Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State
Lumberjacks Power Past Bearkats, 9-7
4/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Stephen F. Austin 9, Sam Houston State 7
Jaycees Field · Nacogdoches, Texas
Records: SFA (12-19, 6-7 SLC); SHSU (14-19, 7-7 SLC)
Up Next: vs. Sam Houston State · Saturday, Apr. 4 · 1 p.m.
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin raced out to a 9-3 lead on rival Sam Houston State, then held off a late Bearkat run as the Lumberjacks earned the 9-7 victory at Jaycees Field.
The win secures SFA's first series win over their in-state rivals since 2010 as the `Jacks won their fourth-straight game, their first such streak since a five-game winning streak in 2013. The `Jacks improve to 12-19 on the year and 6-7 in Southland Conference play, pulling to within a half game of the Bearkats in the conference standings.
After limiting Sam Houston State to just three hits Thursday night, SFA got off to rocky start Friday afternoon, allowing three Bearkat runs on four hits in the top of the first. But after his rocky first inning, starter Dillon Mangham settled into his groove, retiring 13-straight Bearkats and not allowing a hit until the seventh inning.
The Lumberjack bats came alive in the bottom of the second inning as SFA pushed four runs across to claim a 4-3 lead. Tyler Boxwell drove in the first run with a sac fly, followed by a sac bunt from Eric DeJesus. Dickey then notched an RBI single past the Bearkat third baseman to tie the game, leading to an RBI single by Nick Ramos to give the `Jacks the 4-3 lead.
SFA added to that lead by plating three runs in the bottom of the third, beginning with an RBI double from Dan O'Neill. DeJesus then laid down another sac bunt, bringing O'Neill home, leading into an RBI double to left by Dickey as the `Jacks built a 7-3 lead after three.
After threatening a couple more times, SFA added two key runs in the bottom of the sixth. Garrett McMullen knocked an RBI right, bringing Ramos home from second, followed by an RBI single from O'Neill to bring McMullen home on the next pitch. SFA led 9-3 after six as those two runs would prove key to the Lumberjack victory.
Sam Houston State began to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, scoring three times off three hits, then added a solo homerun in the top of the eighth to pull to within two at 9-7. But Patrick Ledet, 18 hours after earning the victory against SHSU Thursday night, came in to record the final five outs of the game to notch the save, preserving the 9-7 win for SFA.
The Lumberjacks recorded 16 hits on the afternoon, a season-high, led by a 5-for-5 performance by McMullen who registered an RBI with three runs scored. Dickey and Ramos each recorded three hits against the Bearkats, with Dickey knocking in a pair of runs. O'Neill also had a pair of RBIs while going 2-for-5 on the afternoon with DeJesus adding a pair of RBIs as well.
On the mound, Mangham earned his second win of the year, allowing five runs on seven hits with four strikeouts through six innings. Chris Hassold and Brett Burrington each allowed a run on a hit in 0.2 innings pitched with Ledet allowing just one hit over the final 1.2 innings.
The win over Sam Houston secures SFA's second-straight SLC series win as the Lumberjacks now try to sweep the Bearkats for the first time since 2010, the last time the `Jacks took the season series.
The final game of the series is set to take place at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Jaycees Field with LHP Jarred Greene scheduled to take the mound for the Lumberjacks. Following Saturday's game, the Lumberjacks will hold an Easter egg hunt in the outfield of Jaycees Field for all kids ages 12 and under.
-SFA-
