Timely Hits Elude 'Jacks in 6-5 Setback at UT Arlington

Sunday, February 25

Arlington, Texas

5:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

0-6

UT Arlington

2-2

Stephen F. Austin

UT Arlington

Timely Hits Elude 'Jacks in 6-5 Setback at UT Arlington

2/25/2018 9:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Martin goes 2-for-4 with two doubles, 'Jacks' seven through nine hitters drive in four runs

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

ARLINGTON, Texas - Down by four after five innings, the Stephen F. Austin baseball team plated four of the game's next five runs but left the bases loaded in the top of the ninth and fell 6-5 to UT Arlington at Clay Gould Ballpark Sunday night.

The one-run setback was especially painful for SFA, considering the 'Jacks left 12 men on the base paths and watched only one run touch home plate in the team's three bases-loaded opportunities.

On the mound, junior Seth Campbell (0-2) tied his career-high in strikeouts by fanning six Maverick batters, but also allowed six walks and three hits in his four innings of work en route to his second setback of the 2018 season.

Through the first two frames, Campbell and UT Arlington starter Daniel James matches zeros before the home team struck in the bottom of the third. Senior Josh Evans hit into an inning-ending double play in the 'Jacks' third and the Mavericks started their half of the inning with a leadoff single by Phil Berthiaume.

Back-to-back walks issued by Campbell loaded the bases and Noah Vaughn handed the hosts a lead they would never relinquish by lacing a sharp two-run single down the right field line. The Mavericks' lead increased to 3-0 after RJ Williams scored from third on a wild pitch from Campbell before SFA's junior settled down.

Consecutive strikeouts by Campbell finally ended the Mavericks' third inning before the 'Jacks started their comeback bid in the fourth. Manny Vasquez's one-out single in that inning represented the 'Jacks' first hit and put runners on first and second. From there, Nic Minor broke up the Mavericks' shutout bid by roping an RBI single through the left side of UT Arlington's infield, scoring Will Cerny from second.

Called on to replace Seth Campbell in the fifth, Trayson Kubo retired the first batter he faced but struggled through the remainder of the frame. SFA's junior issued gave up a single and four walks that led to two more UT Arlington scores and put the 'Jacks at a 5-1 disadvantage before senior Cole Ridgely entered and struck out Williams to end the inning.

SFA's biggest inning was the sixth as the 'Jacks amassed a trio of two-out runs to make it a one-run game. Josh Campbell reached on an error with one out and after Cerny drew a walk the pair moved into scoring position on a groundout by Vasquez. Minor struck again moments later, drilling another RBI single through the left side. Two runs scored on the play after the Mavericks' first error of the game brought Josh Campbell home from second.

Pinch hitter Antonio Lima brought Minor home with an RBI single through the right side that cut the Mavericks' lead to 5-4. Unfortunately, one of the 12 walks SFA's pitching staff issued turned into the eventual game-winning run.

Freshman Dru Dziedzic started the UT Arlington sixth by walking Vaughan who moved to second on a groundout before stealing third. An RBI groundout off the bat of Will Olson brought Vaughan home prior to a fly ball which got Dziedzic out of the frame.

Vasquez's bases-loaded walk cut the Mavericks' lead to one, 6-5, in the seventh, but that was the last run the 'Jacks would score. Jesus Gamez struck out two UT Arlington batters in the seventh and junior Tyler Starks did the same in the eighth to keep the 'Jacks' chances at victory alive.

Martin started SFA's ninth with his second double of the game before both Josh Campbell and pinch hitter Skylar Black drew one-out walks to load the bases. On a 1-0 pitch, Vasquez lifted a fly ball to shallow left center, but it wasn't deep enough to give Martin a chance to score from third. Down to their final out, the 'Jacks watched Minor's fielder's choice ball go right to the Mavericks' third baseman who stepped on third to end the game.

Martin delivered a pair of doubles during his 2-for-4 night at the plate while Minor finished 2-for-5 at the dish with two of SFA's four RBI. SFA's seven-through-nine hitters finished the game 4-for-12 with all four of the team's RBI.

Monday afternoon, the 'Jacks send senior Trevor Kiminski (0-1, 9.82 ERA) to the mound at 1:00 p.m. in the finale of the squad's two-game set at UT-Arlington.

-SFA-