the mound, Matt Whitaker and Daniel Price have each started six games for the Bears. Whitaker is 2-3 on the year with a 5.35 ERA. In 37 innings of work, he has struck out 51 batters while walking 17. Price has a 7.71 ERA and a 2-4 record. He has 23 Ks and nine walks in 32.2 innings pitched.
Against the Bears: This will be the first meeting between SFA and UCA.
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 29-55 (.338) overall record and an SLC mark of 9-26. Doug Clark is in his fifth season as the head coach of the UCA Bears.
The Starters
Friday - Erich Lehmann: Sophomore Erich Lehmann pitched his second complete game of the year Sunday in a 6-3 win over Lamar. He gave up three runs off 10 hits while tying a season high with six strikeouts. On the year, Lehmann is second among SFA starters with a 3.51 ERA. The Fort Worth native has 36 strikeouts compared to only seven walks.
Saturday - Lance Luetge: Senior southpaw Lance Luetge allowed four runs off six hits Saturday against Lamar and left the game in the middle of the eighth inning with a 7-4 lead. He struck out three in the outing. The Lumberjacks gave up the lead and lost 9-7 in 10 innings forcing Luetge out of the decision. The Industry, Texas, native is 4-2 on the year with 31 strikeouts in 44.0 innings pitched. He has a season ERA of 3.68.
Sunday - Jared Schrom: Sophomore right hander Jared Schrom is currently leading the SFA pitching staff with a 1.91 ERA and 39 Ks. The Portland, Texas, native suffered his second loss of the season after giving up seven runs off nine hits in the series opener last Friday against Lamar.
Rolling Hill: In his last five games, senior Steven Hill has a .778 batting average. He has 14 hits in 18 at-bats with six walks. The Houston native has 11 RBI and 12 runs scored with four home runs in the same stretch. He also collected five hits in back-to-back games. In SLC games, Hill is batting .565. Against Lamar, he started off with a 5-for-5 night Friday and followed with a 2-for-4 outing Saturday. Sunday, Hill was not credited with an at-bat after being issued three walks, one intentional, and hitting an RBI sac fly. Hill is currently leading the 'Jacks with a .386 batting average and 10 home runs.
Hot Streak: Sugar Land, Texas, native Zach Gardner has been on a hot streak in his last seven games. He started off with a stretch of five multi-hit games, but has been held to only one hit in his last two starts. The sophomore hit triples in back-to-back games against Lamar to extend his career triples number to four and to tie for the all-time triples record at SFA. Against Dallas Baptist, Gardner was 1-for-3 with three walks. He scored two runs. Through his first 15 games, he only scored three runs. In his last seven games, he has crossed the plate 12 times. For the season, Gardner is batting .340.
Up Next: The Lumberjacks hit the road next weekend for a three-game SLC series at Northwestern State. Due to the Easter Holiday, the series will begin Thursday and will conclude Saturday. SFA will then come home for a midweek game against Houston.
-SFA-
