SFA's Ninth-Inning Lead Slips Away in 8-7 Loss at Sam Houston State

Friday, April 13

Huntsville, Texas

6:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

12-21, 4-9

Sam Houston State

24-10, 12-1

Stephen F. Austin

Sam Houston State

Photo by: Cody Derouen | SFA Athletics

SFA's Ninth-Inning Lead Slips Away in 8-7 Loss at Sam Houston State

4/13/2018 10:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

'Jacks give up four runs to Bearkats in bottom of the ninth

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Staked to a three-run lead headed to the bottom of the ninth, the Stephen F. Austin baseball team surrendered four runs to Sam Houston State in the final half-inning which led to an 8-7 Southland Conference setback to the Bearkats at Don Sanders Stadium Friday night.

Skylar Black, Eric DeJesus, Josh Evans and Jake Georgiades each registered a pair of hits to key a 13-hit assault on the Bearkats' pitching staff that appeared to produce enough offense for the visitors before Sam Houston State notched three of its 11 base-knocks in the ninth against Lumberjack closer Tyler Starks (2-3).

Keen on drawing first blood in the first meeting against their Piney Woods adversaries since the opening round of the 2017 Southland Conference Tournament, the 'Jacks did just that by knocking around Bearkat starter Nick Mickolajchak in the third inning.

After Lumberjack left-hander Dru Dziedzic put zeroes on the board in the first and second, the visitors gave their starter a substantial lead to work with. By using five hits - all singles - and getting two members of their lineup hit by pitches from Mickolajchak to keep the line moving, SFA plated five in the third.

Evans, Black and DeJesus each roped one-run RBI singles before Nic Minor capped the five-run frame with a two-run single to left that plated DeJesus and Black. Sam Houston State ended Dziedzic's scoreless inning streak at 14.2 frames and trimmed SFA's lead to three in the home half of the third when Blake Chisholm sent a two-out, two-run single through the right side of the 'Jacks' infield.

A leadoff double by Georgiades in the fourth followed with a one-out RBI two-bagger later in the frame from Evans pushed the 'Jacks' lead back to four before Eric Bohnert socked a two-out solo homer off of Dziedzic in the home fourth to make it a three-run game once again.

Upon exiting after the fifth, Dziedzic gave way to Trayson Kubo who was tasked to protect SFA's three-run lead. That plan didn't go accordingly, however, as the junior gave up back-to-back walks to begin the bottom of the sixth. From there, the 'Jacks pulled junior Cody Adams out of the bullpen who got Ben Haefner to hit into a double play.

The Bearkats managed to trim the 'Jacks' lead to two when Jaxxon Grisham looped an RBI single to right field before Adams got Jacob Finke to send a fielder's choice ball to Vasquez at short to end the inning.

Jesus Gamez did a masterful job of working out of trouble in the seventh and eighth innings to keep SFA's bid for a third win in their last four meetings with the Bearkats alive. The junior struck out Haefner with the bases loaded to end the home seventh and retired Sam Houston State in order during the Bearkats' set of eighth-inning at-bats.

Black delivered what appeared to be a game-sealing insurance run in the top of the ninth when his double scored Jared Martin all the way from first to make matters 7-4, but that's when the Bearkats struck back.

Riley McKnight began Sam Houston State's rally by drilling a leadoff triple to right center off of Starks before SFA's junior issued a five-pitch walk to Jordan Cannon. Following a pop out in foul ground, Hunter Hearn won a 10-pitch at-bat against Starks with a walk to load the bases. Chisolm punched an RBI single to left field before Haefner scored two with a single up the middle.

The game-winning run came around to score when Nick Daley's throw went wide of third base, allowing Mac Odom to cross home plate and complete the Bearkats' rally.

Chisolm finished 2-for-2 with three RBI while Haefner drove in two more on a 1-for-3 night at the dish. The Bearkats' first four runs all came with two outs on the board.

With game one of the three-game Southland Conference series in the books, the 'Jacks go for a series-evening win over the Bearkats when the Piney Woods rivals collide in game two Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Freshman right-hander Sean Beasley is set to get the start for SFA while Sam Houston State will counter with southpaw Seth Ballew.

-SFA-