April 5, 2009

UALR 12, ULM 2

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The UALR baseball team (8-20, 4-11) snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 12-2 win over ULM (18-12, 8-7) on Sunday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field. UALR junior Anthony Pryor had his best outing of the season and junior Nate Brown drove in four runs to help the Trojans snap ULM’s five-game win streak.

Pyror (1-3) worked a season-long 6.1 innings and held the Warhawks to four hits and two runs (one earned) to pick up his first win as a Trojan. Brown went 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of two-run doubles, while junior Tim Emmons belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth – his seventh of the year.

“We got some clutch hits today in some big situations and did a good job of limiting our mistakes. Tony gave us a chance to win today by going 6.1 innings and proved that we can compete when we get a good outing from our starter,” said UALR head coach Scott Norwood. “With the exception of Friday’s game, we’ve been playing better of late, and hopefully today’s win will help us turn the corner.”

The Warhawks managed just four hits and stranded 10 runners on the day, leaving the bases  full in the third and seventh innings. Jordy Poche (1-2) took the loss for ULM after allowing six hits and six runs (five earned) over 4.1 innings of work.

ULM got in the scoring column first, as Matt Collins and Poche started things off in the top of the second with back-to-back singles. Collins came around to score on a RBI groundout by Perry Smith to give the Warhawks the early 1-0 lead, but ULM would go scoreless over the next five frames.

UALR answered in the bottom half, manufacturing three runs to go ahead 3-1. Junior Landis Wilson tied the game at 1-all when he followed up a leadoff double by junior Tyson Parks with a RBI double off the wall in left. Wilson scored from second on a fielding error by third baseman Tom O’Gorman, and junior Josh Marazzito came around to score the third run of the frame off a run-scoring base knock by junior Anthony Gower. Marazzito went 3-for-4 on the day with three runs scored and two doubles.

ULM had an opportunity to cut into the Trojans’ lead in the top of the third after loading the bases with two outs, but Pryor got an inning-ending 6-3 groundout from Poche to escape the jam unscathed.

The Trojans extended their lead to five runs, 6-1, by pushing across three runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks in large part to Emmons’ two-run bomb. Senior Kody Kroll got the Trojans going by drawing a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch by Poche. Senior Matt Apfel plated Kroll with a run-scoring single up the middle, and Emmons followed two batters later with a two-run homer to right center (his seventh of the year) to make it a 6-1 contest and chase Poche from the game.

Blake Jones came on in relief of Poche in the fifth and escaped the frame without any further damage, but ran into trouble in the sixth as the Trojans struck for three more runs after Marazzito (double) and Kroll (hit by pitch) reached base to start things off. With runners on the corners and one out, Drew Graham took the mound for Jones and managed to strikeout the first batter he faced. Graham wasn’t as fortunate with Brown, however, as UALR’s center fielder ripped a two-run double down the left field line to make it an 8-1 ballgame.

After going scoreless for five-straight innings, the Warhawks finally got to Pryor in the top of the seventh after loading the bases with one out off an error, a walk and a hit batsman. With the bags full and one out, Pryor issued a free pass to Collins to pull the Warhawks within seven, 9-2, and bring his afternoon to an end. Junior JR Boling came on in relief of Pryor with the bases loaded and one out, and managed to preserve the 9-2 lead by striking out Poche and forcing Nick Wade to fly out to end the inning.

Leading 9-2, the Trojans tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to run rule the Warhawks on getaway day. Kroll pushed across UALR’s 10th run with a base knock to left, and Brown brought the game to an end with a two-run double to right with the bases loaded.

UALR returns to action Tuesday night when it takes on Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. The Trojans will then face the Arkansas Travelers in a five-inning scrimmage on Wednesday before heading to Mobile, Ala. for a three-game series with the Jaguars.

The Travelers are offering free admission to Wednesday’s scrimmage which is slated for a 6:45 p.m. start time at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.

FIU 12, WKU 9

Powered by Tyler Townsend’s two home runs and five RBIs, the FIU baseball team outslugged Western Kentucky as the Golden Panthers won 12-9, Sunday afternoon at University Park.

WKU got off to a 5-0 lead, plating five in the top of the second. However, FIU starter Corey Polizzano settled down and didn’t allow a run over the next five innings as he earned the win, his third of the season.

Down by five, the Golden Panthers got on the board in the third inning on a two-run home run by Townsend.

