Two Five-Run Innings by Southeastern Louisiana Hurt SFA in 11-2 Loss to Lions

Friday, April 27

Hammond, La.

6:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

14-27, 6-13

Southeastern Louisiana University

28-17, 15-7

Stephen F. Austin

Southeastern

Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography

Two Five-Run Innings by Southeastern Louisiana Hurt SFA in 11-2 Loss to Lions

4/27/2018 9:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Vasquez blasts solo homer for 'Jacks

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

HAMMOND, La. - Embroiled in a low-scoring affair through the first five-and-a-half innings Friday night from Pa Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field, the Stephen F. Austin baseball team gave up a pair of five-run innings to Southeastern Louisiana which proved to be the difference in the 'Jacks' 11-2 setback to the Lions.

Most of the Lions' damage came in the form of designated hitter Taylor Schwaner who went 3-for-3 with a game-high seven RBI. The first of Schwaner's two bases-clearing doubles game in the home half of the sixth and put the hosts ahead for good.

The Lions pounded out nine hits compared to six by the 'Jacks and after the teams scored one run each in their half of the first SFA's Jake Norton and Southeastern Louisiana's Josh Green let their stuff shine.

Pressed into action after expected starter Dru Dziedzic was scratched no more than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the game, the right-handed Norton held the Lions' offense in check through his first five innings of work.

The junior out of Waxahachie, Texas, surrendered just a single hit and one run to the Lions through the first five frames before running into trouble in the home half of the sixth.

Green was just as sharp, but the 'Jacks made the most of their limited opportunities by scoring in the top of the first on the first of two Southeastern Louisiana errors. Jared Martin reached on a throwing error on a grounder which allowed Nic Minor - who reached first on a hit-by-pitch - to come around and put the 'Jacks up 1-0.

Schwaner started his monster night with a sacrifice fly in the home half of the first to knot matters up and the score stood at one each until Manny Vasquez did something about it in the top of the fifth.

On the very first pitch of the fifth, the junior shortstop launched a solo homer to left to put SFA up 2-1, but the Lions charged ahead for good shortly thereafter.

Norton started the Lions' sixth with a hit by pitch and put two runners aboard by walking Cody Grosse. After a sacrifice bunt moved the pair of Lions into scoring position, Norton intentionally walked another batter to load up the bases.

With that, Norton's day was done after 5.1 frames and junior Austin Hearn came in to face Schwaner. On a 1-2 count, the Lions' big bopper ripped a double down the left field line to score three and give the hosts a 4-2 lead that wouldn't relinquish.

Kyle Schimpf popped an RBI double of his own before Brennan Breaud concluded the Lions' five-run sixth by pushing an RBI single to left field off of Cody Adams before SFA's left-handed junior finally ended the frame with a strikeout.

The Lions were not done, however, as the hosts hung another five-spot on the board in the seventh. Adams started the frame by giving up a single before surrendering a pair of walks to load the bases. Once again, it was Schwaner who unloaded them by another sharp double down the left field line off of SFA freshman Jordan Powell.

Schimpf followed up the three-run hit with a two-run homer to right that accounted for the game's final score.

Vasquez and Martin each picked up a pair of hits for the 'Jacks with the latter striking for a pair of doubles which pushed his 2018 total to a team-leading 16. Norton (0-2) was hit with the loss as he gave up four runs on one hit, four walks an a hit-by-pitch. Green (6-3) tossed seven innings of five-hit, two-run ball to pick up the win for the Lions.

Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., the 'Jacks will try to even up their series with the Lions. SFA sends freshman right-hander Sean Beasley to the hill to face Southeastern Louisiana.

-SFA-