Stephen F. Austin
16-32, 0
Lamar
16-35, 0
'Jacks Give Up Four to Lamar in Ninth, Drop 7-3 Decision to Cardinals
5/12/2018 6:07:00 PM | Baseball
Huber goes 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer in Saturday setback
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Jarrod Huber launched a game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the seventh for the Stephen F. Austin baseball team, but Lamar took advantage of some shaky relief pitching by the 'Jacks in the ninth by scoring four runs with a sacrifice bunt as well as a trio of bases-loaded walks which proved to be the difference in SFA's 7-3 setback to the Cardinals Saturday at Jaycees Field.
Huber's solo shot was part of a great day at the dish for the junior catcher. The Edgewood, Texas, product accounted for three of SFA's seven hits on the afternoon and rapped a pair of doubles to go along with his homer, but was one of only three 'Jacks who produced hits in the loss.
Lamar used a 13-hit day at the plate to put an end to a seven-game losing skid and received three hits apiece from Chase Kemp and Logan Lejune.
Prior to the start of the game, SFA's four seniors - Eric DeJesus, Josh Evans, Trevor Kiminski and Cole Ridgely - were honored for their contributions to Lumberjack baseball with a pregame ceremony.
SFA starting pitcher Trayson Kubo and Lamar's Noah Sills matched zeroes through the first two innings of play before the 'Jacks struck in the third. Huber started the home half of the inning with a long double to left and touched home on Jake Georgiades' RBI single to the gap in right-center.
Moments later, Josh Campbell - who drew a four-pitch walk from Sills after Huber's two-bagger - scampered home on a passed ball to up the 'Jacks' lead to 2-0. That lead stood until the top of the fifth when Lamar tied things up. Austin Hearn took over for Kubo after the latter allowed a leadoff double to Grant DeVore and managed to retire two around a five-pitch walk to Avery George.
On a 1-1 pitch to Philip Ingram, Hearn watched as Ingram lofted a two-run double to right to tie things up. Lamar captured the lead for the first time when Chad McKinney lifted a sacrifice fly to Josh Campbell in left which made matters 3-2.
Following Huber's equalizing long ball in the seventh, Sills exited the game with a no decision and turned things over to the Cardinals' bullpen who held SFA to just two hits through the final two frames.
In the top of the ninth, Lamar sent 10 men to the plate and despite notching just a single hit managed to open the game up. Four Lumberjack arms pitched to the Cardinals in the frame and those relievers issued a total of five walks which hurt SFA's cause.
Ingram and McKinney drove in two runs each for the Cardinals and Cody Adams (1-1) was tagged with his first loss of 2018.
SFA shoots for the series win at 1:00 p.m. Sunday when the squads tangle in the finale at Jaycees Field.
-SFA-
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ERICKSON, Ryan (2-0)
L: Adams, Cody (1-1)
Batting:
2B: INGRAM, Philip 1 ; KEMP, Chase 1 ; DEVORE, Grant 1
RBI: GEORGE, Avery 1 ; INGRAM, Philip 2 ; LEAL, Mike 1 ; DEVORE, Grant 1 ; MCKINNEY, Chad 2
SH: LEAL, Mike 1
SF: MCKINNEY, Chad 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GEORGE, Avery 1 ; GIROUARD, Cole 1 ; ADAMES, Robin 1 ; CLAYBORNE, Tyrese 1 ; KEMP, Chase 2 ; DEVORE, Grant 1
CS: GEORGE, Avery 1
HBP: GEORGE, Avery 1 ; GIROUARD, Cole 1
Batting:
2B: Huber, Jarrod 2
HR: Huber, Jarrod 1
RBI: Georgiades, Jake 1 ; Huber, Jarrod 1
SH: Minor, Nic 1 ; Cullen, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Huber, Jarrod 2 ; Campbell, Josh 1
