Stephen F. Austin
A&M-Corpus Christi
Lumberjacks Power Past Islanders, 7-2
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Stephen F. Austin 7, A&M-Corpus Christi 2
Chapman Field · Corpus Christi, Texas
Records: SFA (8-18, 3-6 SLC); A&M-CC (10-11, 2-7 SLC)
Up Next: at A&M-Corpus Christi · Saturday, Mar. 28 · 3 p.m.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- After falling behind 2-1 after three innings, SFA outscored Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 6-0 over the final six innings, and was paced by a pair of strong pitching performances, toppling the Islanders 7-2 at Chapman Field.
The win snaps a two-game skid for SFA as the Lumberjacks improve to 8-18 on the year and 3-6 in Southland Conference play. The `Jacks handed the Islanders their sixth-straight loss as A&M-Corpus Christi fell to 10-11 on the year and 2-7 in SLC action.
Looking to rebound from a tough loss to Big XII opponent West Virginia Tuesday, SFA plated the first run of the game against the Islanders in the top of the third. With two on and one out, Nick Ramos grounded out to second, but it was enough to bring Eric DeJesus home from third, giving the `Jacks the early 1-0 lead.
A&M-CC responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to claim the 2-1 lead. But that lead was short-lived as DeJesus returned the favor in the top of the fourth, connecting on an RBI single to center which brought home Kyle Thornell, knotting the game at 2-2.
It stayed that way until the sixth when Thornell took matters into his own hands, belting a solo shot to right field, his third of the season, to put the `Jacks on top for good at 3-2.
SFA extended that lead in the top of the eighth as Garrett McMullen got the green light at third base, successfully stealing home to give the `Jacks the 4-2 lead. SFA then added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth, thanks to an RBI single from Dan O'Neill, an RBI double from Thornell and an RBI single from Brandon Smith, giving SFA the final 7-2 margin.
The seven runs were plenty for the Lumberjack pitching staff, however, as senior Cameron Gann picked up the win after going 6.1 innings and allowing just two runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Patrick Ledet then came in and shut the door on the Islanders, allowing no hits with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work to close out the win.
SFA scored its seven runs on 10 hits, led by a 3-for-4 night for Thornell with the pair of RBIs. O'Neill went 2-for-5 with an RBI and run scored with McMullen, Smith, DeJesus, Matthew Dickey and Hunter Wilson adding the remaining runs.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Chapman Field. LHP Dillon Mangham (1-4, 5.71 ERA) is scheduled to get the start for the Lumberjacks with LHP Trevor Belicek (2-2, 3.45 ERA) slated to take the hill for the Islanders.
-SFA-
