Stephen F. Austin
0-3
Central Michigan University
2-2
Trio of Homers Not Enough as 'Jacks' Late Comeback Fizzles in 10-8 Loss to CMU
2/18/2018 3:08:00 PM | Baseball
SFA scores five unanswered runs in the eighth and ninth
EDINBURG, Texas - Plenty of power flowed through the bats of the Stephen F. Austin baseball team, but a seven-run deficit after seven frames proved too large for the 'Jacks to come back from as they fell 10-8 to Central Michigan in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
Trailing by three headed to the top of the ninth, Josh Evans, Jared Martin and Skylar Black each drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Manny Vasquez drew a base on balls as well, trimming SFA's deficit to just two runs but a Luis Santiago flyout ended both the 'Jacks' comeback bid and the game.
Despite being out-hit 11-4, the heart of the 'Jacks' order made sure they could keep up with the Chippewas. In all, three SFA players mashed home runs, beginning with Jared Martin's two-run shot in the sixth.
The only lead SFA grabbed in the non-conference affair came in the top of the second after the first of three errors by Central Michigan. Martin and Black drew consecutive walks to begin the frame before Eric DeJesus' sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed by CMU's third baseman allowing Martin to come around and score from second.
Central Michigan knotted things up in the bottom of the frame by using a one-out triple followed with an infield RBI single from Zach Heeke. In the third the Chippewas took advantage of two hits and three walks to plate another pair of runs and go up 3-1.
After SFA's first error of the game allowed another CMU run to score in the fourth, the 'Jacks received their first hit of the game when junior Jhon Santos drilled a one-out single to center. That base knock was the only one given up by CMU starter Zach Kohn in his four innings of work.
Once relief arm Cameron Brown entered the game for CMU, the 'Jacks had a far easier time piling up the runs. Martin's teed off on the first pitch he saw from Brown in the sixth and deposited the offering beyond the left field fence, trimming the Chippewas' lead to 4-3 in the process.
The Chippewas got those two runs back in the bottom of the sixth after Aaron Cardona and Austin Cornish walked a total of five CMU players in the frame. A bases-loaded walk followed by a bases-loaded wild pitch made matters 6-3 and the Chippewas broke things open in the following frame by driving in four more runs on four hits.
Down by a 10-3 margin, the 'Jacks never quit. Black clobbered his first collegiate home run with one out in the eighth to score a trio of SFA runs. Pinch-hitter Manny Vasquez followed with a solo shot off of the embattled Brown who was yanked after Vasquez's round tripper.
Logan Ammons held the Chippewas' bats at bay by tossing a scoreless eighth for SFA, but the 'Jacks were unable to get the timely hits they needed in the ninth to finish their comeback.
Freshman Dru Dziedzic (0-1) suffered the loss for the 'Jacks. The Robinson, Texas, product gave up four runs on four hits and three walks through four frames of work. In all, the SFA pitching staff walked nine batters and hit three more.
SFA wraps up its season-opening set at the Al Ogletree Classic with a 3:00 p.m. matchup with host UTRGV.
-SFA-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KOHN, Z. (1-0)
L: Dziedzic, Dru (0-1)
S: COLE, DAZ (1)
Batting:
HR: Martin, Jared 1 ; Black, Skylar 1 ; Vasquez, Manny 1
RBI: Martin, Jared 2 ; Black, Skylar 3 ; Vasquez, Manny 2
SH: DeJesus, Eric 1 ; Kimball, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Evans, Josh 3 ; Martin, Jared 3 ; Black, Skylar 1 ; Vasquez, Manny 1
HBP: Huber, Jarrod 1
Batting:
2B: GILLES, Z. 1 ; SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; KRATT, E. 1
3B: CRUM, J. 1
RBI: ROBINSON, D. 1 ; SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; KRATT, E. 3 ; HEEKE, Z. 2 ; PATTY, J. 1
SH: COLE, DAZ 2
Base Running:
RUNS: GILLES, Z. 2 ; ROBINSON, D. 2 ; SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; CRUM, J. 1 ; ROLLIN, C. 1 ; PATTY, J. 3
SB: KRATT, E. 1
CS: ROBINSON, D. 1
HBP: SULLIVAN, J. 1 ; KRATT, E. 1 ; COLE, DAV 1
PO: COLE, DAZ 1
