Stephen F. Austin
Incarnate Word
SFA Bats Ignite As 'Jacks Split Doubleheader
4/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Incarnate Word 6, Stephen F. Austin 2
Sullivan Field · San Antonio, Texas
Records: SFA (12-26, 6-12 SLC); UIW (12-24, 3-13 SLC)
Stephen F. Austin 19, Incarnate Word 2
Sullivan Field · San Antonio, Texas
Records: SFA (13-26, 7-12 SLC); UIW (12-25, 3-14 SLC)
Up Next: at Incarnate Word · Sunday, April 19 · 1:00 p.m.
SAN ANTONIO -- Stephen F. Austin dropped the opening game of its Saturday doubleheader against Incarnate Word, then responded in a major way with a 19-2 victory over the Cardinals in game two at Sullivan Field.
Following the doubleheader split, SFA is now 13-26 on the year and 7-12 in Southland Conference play. The Lumberjacks snapped a season-long seven-game losing streak with the win in the second game of the doubleheader as the 19 runs were the most for an SFA team since a 22-2 victory against Centenary.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, SFA found its way on the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth as Conner Fikes reached on an error, scoring Hunter Wilson to give the `Jacks the 1-0 lead.
Incarnate Word responded with a pair of runs in the fifth, then added one in the seventh and three in the eighth, racing out to the 6-1 lead. SFA tried to mount a late comeback as back-to-back triples from Fikes and Kyle Thornell scored Fikes, accounting for the final 6-2 score.
SFA notched its pair of runs on six hits, led by a pair from Dan O'Neill and one each from Fikes, Thornell, Matthew Dickey and Eric DeJesus. Starter Cameron Gann picked up the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on 12 hits through 7.2 innings pitched with four strikeouts.
The Lumberjacks' bats then came alive in game two as SFA recorded 19 runs on 20 hits, recording five-straight innings with at least two runs. The offensive outburst began in the top of the third when SFA recorded three runs, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Fikes, an RBI single from O'Neill and Nick Ramos stealing home.
SFA then plated four more in the fourth as Holden Holsomback, Dickey, Eric DeJesus and Fikes all recorded RBI in the inning. Thornell then blasted a two-run shot in the top of the fifth, his team-best fifth of the year, as the Lumberjacks extended their lead to 9-1 after five.
Three more Lumberjacks crossed the plate in the top of the sixth, including RBI from Ramos and Thornell, then SFA broke the game open in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs on five hits as the Lumberjacks loaded the bases with no outs. Thornell continued his hot play, recording two more RBI, as the `Jacks held an 18-2 lead after seven innings.
Following a scoreless eighth, SFA added one more run in the ninth off an RBI double from Holsomback, giving the Lumberjacks the 19-2 win.
Thornell paced the SFA offense, going 3-for-3 with 5 RBI, finishing with six runs batted in on the day with a pair of runs scored. Holsomback went 3-for-6 from behind the plate with a pair of RBI while Dickey was 3-for-5 with an RBI and four runs scored for SFA. DeJesus, Fikes and O'Neill each recorded a pair of runs scored on the day as well.
Dillon Mangham picked up the win for the Lumberjacks, allowing two Incarnate Word runs on eight hits in seven innings pitched, finishing with five strikeouts. Josh Keith and Will Boozer pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
SFA now looks to carry that offensive momentum into the final game of the three-game set against Incarnate Word, getting underway at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. RHP Jarred Greene is expected to get the start for the `Jacks who are looking to win their third SLC series in the last four weekends.
-SFA-
