Stephen F. Austin
Kansas State
SFA Edged By Kansas State, 3-2
3/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin baseball team gave Kansas State all they could handle on Tuesday night at Jaycees Field, but the Lumberjacks fell just short in a 3-2 defeat. The `Jacks drop to 6-16 on the year with the loss, but will get another shot at the Wildcats (11-9) on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
The Lumberjacks were first to the punch on Tuesday evening as Dan O'Neill broke a scoreless tie with a home run to right-center in the second inning. The solo shot - O'Neill's first of the season - gave SFA an early 1-0 lead.
A two-run triple by Steve Serratore and a suicide squeeze play in the sixth inning helped K-State jump ahead 3-1.
Kyle Thornell helped SFA gain a run back in the seventh inning, launching a solo home run over the wall in right field with one away in the frame. After his second long ball of the year made it a 3-2 ballgame, the `Jacks threatened to tie the game or take the lead. Brandon Smith followed Thornell with a single to short, O'Neill walked, and the pair advanced 90 feet on a double steal later in the inning. In a pinch hit situation, Hunter Wilson took one for the team, loading the bases on a hit by pitch with two outs.
The `Jacks would leave the bases loaded, however, missing their best chance to mount a rally the rest of the night.
SFA sent seven different pitchers to the mound on the night, and the platoon effort proved to be effective for most of the contest. Patrick Day started the game with three scoreless innings before Ryan Manz, Grant Page, Will Boozer, Cody Adams and Brett Burrington each contributed a scoreless inning of relief. The five relievers allowed just one hit between them.
The Lumberjacks surrendered four hits overall on the night, while connecting for eight hits on the offensive side of things.
Travis Stone (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on two hits in the sixth inning, despite making some big pitches.
Kyle Halbohn (2-1) picked up the win for K-State. He gave up one run on four hits in six innings of work.
Matthew Dickey and O'Neill each had two hits for SFA to lead the `Jacks at the plate. While great defense was displayed all night by both teams, a sliding grab by the centerfielder was the defensive play of the game.
SFA and K-State will finish the non-conference series on Wednesday night at Jaycees Field. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
-SFA-
