TCU's Four-Run Ninth Sinks 'Jacks in 8-4 Loss to Horned Frogs

Tuesday, May 15

Nacogdoches, Texas

6:30 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

17-33

TCU

30-19

TCU

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography

TCU's Four-Run Ninth Sinks 'Jacks in 8-4 Loss to Horned Frogs

5/15/2018 10:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Evans and Vasquez combine for four of SFA's eight hits

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Deadlocked at 4-4 with visiting TCU after eight innings, the Stephen F. Austin baseball team ran into trouble in the top of the ninth as the Horned Frogs scored four runs on four walks, a hit by pitch and just a single hit in the 'Jacks' 8-4 non-conference setback at Jaycees Field Tuesday night.

In a back-and-forth game - the final one SFA played at home in 2018 - the pendulum swung back in favor of the Horned Frogs for the final time in the last inning after each team had enjoyed a one-run lead earlier in the game.

Josh Evans and Manny Vasquez each picked up a pair of hits in SFA's third-straight non-conference setback while TCU secured its 30th win of the season thanks largely to the offensive efforts of designated hitter Michael Landestoy who finished 3-for-4 and drove in four runs. As a team, SFA outhit TCU 8-7 but issued two more walks than the Horned Frogs.

Tagging SFA starter Trayson Kubo early, the Horned Frogs posted an early 2-0 lead by receiving a two-out RBI single from Landestoy in the first followed up with a two-out run-scoring double off the bat of Coby Boulware during the top of the second.

The 'Jacks' however, were able to take advantage of the control issues exhibited by TCU starter Russell Smith to draw even with their Big 12 foes. Designated hitter Will Cerny started the home half of the second with a single up the middle and following an error by Smith, TCU's starter issued his second walk of the day to load the bases with no outs.

At that point, Smith's start came to an end after only one inning of action and Trey Morris stepped to the rubber for the Horned Frogs. Nic Minor busted up the shutout by registering an RBI on a fielder's choice ball before Luis Santiago tied matters a 2-2 by scoring the first of his two runs on the night on a wild offering from Morris with one out.

Another bases-loaded situation paid off for the 'Jacks in the home half of the fourth as Santiago and Kyle Cullen started the inning with consecutive singles before Minor drew a four-pitch walk to load the bags. With two outs, Santiago sprinted home on another wild pitch from Morris to hand the home team their only lead of the night (3-2).

Landestoy continued his strong night at the dish in the sixth when the senior socked a no-doubt homer to left-center to lead off the Horned Frogs' portion of the frame. SFA relief arm Cody Adams recovered and retired the next two batters before sophomore Josh Ponder came on and fanned Adam Oviedo to end the frame.

In all, Adams did fine work by giving up just two his and one run while striking out a pair of 2 2/3 innings of work. Kubo, who left after three innings, struck out three, walked two and gave up two runs and did not factor into the decision.

Using another leadoff homer, this time courtesy of Conner Shepherd in the top of the seventh, TCU took its first lead since the second inning but again SFA bucked down to keep the damage to an absolute minimum. After surrendering the long ball to right, junior left-hander Tyler Starks struck out the side before the 'Jacks rallied to pull even once again.

Evans and Josh Campbell started the 'Jacks' seventh with back-to-back singles before Manny Vasquez's one-out single through the right side pushed Campbell across from second and tied the game. At the plate, Campbell slid under the tag of TCU catcher Zach Humphreys in order to ensure the 'Jacks would not go down quietly.

That score stood until the top of the ninth when right-hander Jesus Gamez delivered three consecutive walks to the Horned Frogs to begin the inning. Coming on in relief of Gamez, Cole Ridgely did not fare much better initially, issuing a six-pitch walk to A.J. Balta to push the game-winning run across.

Landestoy padded the Horned Frogs' ninth-inning lead by lacing a two-run single to center field and TCU concluded its four-run frame when Ridgely issued a wild pitch with the bases loaded that allowed Balta to score from third.

Hit with the loss, Gamez (0-3) gave up four walks and let in three earned runs in just one-third of an inning pitched. Caleb Sloan (3-0) picked up the pitching win for the Horned Frogs by tossing three frames of three-hit, one-run relief.

With their non-conference slate in the books, SFA travels south to Houston, Texas, to finish its 2018 schedule. There, the 'Jacks face off against Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist in a three-game series that gets underway at 2:00 p.pm. Thursday afternoon from Husky Field.

-SFA-