Lumberjacks to Face Islanders This Weekend
4/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 12, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks are coming off a tough week, having won only one out of four games, as they head to Corpus Christi to face the Islanders in a Southland Conference three-game set. SFA was 1-2 at Northwestern State last weekend. Its only win was a 13-8 comeback victory on Friday and was sandwiched between a 6-2 loss Thursday and an 8-7 loss Saturday. The Lumberjacks were down 6-1 in the series finale and tied the score at six, but two late Demon runs were too much and SFA's rally was cut short in the ninth inning with the tying run on third base for the 8-7 loss. On Tuesday, the Lumberjacks hosted the University of Houston Cougars in the second part of a home-and-home series. SFA suffered its first shut-out of the year as Houston took a 4-0 victory. The Lumberjacks are going into the weekend with an 18-17 overall record and a 6-6 Southland Conference mark.
This weekend: This weekend presents an opportunity for SFA to distance themselves from TAMUCC in the conference standings as the Lumberjacks and Islanders are tied for sixth place in the Southland Conference with 6-6 league records.
The Islanders: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi started the season winning its first 10 games and currently has a 19-15 overall record and is 6-6 in conference play. The Islanders have won their last three games to post their first conference series sweep of the season after taking three straight from Nicholls State. TAMUCC will face Prairie View A&M in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.
Against the Islanders: The Lumberjacks won the series against A&M-CC last year going 3-1 against the Islanders. The teams split a doubleheader in Corpus Christi before SFA swept the Islanders in a two-game series in Nacogdoches.
The Coaches: SFA's Donnie Watson is in his second season at the helm of the Lumberjack baseball program. In his time with the 'Jacks, Watson has put together a 33-58 (.362) overall record and an SLC mark of 13-28 (.317). Gene Salazar is in his first year as the head coach of the Islanders.
The Starters Friday - Erich Lehmann: Sophomore Erich Lehmann took his second loss of the season last Thursday at Northwestern State. He pitched seven total innings and gave up five runs off a season-high 11 hits. He also struck out a season-high seven batters. Lehmann is 6-2 on the year. Lehmann leads all SFA starters with a 3.63 ERA and is tied for the team lead wit 49 strikeouts.
Saturday - Jared Schrom: Sophomore right hander Jared Schrom made his 10th start of the season Friday at Northwestern State. In 4.2 innings of work, he gave up four runs off four hits. He struck out five and walked five in the outing. Schrom also made his first relief apperance of the season, pitching one inning against Houston. Have didn't give up any runs or hits, but walked two in the outing. Schrom is second in the starting rotation with a 3.72 ERA and is tied for the lead with 49 strikeouts.
Sunday - Lance Luetge: Senior southpaw Lance Luetge started Tuesday's game against Houston, but only pitched one inning. He walked one, but did not give up the run. Over the weekend, Luetge pitched a third of an inning in Friday's game at Northwestern State. He gave up three runs off four hits. He has a 4.31 ERA on the year and a total of 32 strikeouts.
Folmer Saves the Day: Richard Folmer collected his first win of the season Friday afternoon in the Lumberjacks' 13-8 comeback win over Northwestern State. He pitched the final two innings of the game and gave up only one run off two hits. He also struck out three in the outing. In addition to Saturday's outing, Folmer made a one-inning appearance in Tuesday's game versus Houston. He allowed one hit and struck out two. The Houston native's 23 strikeouts this season surpasses his 2006 strikeout total of 17.
Hot Streak: Sugar Land, Texas, native Zach Gardner has been on a hot streak in his last 14 games. On the longest hitting streak for a Lumberjack this season, Gardner has crossed the plate 22 times in the last 14 games for six more scores in 48 games played in 2006. He has had two or more hits in his last three games to raise his batting average from .324 to .354 in the same span. In SLC play, Gardner is hitting .404 in 11 games played.
Lucky 7: Noel Trevino put together the Lumberjacks' second seven-RBI performance this season at Northwestern State. While going 3-for-5 at the plate, the Fort Worth junior scored three runs off a double and two home runs in the Lumberjacks' 13-8 win.
Holy Crab-tree: Kevin Crabtree is leading the Lumberjacks with three four-hit games this season. His latest four-hit performance was Fridayat Northwestern State when he was 4-for-5 with a run scored. He also hit two doubles and was issued one walk. Crabtree is batting .288 on the year.
First Home Run: David Jeans hit his first home run of the season Saturday at Northwestern State. Jeans made the start as the designated hitter and it was his first start since coming off an injury.
Up Next: SFA will continue its four-game road swing Tuesday, April 17, when it travels to Dallas for a mid-week game against Dallas Baptist. The Lumberjacks then return home to host league leader Texas-San Antonio April 20-22.
