Stephen F. Austin
New Mexico
Lumberjacks Rally Past Lobos, 8-5
3/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Stephen F. Austin 8, New Mexico 5
Lobo Field • Albuquerque, N.M.
Records: SFA (5-12); UNM (9-4)
Up Next: at New Mexico • Wednesday, March 11 • 3 p.m.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Stephen F. Austin rallied three times, culminating in a four-run eighth inning to finally take the lead, knocking off New Mexico 8-5 in Albuquerque. It snaps a four-game skid for the Lumberjacks, who improve to 5-12 on the season.
The rally came on the heels of a season-high 14 hits for the Lumberjacks, who were led by three hits each by designated hitter Eric DeJesus, batting in the nine spot. The 4-7 spots each tallied a pair of hits each, comprised of Dan O'Neill, Garrett McMullen, Tyler Boxwell and Hunter Wilson, as O'Neill smacked a pair of doubles in the victory.
DeJesus was one of three `Jacks to record a pair of RBIs on the night, joined by McMullen and Matthew Dickey. Conner Fikes and Wilson accounted for the other two SFA runs batted in.
SFA and New Mexico, who was receiving votes in this week's top-25 poll, battled back and forth for three scoreless innings until the Lobos registered three runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking the 3-0 lead. But the Lumberjacks responded in the top of the fifth as Dickey ripped an opposite field double, scoring Anthony Soriano and Wilson and cutting the deficit to 3-2. Fikes then grounded out to short, but it was enough to bring Dickey home from third, tying the game at 3-3.
New Mexico reclaimed the lead at 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, only to see SFA rally in the top of the sixth as McMullen pulled a double past third, scoring O'Neill as the `Jacks pulled even at 4-4.
Once again, the Lobos pulled in front at 5-4 in the seventh, sending an single through the infield to plate a run.
But that set up the key eighth inning for the Lumberjacks as SFA scored four runs on five hits to break the game open. A single up the middle from McMullen scored O'Neill from second, followed by a successful bunt from Wilson to plate McMullen from third as SFA claimed its first lead of the game at 6-5. Two batters later, DeJesus ripped a single to center, scoring both Wilson and Boxwell and giving the Lumberjacks the 8-5 lead after seven and a half.
The Lumberjacks pitched out of a jam in the eighth, getting runners at second and third, but Chris Hassold ended the threat with a key strikeout. After going down in order in the top of the ninth, Tyler Wiedenfeld earned his fourth save of the season by forcing a double play ball after a leadoff walk, then a lineout to right to end the game.
Starter Jarred Greene lasted four innings, allowing four runs on seven hints for SFA. Ledet pitched the fifth through seventh innings with Josh Keith and Chris Hassold teaming up to work around the Lobo threat in the eighth, setting up Wiedenfeld to finish it off.
The Lumberjacks improve 3-2 all-time against the Lobos and are 3-0 all-time against New Mexico in Albuquerque, sweeping a similar two-game series in 2012.
SFA now looks to earn the sweep of the quick two-game series tomorrow as first pitch against UNM is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Lobo Field. Patrick Day will get the start for the Lumberjacks.
-SFA-
