Stephen F. Austin
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
'Jacks Drop Late-Inning Heartbreaker To Islanders
2/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 24, 2008
EDINBURG, Texas - After a late-night finish on Saturday, the SFA baseball team could not hold onto a ninth inning lead on Sunday, falling 7-6 to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the final game of the Al Ogletree Classic.
The 'Jacks (1-2) made their second late-inning comeback in the opening three games when they put together a three-run eighth inning to take the lead for the first time at 5-3. Kevin Croft picked up his only hit of the afternoon in the inning, landing a one-out double get things started. Adam Bosley would then draw a walk and Brian Ferguson would give SFA the lead with a double down the left-field line to score a pair of runs. Center fielder Zach Gardner would then drive home Ferguson to give SFA a one-run lead heading into the ninth.
However, the ninth inning would be the 'Jacks undoing for the second time this season as the bullpen would struggle to close out the Islanders (2-1). Freshman Alex Moshier came in to close things out after pitching well on Friday against Texas State, but allowed a single to Ernie Olivarez to open things up and after a fielder's choice moved him over, Chase Wheaton would deliver an RBI single to tie things back up. Jacob Perales would follow with a double down the left-field line of his own, plating Wheaton to give the Islanders the lead. Junior Erik Gregersen would then enter the game and promptly surrendered a single to Jake Olier that scored the eventual game-winning run.
The home half of the ninth looked like another comeback effort for the 'Jacks after Kevin Crabtree was hit by a pitch and Matt Whatley continued his powerful weekend with a double to right field that pushed Crabtree all the way around the diamond and brought SFA back to within a run with two outs to play with; however, pinch runner Angel Hernandez would be doubled up at second base on a Noel Trevino fly out to end the game, putting an end to the 'Jacks rally.
A quartet of Lumberjacks - Ferguson, Gardner, Kai Kirby and Jeff Brewer - all had a pair of hits in the game, including Brewer stroking his first home run of the season.
SFA will have Monday off before opening up the home slate of the season against Houston Baptist on Tuesday at Jaycees Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
-SFA-
