Stephen F. Austin
Houston Baptist
Lumberjacks Drop Pair To Huskies
4/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Game One Final Stats · Game Two Final Stats
Houston Baptist 13, Stephen F. Austin 3
Jaycees Field · Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (12-21, 6-9 SLC); HBU (17-15, 8-5 SLC)
Houston Baptist 7, Stephen F. Austin 2
Jaycees Field · Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (12-22, 6-10 SLC); HBU (18-15, 9-5 SLC)
Up Next: vs. Houston Baptist · Saturday, April 11 · 2 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin couldn't keep pace with Houston Baptist's offensive pace Friday as the Huskies scored 20 runs on 33 hits to sweep the Friday doubleheader at Jaycees Field.
SFA drops to 12-22 on the season and 6-10 in Southland Conference play as its bid for a third-straight SLC series victory was thwarted. HBU improves to 18-15 on the year and 9-5 in conference play.
SFA dropped the opening game of the doubleheader 13-3 behind an explosive eighth inning for Houston Baptist as HBU scored nine runs on nine hits as 14 batters came to the plate, breaking open a 3-3 tie.
The `Jacks used three different pitchers in the inning with Josh Keith (1-2) picking up the loss after relieving starter Cameron Gann in the top of the eighth and allowed five runs on four hits in 0.2 innings pitched.
Gann had a quality start for SFA, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with five strikeouts over 7.0 innings, picking up the no-decision. Austin Smith and Will Boozer combined to allow five runs on seven hits over the final 1.1 innings against the Huskies.
SFA struck first in game one as back-to-back doubles from Nick Ramos and Kyle Thornell plated Ramos, giving the `Jacks the 1-0 lead after one. After HBU tied the game in the top of the fourth, SFA answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning off a leadoff solo home run by Thornell, his team-high fourth of the season.
The `Jacks then added another run in the fifth off an RBI single from Hunter Wilson, scoring Tyler Boxwell and giving the `Jacks the 3-1 lead. But a two-RBI double in the sixth for HBU tied the game, leading into the nightmare eighth inning.
Thornell's 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI was the highlight at the plate for SFA in game one as seven other Lumberjacks scattered the remaining hits.
HBU carried over that momentum in game two, scoring once in the first and three times in the second to build a 4-0 lead after one and half innings. Adding to the production from the sixth inning on in game one when SFA held a 3-1 lead, the Huskies outscored the Lumberjacks 16-0 over a six-inning span.
The `Jacks were able to cut that deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth as RBI singles from Boxwell and Eric DeJesus trimmed the deficit to 4-2 after fourth. But the Huskies kept the threat contained, scoring one in the fifth and two more in the eighth to secure the 7-2 victory.
Starter Dillon Mangham (2-6) was credited with the loss in game two, allowing five runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work. Grant Page allowed two runs on four hits in the eighth with Travis Stone pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth with a strikeout.
At the plate, Conner Fikes led the `Jacks, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. As was the story in game one, seven other Lumberjacks scattered the remaining hits as SFA left a combined 19 runners on base through the two games.
SFA tries to salvage the final game of the weekend series against Houston Baptist while trying to close out its six-game home stand with a 3-3 record. The Lumberjacks and Huskies play at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon with RHP Jarred Green slated to get the start for SFA.
-SFA-