After Polizzano put up a zero in the top of the fourth, the Golden Panthers’ bats exploded in the bottom of the fourth, putting up a six spot in the frame. With runners on the corners and one away, Lammar Guy singled through the left side to make it a 5-3 game. A few batters later, Ryan Mollica came to bat with the bases loaded and hit a high fly ball to left that kept carrying and eventually fell for a bases-clearing double. With FIU now up 6-5, Townsend hit his second home run in as many innings, sending a pitch over the left field wall to give FIU an 8-5 lead.

The Golden Panthers added two more in the bottom of the fifth. Tim Jobe led off the inning with a single to right, extending his hitting streak to 21 games. After Mike Martinez singled and Raiko Alfonso moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, Guy lifted a ball deep to center for a sacrifice fly and an RBI. Junior Arrojo then hit a bloop single to center, scoring another run and making it a 10-5 game.

In the top of the eight, Western Kentucky’s conference-best offense woke up and scored four off three FIU relievers, cutting the FIU lead to just one run at 10-9.

FIU tacked on a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, one on a double by Arrojo and another on a single to left by Townsend.

R.J. Fondon, who got the win on Friday night after striking out six in 3.1 innings, asked for the ball in the ninth inning and got his wish as he toed the rubber to start the final frame. The freshman looked like a seasoned veteran, earning the save despite having to face the heart of the WKU lineup. It was Fondon’s first save of the year.

The win puts FIU’s record at 19-9 and 8-4 in Sun Belt Conference games. WKU drops to 21-9 and 9-3 in the Sun Belt. FIU still hasn’t lost a series this year. For WKU it was the first weekend series loss.

Townsend finished the game 3-5 with five RBIs, while Mollica went 2-5 with three runs batted in.

The Golden Panthers will host a couple of mid-week games this week, facing Stetson on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Troy 12, Arkansas State 7

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Troy University baseball team kept its perfect record against Arkansas State in tact on Sunday, downing the Red Wolves 12-7 to complete a weekend sweep.

Troy now stands 12-0 all-time against ASU. The win moves the Trojans (18-12, 7-5) to within two and half games of league leading Middle Tennessee, which was swept over the weekend at Louisiana-Lafayette.

“Today’s game was a lot like the last two,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said. “We pitched well, defended OK and got some timely hits.”

The Trojans used an eight-run seventh inning to turn a close game into a one-sided affair. The big inning came after ASU’s starting pitcher, freshman Jacob Lee (1-2) was lifted with the Trojans holding a 4-2 lead.

“That was a great inning because we got a bunch of two-out hits,” Pierce said. “I couldn’t believe when we put the snowman on the board because I can’t remember the last time we had that kind of inning.”

Troy’s biggest offensive inning of the season started with a pair of ASU errors, two of four the Red Wolves (12-17, 6-9) committed in the game. Following the errors, Troy had six hits against three different pitchers. The big blows were two-out, two-run doubles from Trevor Tyre and Charley Williams.

The big inning lifted senior left-hander Travis Burge (2-1) to the victory. Burge scattered nine hits, allowing just two runs over five 2/3 innings despite working in a howling gale wind.

“It was a tough day to pitch because of the wind, which started to turn a little late in the game,” Pierce said. “It was a good effort all weekend by our pitchers.”

The Trojans got on the board in the first thanks to an error by ASU third baseman Guy Brown. Michael Precise reached second on the Brown error and scored on a two-out double by Ryan Ditthardt.

The Red Wolves took their first lead of the weekend in the third inning with a couple of ground singles in the infield, a sacrifice bunt, and a two-run single to right by Brandon Eller.

Troy reclaimed the lead in the fifth, scoring three times off Lee despite just two hits. Tyre led off the inning with a double to left center, moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a ground ball to second by Williams.

With two out and no one on base, Lee walked Chad Watson and Bart Pettus in succession before unleashing a wild pitch, moving both runners up. Precise followed with a single past a diving Brown at third, plating both runners.

ASU answered Troy’s big seventh inning by scoring four times in the bottom of the frame. Murray Watts led off the inning by sneaking a fly ball around the foul pole in left for a homer. That was followed by three singles, two walks a pair of wild pitches and a sacrifice fly.

The inning finally came to an end when senior Josh Storm was called to the mound. He got out of that inning and worked two more scoreless frames to earn his sixth save of the year, and his school-record tying 18th of his career. The 18 saves ties the mark set by Josh Dew during the 2006-07 seasons.

