SFA Outhits Incarnate Word but Falls 7-3 to Cardinals

Saturday, March 31

Nacogdoches, Texas

1:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-18, 0

Incarnate Word

19-11, 0

Incarnate Word

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography

SFA Outhits Incarnate Word but Falls 7-3 to Cardinals

3/31/2018 4:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

DeJesus goes 3-for-4 with two RBI in 'Jacks' third-straight loss

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Senior Eric DeJesus started what appeared to be a ninth-inning rally for the Stephen F. Austin baseball team by drilling a two-run single to center field but the 'Jacks were unable to keep the line moving for a dramatic comeback victory as visiting Incarnate Word completed its sweep of SFA with a 7-3 victory at Jaycees Field Saturday afternoon.

DeJesus' ninth-inning single represented the culmination of a three-hit day for the final year man and helped the 'Jacks outhit the Cardinals 11-6 but seven of those SFA base knocks came in two innings and UIW starter Bernie Martinez went the distance to earn the win.

SFA used four pitchers in its third consecutive setback and those individuals combined to issue nine walks and six hits by the visiting Cardinals.

Early control issues by Lumberjack starting pitcher Trevor Kiminski helped the Cardinals take the lead before the game's first half inning was a matter of record. Kiminski issued four walks in the top of the first and the visitors were able to capitalize on those bases on balls with a pair of RBI groundouts to go up 2-0.

Trying to get anything going against Martinez was a difficult task to accomplish early on for the 'Jacks. For the first four innings, SFA was unable to get a runner past first base and the 'Jacks grounded into double plays in both the first and second frames to erase singles by Nick Daley and Evans.

Incarnate Word doubled its advantage in the top of the fifth when RBI singles by Eddy Gonzalez and Ridge Rogers made matters 4-0 in favor of the visiting squad before the 'Jacks finally found a away to put some offense on the board in the home portion of the inning.

DeJesus dropped a two-out double into the left field corner, advanced to third on a wild offering by Martinez and came home to break up the Cardinals' shutout bid on Manny Vasquez's high chopper up the middle.

Following that RBI single, Jarrod Huber and Nic Minor were able to keep the line moving with consecutive singles but Vasquez was thrown out at home for the third out of the inning following Minor's base knock through the right side of UIW's infield.

In the Cardinals' very next set of at-bats, they answered the 'Jacks in a big way when Sean Arnold clubbed a one-out, three-run homer to put the game out of reach for SFA.

Martinez's dominance continued through the sixth, seventh and eight as he surrendered just two hits to the 'Jacks in that portion of the game. On the other side, Jesus Gamez fired 2.2 innings of one-hit ball before Logan Ammons tossed a scoreless eighth to keep the Cardinals' bats quiet.

As Martinez finally began to feel fatigued in the bottom of the ninth the 'Jacks made a bid for a huge comeback win. Jared Martin and Evans struck for back-to-back one-out single in the frame before pinch hitter Josh Campbell took a four-pitch walk to load the bases.

After DeJesus' two-run single, Jarrod Huber drew a two-out base on balls to reload the bags but Minor sent a game-ending one-hopper to first base that put an end to the 'Jacks' come-from-behind try.

In addition to DeJesus, Evans posted a multi-hit game by going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kiminski (1-3) was hit to the loss after giving up five runs on four hits and five walks through five frames of work.

With no midweek games in sight, the 'Jacks have a six-day break before beginning a seven-game road swing. That stretch begins in Natchitoches, La., next Friday night at 6:30 p.m. when SFA starts a three-game Southland Conference series at Northwestern State fron Brown-Stroud Field.

-SFA-