Stephen F. Austin
Louisiana Tech
'Jacks Stumble Against LaTech, 9-2
4/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Louisiana Tech 9, Stephen F. Austin 2
Jaycees Field - Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (13-28); LATECH (18-19)
Up Next: vs. Abilene Christian - Friday, April 24 - 6:30 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin spotted visiting Louisiana Tech a five-run first inning lead and never recovered, dropping a 9-2 decision to the Bulldogs Tuesday at Jaycees Field. The loss drops SFA to 13-28 on the season as the Lumberjacks have dropped nine of their last 10.
Louisiana Tech took control of the game early, scoring five runs in the top of the first as starter Ryan Manz lasted just 0.1 innings, giving up five runs on no hits, walking five. The Bulldogs then added another run in both the second and third innings, breaking the game open with a 7-0 lead after two and a half.
SFA managed to generate some offense in the bottom of the third, beginning with back-to-back doubles from Matthew Dickey and Eric DeJesus to lead off the inning, cutting the deficit to 7-1 off the run scored by Dickey. Dan O'Neill then ripped a single up the middle to allow DeJesus to score, closing the gap to 7-2 after three complete.
But that would be the only offense the Lumberjacks could muster as SFA recorded just one hit over the final six innings of play and Louisiana Tech added solo runs in the seventh and ninth innings to push the score to the 9-2 final.
It was a loss by committee for SFA on the evening as 25 different Lumberjacks saw action, including nine different pitchers. DeJesus was the lone bright spot, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored as five other 'Jacks scattered the remaining five hits. The lone hit past the third inning was a single by Anthony Soriano in the eighth.
The Lumberjack pitching staff allowed 14 walks on the night, comprised of nine bases on balls and five hit-by-pitch, striking out 11.
Louisiana Tech starter Braden Bristo had a dominating performance for the Bulldogs, allowing two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts over 7.0 innings, throwing a career-high 124 pitches. In contrast, Cody Adams had the high pitch count for SFA with 55, logging 1.2 innings with a team-high three strikeouts.
The season-ending home stand now heads to the final home Southland Conference series of the year as the 'Jacks welcome Abilene Christian to Jaycees Field for a three-game series, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. Rain is in the forecast throughout the weekend, so stay tuned to @SFA_Baseball and SFAJacks.com for any weather-related alterations to the weekend schedule.
-SFA-