Offensively, Troy got two hits each from Precise, Ditthardt and Tyre. ASU got a career-high four hits from Brown as well as three from Derrick Coleman and two each from Eller and Jordan Kimball.

The Trojans will return to action Tuesday night when they travel to Tuscaloosa in search of a season sweep against Alabama. The first pitch from Sewell-Thomas Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Troy will return to Sun Belt Conference play next weekend at Riddle-Pace Field when the Trojans host Florida Atlantic.                  

“We have played FAU pretty well the last two years and it will be good to get them back at home,” Pierce said. “We have put ourselves in position near the mid-way point of the season to have a chance, and now we are hoping to run off a streak like the basketball team did that will take us to the top of the league.”

Louisiana-Lafayette 14, Middle Tennessee 7

LAFAYETTE – Zach Osborne once again dominated the Middle Tennessee lineup as the Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team wrapped up the sweep with a 14-7 win over the Blue Raiders at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field on Sunday. The Cajuns used a nine-run explosion in the fifth inning to mount their seventh come-from-behind victory of the season, their fifth in a row and fourth consecutive at
“The Tigue.”

Offensive dominance has become commonplace for the Cajuns of late, as they move to 15-12-1 overall and 8-6 in the Sun Belt, moving up a spot to fifth in the conference after this weekend.

Osborne made his second three-plus inning relief appearance of the weekend after a perfect 3 1/3 inning appearance Friday night, where he picked up the win. This time, Osborne went 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four. That wraps up a weekend of unbeatable relief for the Cajuns, in which Osborne, Luke Wagley, Blake Haagen and Justin Robichaux combined to throw 16 1/3 innings, allowing just six hits, two runs, both earned, on 13 strikeouts and just four walks.

Osborne earned the save for his efforts, his first of the year. Michael Cook started the game and earned no decision, allowing five runs, four earned, on three hits, three strikeouts and a walk in just 2 1/3 innings. Luke Wagley went three innings in relief, allowing two runs, both earned, on three hits and two walks, giving way to Osborne in the sixth.

As has been the case in recent memory, the Cajuns’ bats provided plenty of highlights, including the nine-run fifth inning. Greg Fontenot led the way with a 2-for-4, three RBI, three run day. Les Smith was right behind him, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, falling a home run short of the cycle as he hit a single, a double and a triple in the game.

Kyle Olasin extended his hitting streak to 12 games, the team’s best on the season, with a 2-for-6 day, driving in one and scoring twice. Travis Whipple hit his second home run in as many games, his fifth of the year, to total two RBI on 2-for-5 hitting with two runs scored. Chad Keefer drove in two with a home run of his own, his third of the season, finishing at 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Alex Fuselier added an RBI to round out the production for the Cajuns.

It has been one impressive stretch for Greg Fontenot, who is now 15-for-24 (.625) in the last seven games, with eight RBIs and a .667 slugging percentage and matching on-base percentage. He is also 3-for-3 in stolen bases in that stretch. Les Smith had a great weekend as well, as he went 7-for-10 with a 1.300 slugging percentage with three RBI against Middle Tennessee.

Middle Tennessee was the first team to get on the scoreboard, pushing home a run on Bryce Brentz’s RBI single to left field in the top of the first.

Alex Fuselier led off the bottom of the second with a triple, and was brought in by Greg Fontenot in the next at bat. Fontenot moved from first to third on two stolen bases before coming in on a Kyle Bostick single. With the two runs, the Cajuns went to the third inning defending a 2-1 lead.

The advantage disappeared when the Blue Raiders put runners on first and second in the third. Cook hit two batters in a row to load the bases and bring one in, and Nathan Hines drilled a double into the right field corner to score two more. Drew Robertson sealed it off with an RBI single to right field to put Middle Tennessee up 5-2.

In the fifth inning, the Raiders added another run when Hines singled home Brentz.

The Cajuns had big things in store for the bottom of the fifth, as they launched a nine-run assault on Middle Tennessee that put them ahead for good. It started with a leadoff single from Kyle Olasin, and ended 11 batters later when Les Smith lined out to right field to end the rally. Including Olasin, the first eight batters of the inning reached safely on Olasin’s single, a Travis Whipple double, a Les Smith triple (2 RBI), Scott Hawkins and Chad Keefer back-to-back walks followed by an Alex Fuselier hit-by-pitch (1 RBI), a Greg Fontenot single (2 RBI) and a Will Long walk. All but Long came around to score, representing the first seven runs of the inning. Bostick hit a sacrifice fly to score Fuselier, then Olasin doubled (1 RBI) and came home on Whipple’s two-run home run to right-center field.

