SFA Hosts UTPA in Three-Game Set
3/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 8, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - Stephen F. Austin will look to halt Texas-Pan American's three-game win streak when the Broncs come to Nacogdoches this weekend. Last weekend, the Lumberjacks paid a visit to the Broncs in Edinburg, Texas, in the Al Ogletree Classic. On Friday, SFA opened weekend play against Texas-San Antonio in non-conference action. After exchanging the lead several times, the 'Jacks left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth for the 6-5 loss. The Broncs hosted SFA Saturday with SFA taking a 13-11 win. The Lumberjacks weren't so lucky on Sunday when the Illinois Illini handed them an 11-6 loss. SFA is coming back to Jaycees Field where it currently has a 4-0 record. The 'Jacks enter the weekend with a 7-10 overall mark.
This weekend The Texas-Pan American Broncs will come to Nacogdoches for a three game set against the Lumberjacks. The teams faced each other once last weekend in UT-Pan Am's Al Ogletree classic with SFA taking the 13-11 win.
The Broncs: Texas-Pan American currently sits with an 9-13 overall record. The Broncs are currently on a three-game win streak and have won four of their last five games. UTPA is being led by Roly Gonzalez who is currently hitting .346. In 20 games played, he's scored 17 runs, 16 RBI, one triple, and 12 stolen bases, all team highs. On the mound, Josh Wymer is 3-3 with 1.93 ERA in six starts. He has 21 strikeouts in 42.0 innings pitched and is holding opponents to a .204 batting average.
Against the Broncs: SFA was successful in evening out its all-time record against the Broncs last weekend and now have a 4-4 record against UTPA. In two seasons, the 'Jacks are 2-2 against the Broncs.
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 21-49 (.300) record. In his first season with SFA, Watson's troops posted a 7-23 SLC record. UTPA is coached by Willie Gawlik, who is in his fourth season at the helm of the Broncs.
The Starters Friday - Jared Schrom: Sophomore Jared Schrom is leading SFA's starting rotation with a 1.80 ERA. In five starts this year, he's posted a 1-2 record. He's collected 20 strikeouts and has allowed nine walks in 25.0 innings pitched.
Saturday - Lance Luetge: Industry, Texas, native Lance Luetge will be making his fifth start this weekend. He is currently 3-1 on the year. In 25.2 innings, he has 20 strikeouts and has allowed only seven walks. Luetge, a senior, is averaging just over five innings per start.
Sunday - Erich Lehmann: Sophomore Erich Lehmann notched his third win of the season to tie Lance Luetge for the lead last weekend. He is 3-1 on the year after leading SFA past UTPA last weekend. Lehmann, a native of Fort Worth, has a 4.09 ERA in six games started. In 33.0 innings of work, he has 24 strikeouts to just five walks.
All Tournament Team: Noel Trevino and Kevin Crabtree were both named to the all tournament team at the Al Ogletree Classic last weekend. For the weekend, Trevino batted .400 and Crabtree hit .500. Trevino had six hits, including two doubles. He scored three runs and had an RBI. Crabtree collected seven hits and scored five runs. He hit his fourth home run of the season, contributing to his five RBI.
Breaking the Slump: Before heading into the three-game series against Youngstown State two weekends ago, SFA third baseman Chris Smith was in a slump, batting only .237 in 11 games played. But starting against the Penguins, Smith's bat began working again and he has a .471 average in his last six games played. In that streatch, he has eight hits with six runs scored, two doubles, a triple, a home run, and five RBI. Smith also has two stolen bases and has struck out twice. He had a .500 average over the weekend.
Leading Role: Not only is senior Steven Hill leading the team and among the league leaders in multiple categories (with 25 hits, eight doubles, five home runs, 24 RBI, a .685 slugging percentage and seven 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 68 RBI are a career best at SFA. And with one more home run, he will own the home run record as well. He is currently tied for the lead with 19. Hill, a native of Houston, Texas, is also among the top five in runs with 57, stolen bases at 17, and second with three triples.
Home Runs: So far this season, the Lumberjacks have hit 20 home runs as a team. Steven Hill and Jared Pitts are leading the way with five homers a piece. Kevin Crabtree has four and Chris Smith has three. After 17 games played in 2006, SFA had only seven home runs as a team. The 'Jacks collected a total of 30 home runs last year.
Same Team, Different Season: It wasn't until the Lumberjacks' 37th game of the 2006 season that they were able to garner their seventh win of the season. SFA did so in 16 games this year.
Streaking: Noel Trevino is on an 11-game hitting streak, the longest for SFA this season. The longest hitting streak in recent 'Jacks history is Steven Hill's 22-game stretch. He ended 2006 hitting safely in 18 straight games and did the same in his first four games of 2007.
Up Next: The Lumberjacks will spend their spring break touring Louisiana starting in Shreveport, where SFA will face Centenary on Tuesday, March 13. In the second game of a home-and-home series between the teams, the 'Jacks and the Gents will play at 6 p.m. For the weekend series, SFA will open its Southland Conference schedule in Hammond, La., versus Southeastern Louisiana. The games are scheduled for Friday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
