Vasquez Socks Solo Homer in Saturday's Southland Showdown at Nicholls

Saturday, May 11

Thibodaux, La.

11:30 a.m.

Stephen F. Austin

22-29, 0

Nicholls

26-25, 0

Stephen F. Austin

Nicholls

Photo by: SFA Athletics

Vasquez Socks Solo Homer in Saturday's Southland Showdown at Nicholls

5/11/2019 3:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Senior scores two of SFA's three runs, notches game-high two hits

By: Charlie Hurley | Director of Athletic Media Relations

THIBODAUX, La. - Senior infielder Manny Vasquez started a comeback bid for the SFA baseball team by blasting a solo home run to lead off the top of the seventh and the 'Jacks added two more in the ninth but the six runs Nicholls produced through the first five frames proved to be too large of a deficit to overcome in SFA's 6-3 setback to the Colonels Saturday at Ray E. Didier Field.

A win would have sewed up a berth in the Southland Conference Tournament for the 'Jacks, but now those hopes will be put on hold until at least tomorrow with Saturday's result.

SCORING SUMMARY
B1 | No hits were needed for the hosts in order for them to take an early lead. Instead, Nicholls used two walks and an error to load the bases with one out which brought up Alex Paz. The junior lofted a high fly ball to Nick Daley in center field and that sacrifice fly allowed an unearned run to cross home plate which gave the Colonels' a 1-0 edge.

B4 | Success with two outs was how the Colonels were able to pad their lead. After Kubo sandwiched a pop-up and a flyout around a single up the middle by Dane Simon, the senior surrendered an infield single and walked Waylon LeBlanc on four pitches to load the bases. After getting Champ Davison down 0-2, Kubo lost track of the Colonels' leadoff man and walked him on seven pitches to up the hosts' lead to 2-0. That bases-loaded walk signaled the end of Kubo's day and brought Joseph Sgambelluri out of the bullpen. Sgambelluri issued a five-pitch walk to Ethan Valdez that upped the Colonels' edge to 3-0 before Brady Bell drove the first pitch he saw from Sgambelluri through the left side of the infield for an RBI single. The score stayed a 4-0 after Sean Moore threw LeBlanc out at home plate to bring the inning to a close.

B5 | Consecutive singles by Adam Tarver and Paz set the Colonels up to add more runs in the home half of the fifth. After those two runners moved into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, Sgambelluri intentionally walked Austin France to get to catcher Chris Sandberg. Things did not go according to plan from there as Sgambelluri plunked Sandberg to drive in another run that made matters 5-0. Freshman lefty Jaxon Covington took over on the hill from there and minimized the damage with a fly ball out that scored a run. Skylar Black ended the fifth by hosing France on a steal attempt at third base, but the 'Jacks found themselves facing a 6-0 deficit.

T7 | Vasquez busted up the Colonels' shutout bid by launching an 0-1 offering from right-hander Jacob Bedevian out beyond the fence in left field. The senior's solo shot upped his season home run total to five and pulled the 'Jacks within five, 6-1.

T9 | Pinch hitter Kyle Cullen and Vasquez got right to work at starting the 'Jacks' last-ditch rally try when they connected on back-to-back singles off of Bedevian. With one out, pinch hitter lined a hard shot back to Bedevian that glanced off of his glove and back into foul territory. Cerny beat Bedevian's errant throw to first and the ball wound up far down the right field line which allowed Cullen and Vasquez to race home and cut the Colonels' lead to 6-3. That was as close as the 'Jacks would get, however, as a flyout and a strikeout ended the game.

AT THE DISH
• Vasquez's two-hit outing made him the only SFA player with multiple hits on the afternoon. The senior also scored two of the team's three runs and registered the team's lone RBI.
• Each of the Colonels' two through eight hitters recorded one hit and six different players drove in a run. Leadoff man Champ Davison drew two of the Colonels' six walks on the day.
• Both teams registered seven hits, but it was the six walks Nicholls drew that made the difference.

ON THE HILL
• For the second straight week, Kubo (2-3) got tagged with a Southland Conference setback. The senior worked his way though 3 2/3 innings and gave up four runs on three hits and four walks. Kubo registered two of the team's four strikeouts.
• Covington, Austin Hearn and Austin Roth combined to give up just one hit to the Colonels through the last 3 2/3 innings of action.
• In a complete-game effort, Bedevian let up just a single earned run on seven hits. The right-hander did not issue a walk and struck out five.

ON DECK
• Sunday at 2:00 p.m., the 'Jacks go gunning for their first Southland Conference series win in the month of May when they meet the Colonels in the series finale. Junior lefty Jacob Stobart will serve as the 'Jacks starting pitcher on Mother's Day.

-SFA-