The Raiders mustered one run in the top of the sixth on a solo home run from designated hitter Zach Dean, but that was the last run Middle Tennessee would score in the game. After giving up the home run and hitting the next batter, Wagley left for Zach Osborne, who controlled the game from then on.

The Cajuns added three more in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a two-run Chad Keefer home run and a run scored on an error. After that, both teams were quiet to finish the game.

The Ragin’ Cajuns have a busy week ahead of them, with a trip to New Orleans to play Tulane on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Wednesday engagement with Southern University at 6:30 p.m. at “The Tigue.” SportsRadio ESPN 1420 AM has all the action over the air or online at ESPN1420.com. Live statistics will be available online at RaginCajuns.com both evenings, along with live video Wednesday night.

April 4, 2009

New Orleans 18, Grambling 7

NEW ORLEANS - The University of New Orleans scored 12 runs in the first three innings as they racked up a season-high 18 runs in an 18-7 win over Grambling at Maestri Field on Saturday afternoon.

UNO (12-16) had a season-high 19 hits on the day, led by Ryan Eden, who batted 3-for-4. The outfielder had two home runs, scoring four runs and knocking in four RBIs.

Tyrone Wethers added three hits of his own while Nick Mitchell and Nick Schwaner had three RBIs apiece.

Privateer freshman Joe Zimmermann (2-2) took the win on the mound, tossing five innings, allowing five runs, three earned on five hits. The win was the second straight positive decision for the right-hander.

Jamal Breaux (0-3) was the pitcher of record for GSU (5-23) after retiring just four batters, ending his day after allowing 10 runs on nine hits and walking three.

In UNO's first trip to the plate in the bottom of the first, nine of the first 10 Privateers reached based as the squad scored six runs. Schwaner and Jay Edwards each brought in two runs in the frame, hitting a single and double, respectively.

The lead grew to 12-0 as Alan Harris and Eden both hit two-run home runs over the next two innings for UNO. Harris accounted for half of Privateers' four runs in the second inning while Eden's round-tripper put both runs on the scoreboard in the third.

GSU got their bats going for the next three inning, scoring seven runs starting with three in the fourth before adding two apiece in the fifth and sixth. A Brent Smith home run closed out the run production for the Tigers' in the fourth after the first three GSU batters reached base.

Two UNO errors led to two Tigers' runs in the fifth with two more runs being tacked on in the sixth.

The Privateers' final runs came as Donnie White, Mitchell and Eden hit two-run home runs in consecutive innings starting with White's second career home run in the fifth.

UNO and GSU will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Troy 7, Arkansas State 3

JONESBORO, Ark. – For the second straight day, the Troy Trojans got a strong outing from their starting pitcher, some timely hits from the batting order, and a great job from the bull pen against Arkansas State to take a 7-3 victory over the Red Wolves.

The Trojans, who improved to 11-0 all-time against ASU, will go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Troy used a four-run outburst in the first inning to stake junior Jason Walls (2-2) to a big early lead. The right-hander from Valley, Ala., combined with senior Jeff Green to make those early runs standup. Green earned his first career save with 3 2/3 solid innings of relief behind Walls.

“It feels really good to get a series win on Saturday and have a chance to come out on Sunday and get a sweep,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said. “It all started with Jason Walls on the mound. He pitched great, which is exactly what we had hoped he would do.”

Walls scattered just four hits as he worked into the sixth inning, striking out four and walking just two. The only run he allowed, which came in the third inning, was unearned.

“Jason is back to where we thought he would be,” Pierce said. “I think he hit the wall a little early because he pitched during the middle of the week, which is something he had not done before. I’ll take 5 1/3 quality innings like that any day.

“Jeff Green came on in the sixth when Jason got into a jam and made some really quality pitches to get out of trouble.”

Green came on with the bases loaded and just one out in the sixth with Troy holding a 6-1 lead. He got a strikeout and a ground out to get out of the inning without ASU pushing across a run.

The Trojans jumped on Red Wolves starter Jett Jones (0-5) early, scoring four runs in the first inning. Chad Watson led off with a double on the first pitch of the game, but was still standing at second base two outs later.

