Stephen F. Austin
Nicholls State
Hill, Lehmann Break SFA Records in Win
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - Between Steven Hill and Erich Lehmann, two career records were broken and an SFA season record was tied as the duo led the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks past the Nicholls State Colonels, 9-4, Friday afternoon. Hill hit two home runs to break the all-time record at SFA with 33 career home runs. The record was 31, set by Jeff Dungen from 1987-1990. The pair of dingers were also his 18th and 19th of the year to tie the single season record set by Hayland Hardy in 1993. Lehmann pitched 5.0 innings to earn the win, his seventh of the season and 15th of his career, breaking the all-time wins record at SFA. The previous record of 14 was held by Sean Wood.
Hill hit his first home run of the day during a Lumberjack six-run rally in the bottom of the second inning. Before Hill came to the plate, SFA already had a three-run advantage. With the bases loaded, Colonels pitcher Lance Dupuis attempted to pick off Kevin Crabtree at third base, but the throw was long and Crabtree was able to score as did Chris Smith, who was on second base. On the play, Brewer moved to second and scored when Zach Gardner hit a single to center field. Justin Long then hit a center field single, moving Gardner to second. The pair then scored on Hill's home run to left field to give the Lumberjacks a 6-0 lead going into the top of the third.
Nicholls State responded with four runs of its own in the top of the fourth, but that's all that would score in the game.
The Lumberjacks, however, were not finished. In the top of the fifth, Jared Pitts led off with a home run straight to left field for his seventh homer of the season. The next run scored when Kevin Crabtree, who was hit by a pitch, scored from third on a second error by Dupuis, distancing SFA 8-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Lumberjacks put one more run on the board with Hill's 19th home run of the year that sailed over the left field wall to give SFA a 9-4 lead and the eventual final score.
Hill had two hits on the day with two runs scored and four RBI. The one- and two-hole hitters Zach Gardner and Justin Long, respectively, each went 3-for-5 with a run scored. Gardner added an RBI.
Lehmann pitched 5.0 complete innings, giving up four runs off eight hits. He matched a season-high strikeout total with six. Lehmann also did not give up a walk as he moved his record to 7-2 on the year. Kevin Thomas pitched 4.0 scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits, a walk and striking out three. He earned his first save of the year.
The Lumberjacks extended their overall record to 24-20 and sent their Southland Conference record to 11-8. Nicholls State fell to 5-38 overall and 1-18 in SLC action.
SFA will host the Colonels in the second game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at Jaycees Field. Game time has been pushed back to 2 p.m. from the original start time of 1 p.m. Sunday's start time remains at 1 p.m.
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