Stephen F. Austin
Central Arkansas
SFA Baseball Defeats Bears
3/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - A pair of three-run innings from Stephen F. Austin led the Lumberjacks past the Central Arkansas Bears for a 6-2 win in Southland Conference play. Kevin Croft put down two hits and scored twice as Jared Pitts and Steven Hill each collected two RBI in the victory. SFA now sits with a 15-14 overall record and is 3-4 in conference action. The Bears fell to 11-14 overall and have a 1-6 league mark in their inaugural year in the Southland.
The Lumberjacks had their first three-run rally in the second inning. With one out, Justin Long took a walk and made his way to third when Justin Roland hit a single to right center field. Back-to-back walks issued to Kevin Croft and Zach Gardner, respectively, loaded the bases and then forced Long to score the first run of the game. With two outs and the bases still juiced, Hill put a two-RBI single up the middle to give the Lumberjacks a 3-0 lead.
The Bears scored their first run of the game in the top of the sixth when Craig Nyborg led off with an infield single. He advanced to third on Matt Warren's double down the left field line, but was out at home on a 7-6-2 relay throw. After Derrick Corso reached on a walk, the bases were loaded on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Jonathan Ashworth then hit a sacrifice fly to left field for the RBI that cut SFA's lead to 3-1.
In UCA's next at-bat, the Bears shortened the Lumberjacks' lead to one. Scott Cline hit a one-out base hit down the left field line and advanced to second on Chris Houk's single through the left side. When Nyborg singled to left center, Cline scored from second to make the score 3-2.
SFA, however, put together its second three-run inning in the same inning. Leadoff hitter Croft reached safely on a bunt and reached second when Noel Trevino walked. The pair then pulled off a double-steal of second and third. Hill was issued his second intentional walk in three games to load the bases. Pitts then flied out to center field, allowing Croft and Trevino to score. Hill, who advanced to third on a wild pitch, scored the Lumberjacks' final run when UCA second baseman Martin Graham bobbled the throw to first base.
On the mound, starter Erich Lehmann pitched six complete innings, giving up five hits and six strikeouts. He only allowed one run and two walks in his sixth win of the year. Richard Folmer came into the game with a 3-2 lead and pitched 2.2 innings of work. He gave up two hits and struck out three to earn his first save of the year.
The Lumberjacks will continue their series against the Bears Saturday at 2 p.m. from Jaycees Field. Please join SFA in its fight against Hodgkin's Lymphoma as Lumberjack baseball and Ladyjack softball are "Goin' to Bat for Burney" Saturday afternoon at the Nacogdoches Baseball Complex.
-SFA-
