Covington Deals in SFA Debut, Moore and Vasquez Drive in Two Each Sunday against A-State

Sunday, February 17

Nacogdoches, Texas

1:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

1-2

Arkansas State

2-1

Arkansas State

Stephen F. Austin

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Covington Deals in SFA Debut, Moore and Vasquez Drive in Two Each Sunday against A-State

2/17/2019 5:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Moore drive in two, adds two hits along with Martin and Uhse

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Making his collegiate pitching debut, freshman left-hander Jaxon Covington sat down the first 12 Arkansas State batters he faced but the Red Wolves' bats came to life late and the visitors scored five unanswered runs in the sixth and seventh innings in the SFA baseball team's narrow 7-6 setback Sunday afternoon at Jaycees Field.

Appearing poised for its first series win of the young season after designated hitter Sean Moore helped them put a three-spot on the board in the fifth with a two-run double to make matters 6-2, the 'Jacks relief arms surrendered two runs in the sixth to the Red Wolves and another three in the seventh.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• With Covington putting zeroes on the board early on, the 'Jacks wasted little time in giving their freshman starter a lead to protect. Jordan Monacy and Jared Martin each rapped a two-out single and moved into scoring position after a balk by Arkansas State starter Nate Alberius.
• That set the table for Manny Vasquez who punched a two-run single through the left side of the Red Wolves' infield to hand the hosts a 2-0 edge.
• SFA's lead grew to 3-0 when Jake Georgiades drove a 1-1 offering from Alberius back up the middle with two outs in the home half of the fourth. The inning was extended by the first of three errors by the Red Wolves on the afternoon.
• The 'Jacks' lone error of the game helped the Red Wolves put their first runs of the game on the board. After Sky-Lar Culver lined into a double play to produce the first two outs of the fifth, Jaylon Deshazier reached on an error by Georgiades. From there, Tyler Duncan broke up the shutout with an RBI double and Jacob Jablonski cut the 'Jacks' lead to one with an RBI single before Covington got out of the fifth.
• Getting to Arkansas State reliever Zachary Patterson as soon as he entered the game in the fifth, Martin punched another single to the outfield before Vasquez reached on a fielding miscue. Moore's double later in the frame pushed SFA's lead to 5-2 and after Patterson mishandled a sacrifice bunt try by Carson Clowers Moore came around to score and made matters 6-2.
• Coming on to work the sixth, senior Trayson Kubo issued a pair of walks and found himself in a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the frame after Kyle MacDonald's single. Culver then drilled an RBI single to left before Duncan drove in the Red Wolves' fourth run with a fielder's choice ball to Monacy at first.
• Kubo was greeted by a off the bat of Will Zimmerman to start the seventh before he was pulled for Jeremy Rodriguez. The junior watched as Arkansas State made it a one-run game (6-5), with an RBI fielder's choice ball off the bat of Alex Howard.
• Just one out away from getting out of the frame with the lead, Rodriguez instead gave up a two-out single to put runners on first and second. After that, Culver came up big again for the Red Wolves, tucking a two-run go-ahead double just inside the line in the deepest corner of left field.
• Arkansas State's Jake Jumper and Kollin Stone neutralized the 'Jacks' offense, letting the home team have just four more baserunners throughout the sixth through ninth innings. SFA also had a number of rally-killing situations as it had runners picked off at first in the sixth and seventh to go along with Georgiades lining into an inning-ending double-play in the eighth.

KEY PERFORMERS/STATISTICS OF NOTE
• Moore, Martin and Brandon Uhse each came up with two hits apiece for the 'Jacks in their second-straight setback.
• Covington's final line showed the freshman fanned four in five frames without giving up a walk. Though he did surrender three hits - all in the fifth - both of his runs were of the unearned variety.
• Tony Grabowske came on and pitched the ninth for SFA. The senior kept it a one-run game and faced four batters in the frame.
• Culver and Justin Felix totaled two hits apiece for the Red Wolves while the former finished with three RBI on the day.
• Four of Arkansas State's seven runs were scored with two outs while two of SFA's six were.

COMING UP NEXT
• Tuesday night in College Station, Texas, the 'Jacks take on their sole SEC opponent of the season when they tangle with Texas A&M. First pitch at Blue Bell Park is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.

-SFA-