'Jacks Erase Early UIW Lead but Cardinals Surge Back to Claim 10-7 Win

Friday, March 30

Nacogdoches, Texas

6:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-17, 0

Incarnate Word

18-11, 0

Incarnate Word

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography

'Jacks Erase Early UIW Lead but Cardinals Surge Back to Claim 10-7 Win

3/30/2018 10:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Evans launches go-ahead homer in 'Jacks' six-run third before UIW scores five of the final six runs

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Able to erase an early 5-0 deficit by way of a six-run third, the Stephen F. Austin baseball team could not come back for a second time Saturday night as Incarnate Word scored five of the game's final six runs in order to earn a 10-7 Southland Conference win over the 'Jacks at Jaycees Field.

Offensive production was not a problem for the top of SFA's lineup as the 'Jacks' one through four hitters combined to go 6-for-15 (.400) with all six of the squad's RBI. Spots five through nine, however, went only 1-for-16 (.063) at the dish and that, coupled with a 13-hit attack as well as a strong relief pitching performance by the Cardinals put the home team in a world of trouble.

In search of his third win in his last four appearances, freshman Sean Beasley surrendered the first of his seven hits to start the game before getting out of the first with a popout and a double play ball. Incarnate Word starter Luke Taggart matched Beasley's clean first and went on to retire the first six Lumberjacks he faced.

Each of the game's first five runs were plated by the Cardinals who were aided by the 'Jacks' lone error of the game during their two-run second. A one-out RBI single followed up with a sacrifice bunt that brought another run home put the 'Jacks in an early 2-0 hole.

Incarnate Word added to its two-run lead in the third by getting a pair of RBI singles as well as a sacrifice fly in its four-hit inning to go up 5-0.

After enjoying no success against Taggart through the first two frames, SFA knocked him around in the home portion of the third. A single by Manny Vasquez followed by a five-pitch walk by Luis Santiago set the table for the top of the 'Jacks' lineup. Nick Daley began the 'Jacks' six-run frame with an RBI single and after Jake Georgiades loaded the bases with his short single to right Jared Martin trimmed the Cardinals' lead to two by punching a two-run single through the left side of the infield.

SFA's biggest swing of the night came off the bat of senior Josh Evans who knocked Taggart out of the game by blasting a 3-1 offering beyond the right field fence for a three-run homer that handed the hosts a 6-5 lead.

Once Taggart was removed from the game, relief arm Tyler Perez (2-0) made sure the 'Jacks' chances for scoring runs were kept to a minimum. Through his 4.1 frames, the only run the right-hander let up came in the fifth when Georgiades raced home from third on a wild pitch. In all, Perez let the 'Jacks register just two hits while striking out a game-high five batters to pick up the win.

Senior Cole Ridgely took over for Beasley at the start of the fourth inning and the Cardinals wasted no time in tying things up. Ridgely had a man standing on second and was just one out of escaping the frame before Kyle Bergeron laced an RBI single to the gap in left center to tie matters at six.

A single and two walks loaded the bases for Incarnate Word with one out in the fifth and the Cardinals took the lead for good when David Anaya came home on a wild pitch by Ridgely. Ryan Flores pushed the Cardinals' game-winning runs across moments later when his triple scored a pair and put SFA at a 9-6 disadvantage.

Incarnate Word added one final run with an RBI single in the top of the seventh to account for the game's final margin.

Leading the Cardinals' attack on offense was Flores who went 3-for-3 with four RBI and a run scored. Three other Incarnate Word players - Anaya, Bergeron and Ryan Gonzalez - finished with two hits apiece and combined to score six of the visitors' 10 runs. Ridgely (0-3) suffered the loss for SFA while UIW's Cody Allen recorded the save after allowing only one hit in 2.1 innings of work.

Georgiades and Evans each finished with two hits for the 'Jacks while the former scored a pair of runs in the loss.

Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., the 'Jacks will try to close out their three-game series with the Cardinals with a victory. SFA sends senior Trevor Kiminski to the hill to oppose Incarnate Word and immediately following the conclusion of the game an easter egg hunt will take place at Jaycees Field for all children in attendance.

-SFA-