Stephen F. Austin
Arkansas
Arkansas Races Past Lumberjacks, 15-3
4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Arkansas 15, Stephen F. Austin 3
Baum Stadium · Fayetteville, Ark.
Records: SFA (12-25); ARK (22-16)
Up Next: at Incarnate Word · Friday, April 17 · 6:30 p.m.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Stephen F. Austin once again spotted Arkansas an early lead and the Razorbacks took advantage, racing past the Lumberjacks 15-3 at Baum Stadium to sweep the two-game midweek series. SFA dropped its sixth-straight game, falling to 12-25 on the season.
After spotting the Razorbacks a 5-0 lead through three innings Tuesday night, SFA was able to keep Arkansas in check through the first three innings, allowing just one run on two hits. But the Razorbacks broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, notching five-straight hits and scoring four runs in the process, building a 5-0 lead on the `Jacks.
After allowing another run in the bottom of the fifth, SFA finally got on the board in the top of the sixth when Nick Ramos belted his first home run of the season over the left centerfield wall, trimming the deficit to five at 6-1.
But Arkansas struck again in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits, including a two-run home run for the Razorbacks' Andrew Benintendi, his NCAA-leading 14th of the season.
The Lumberjacks were able to load the bases in the top of the seventh with just one out, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the SFA threat. Trailing 12-1 in the top of the eighth inning, the Lumberjacks were able to push a pair of runs across, thanks to a fielders choice RBI from Anthony Soriano and an RBI single up the middle by Brandon Smith, cutting the deficit to 12-3.
But three more Razorback runs in the bottom of the eighth rounded out the scoring as SFA dropped to 0-7 all-time against Arkansas, being outscored 23-5 during the two game series.
SFA scattered nine hits on the afternoon, three of which came off the bat of Ramos who extended his hitting streak to eight consecutive games. Six other Lumberjacks picked up the remainder of the hits with Will Vest and Trevor Podsednik joining Ramos for the three SFA runs.
Starter Eric Polivka earned the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work. Five other Lumberjack pitchers combined to work the remaining four innings, giving up 10 runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
The Lumberjacks now head back across the state of Texas, heading to San Antonio for a three game Southland Conference weekend series against Incarnate Word. Game one against the Cardinals is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday in the Alamo City, followed by a 3 p.m. start Saturday and a 1 p.m. first pitch for the series finale Sunday.
-SFA-
