Friday, February 17
Nacogdoches, TX
6:30 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
0-1
6
vs
7
Kansas State University
1-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Kansas St.
2
0
2
1
0
0
0
2
0
7
6
1
Stephen F. Austin
2
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
6
11
4
Lumberjacks Take the Wildcats Down to the Final Inning in Opening Day Loss
2/17/2023 11:30:00 PM | Baseball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Kansas State defeated Stephen F. Austin 7-6 on the first game of the season for both teams. Kansas State starts 1-0 while SFA begins 0-1.
The game got off to a rocky start for the Lumberjacks as they gave up two runs after committing two errors in the first inning. But luckily, the bats were able to back up the defense and responded right back with two runs of their own on a RBI groundout from Cal Martin and a RBI single from Tom Biggs.
The third inning saw more runs from both teams as the Wildcats put up two more in the top half off of a single and a sacrifice fly. The Lumberjacks answered right back once again, this time with three runs. Biggs took advantage of a bases loaded situation and drove in two with another single. Shortly after, Martin made a heads-up baserunning play and scored from third on a shallow outfield pop-up hit by Cody Fleischer. After the ball was caught by the K-State shortstop, he lazily threw the ball to the pitcher and didn't pay much attention to Martin who was gunning it for home. Martin's heads-up baserunning gave the Lumberjacks a 5-4 lead after three innings.
The Wildcats quickly responded in the top of the fourth and retied the ball game at 5-5 after scoring on another sacrifice fly.
The scoring didn't resume until the top of the eighth when Kansas State scored two on a double down the right field line to take a 7-5 lead. Once more, the Lumberjacks responded in the bottom half in the inning. This time the scoring came with two outs, when Hunter Prescher stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second. Prescher roped a single to left field which caused Martin to score from second. However, Prescher tried to stretch out his single to a double and got thrown out at second before Barrett Rose was able to score from first, leaving the score 7-6 Wildcats going into the ninth.
The 'Jacks were able to hold the Wildcats from scoring heading into the bottom of the ninth before all the drama began. Pinch-hitter Alex Gomex led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch. Bryce Yosko then came in to pinch run for Gomez. Alex Rodgers followed by hitting a double in the left center gap, putting runners on second and third for SFA. The moment the Lumberjacks wish they could take back was when Clayton Loranger hit a high fly ball to right field with Yosko tagging at third. When the right fielder caught the ball, Yosko hesitantly ran for home. But as the throw came in from right field to the catcher, Yosko stopped his tracks and turned back for third. Unfortunately, Yosko didn't get back in time and the third basemen tagged him out after getting the ball from the catcher. That played put an end to any run the Lumberjacks were going to get at the win and the 'Jacks ended up suffering a 7-6 loss on opening day.
Biggs played a big key role at the plate today, driving in three runs and going 2-for-4 on the night. Martin and Peyton Parker both also collected two hits and brought in two runs. Loranger went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored on the two times he was able to get on base tonight.
Joe Richter started on the mound for the Lumberjacks tonight and finished with the stat line of four innings, three hits, two earned runs, and five strikeouts. Reid Boyett and Caleb Cude combined for three innings and allowed no hits. Skyler Jaco went two innings and suffered the loss tonight after giving up the game-winning two-run double in the eight inning.
The Lumberjacks look to even out the series with Kansas State as they move on to game two tomorrow with first pitch at 2:00 p.m.
The game got off to a rocky start for the Lumberjacks as they gave up two runs after committing two errors in the first inning. But luckily, the bats were able to back up the defense and responded right back with two runs of their own on a RBI groundout from Cal Martin and a RBI single from Tom Biggs.
The third inning saw more runs from both teams as the Wildcats put up two more in the top half off of a single and a sacrifice fly. The Lumberjacks answered right back once again, this time with three runs. Biggs took advantage of a bases loaded situation and drove in two with another single. Shortly after, Martin made a heads-up baserunning play and scored from third on a shallow outfield pop-up hit by Cody Fleischer. After the ball was caught by the K-State shortstop, he lazily threw the ball to the pitcher and didn't pay much attention to Martin who was gunning it for home. Martin's heads-up baserunning gave the Lumberjacks a 5-4 lead after three innings.
The Wildcats quickly responded in the top of the fourth and retied the ball game at 5-5 after scoring on another sacrifice fly.
The scoring didn't resume until the top of the eighth when Kansas State scored two on a double down the right field line to take a 7-5 lead. Once more, the Lumberjacks responded in the bottom half in the inning. This time the scoring came with two outs, when Hunter Prescher stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second. Prescher roped a single to left field which caused Martin to score from second. However, Prescher tried to stretch out his single to a double and got thrown out at second before Barrett Rose was able to score from first, leaving the score 7-6 Wildcats going into the ninth.
The 'Jacks were able to hold the Wildcats from scoring heading into the bottom of the ninth before all the drama began. Pinch-hitter Alex Gomex led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch. Bryce Yosko then came in to pinch run for Gomez. Alex Rodgers followed by hitting a double in the left center gap, putting runners on second and third for SFA. The moment the Lumberjacks wish they could take back was when Clayton Loranger hit a high fly ball to right field with Yosko tagging at third. When the right fielder caught the ball, Yosko hesitantly ran for home. But as the throw came in from right field to the catcher, Yosko stopped his tracks and turned back for third. Unfortunately, Yosko didn't get back in time and the third basemen tagged him out after getting the ball from the catcher. That played put an end to any run the Lumberjacks were going to get at the win and the 'Jacks ended up suffering a 7-6 loss on opening day.
Biggs played a big key role at the plate today, driving in three runs and going 2-for-4 on the night. Martin and Peyton Parker both also collected two hits and brought in two runs. Loranger went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored on the two times he was able to get on base tonight.
Joe Richter started on the mound for the Lumberjacks tonight and finished with the stat line of four innings, three hits, two earned runs, and five strikeouts. Reid Boyett and Caleb Cude combined for three innings and allowed no hits. Skyler Jaco went two innings and suffered the loss tonight after giving up the game-winning two-run double in the eight inning.
The Lumberjacks look to even out the series with Kansas State as they move on to game two tomorrow with first pitch at 2:00 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: T. Ruhl (1-0)
L: Jaco, Skyler (0-1)
S: Corsentino (1)
Batting:
2B: N. Goodwin 1 ; K. Lodice 1
RBI: D. Hughes 1 ; K. Culpepper 1 ; C. Johnson 2 ; K. Lodice 2
SF: D. Hughes 1 ; C. Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: B. Jones 1 ; D. Hughes 1 ; N. Goodwin 2 ; R. Pelletier 1 ; C. Rugely 1 ; K. Lodice 1
SB: B. Jones 2 ; K. Culpepper 1 ; K. Lodice 2
HBP: K. Culpepper 1 ; C. Rugely 1
PO: N. Goodwin 1
Batting:
2B: Rodgers, Alex 1 ; Parker, Peyton 1
RBI: Martin, Cal 1 ; Biggs, Tom 3 ; Fleischer, Cody 1 ; Prescher, Hunter 1
SF: Fleischer, Cody 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Loranger, Clayton 2 ; Parker, Peyton 2 ; Martin, Cal 2
HBP: Gomez, Alex 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
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UTL
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C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
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INF
/ BaseballINF
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