Ryan Ditthardt got Troy on the board with a single through the left side of the infield. After Brett Henry drew a walk, Trevor Tyre doubled to plate Ditthardt and Daryl Otwell followed with a two-run single.

The Trojans added single runs in the second and sixth innings on solo homers by Miles Hoyle and Watson. Michael Precise drove in a run in the ninth with a hit-and-run single that scored Steven Rosado all the way from first.

“We managed to get some timely hits again today,” Pierce said. “I think that shows that we are beginning to play a little better. I also think those four early runs allowed Jason to get into a comfort zone right away. It is always easier to perform well when there isn’t any pressure.”

ASU did manage to score a couple of late runs off Green. The Red Wolves scored an unearned run in the eighth thanks to an error and then got a leadoff homer from Derrick Coleman in the ninth.

Ditthardt and Tyre led the Trojans’ 12-hit attack with three hits each. Tyre, who came into the game without a double all year, had three two-base hits in the game. Leadoff hitter Cody Pace had three of the Red Wolves’ eight hits.

The Trojans will send senior left-hander Travis Burge (1-1, 5.08) to the mound on Sunday in search of their first series sweep this year. ASU will counter with freshman right-hander Jacob Lee (1-1, 4.19).

“I think that Travis will give us a good start because this is a good matchup for him,” Pierce said. “Our bull pen is in great shape after the outing Jeff Green gave us today. If we can just drive in a few runs, then we will have a chance to sweep the series.”

Florida Atlantic 12, South Alabama 11

BOCA RATON, Fla. – William Block’s game-winning double in the bottom of the ninth allowed Florida Atlantic University to walk-away with a dramatic 12-11 victory over the University of South Alabama at FAU Stadium.

Block’s two-RBI double was part of three-run FAU ninth inning, the sixth and final lead change in a game that featured 38 hits.

Florida Atlantic (17-11; 6-7 Sun Belt) senior Tom Hatcher hit two homers, including a three-run opposite-field shot that had put the Owls up by three runs heading into the seventh.

South Alabama (11-17; 2-9 Sun Belt) had rallied to take the lead with four runs in the seventh and added an insurance run in the eighth to lead 11-9 - all before the Owls’ plated three in their final at-bats.

Nick DelGuidice, Sean Bukovich and Troy Bubley each singled as part of three-straight FAU hits to begin the bottom of the ninth - setting the stage for the Owls comeback win.

Greg Johnson, who had worked effectively in both the seventh and eighth, hit Anthony Mesa on an 0-2 pitch after giving up the three singles and would have to pitch out of a bases-loaded no-out jam to preserve the USA lead.

With FAU needing one run to tie and two to win, Block lined a 2-2 fastball from Johnson into the right-field corner, setting off an extended celebration at home plate to meet the winning runs.

ULM 9, UALR 3

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Jon Prevost and Ben Soignier hit home runs and Justin Anderson went seven strong innings on the mound as ULM clinched its second straight Sun Belt road series with a 9-3 victory over UALR Saturday evening at Gary Hogan Field – the Warhawks won the opener 24-5 Friday night.

It took the Warhawks (18-11, 8-6 Sun Belt) a couple of innings to figure out UALR starter Jake Sullivan as he retired the first eight batters he faced. Perry Smith broke through first with a single back up the middle and Boomer Blanchard followed with a well executed bunt single in the bottom of the third inning.

Prevost and Soignier, the Warhawks top two RBI producers, followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give the Warhawks a 2-1 lead. With Prevost on third and Soignier on first, Soignier stole second and Prevost came home to score as the Trojans threw to second on the play.

Anderson (5-1), who entered the week ranked 33^rd in the nation in wins, allowed just three runs on six hits and struck out five Trojan batters as he worked a career-high seven innings.

Soignier paced the Warhawks’ 13-hit attack going 3-for-5 on the night. Prevost, Matt Laird, Nick Wade and Smith all added two hits as ULM has now won eight of its last nine games overall and five of its last six Sun Belt Conference games.

Jordy Poche extended the Warhawk lead out to 4-1 with an RBI single to left field in the top of the fourth inning scoring Wade, who singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.

Prevost blasted his ninth home run of the season, eighth in the past 13 games, in the fifth inning pushing the ULM lead out to 5-1. Prevost now has 33 RBIs on the season through the first 29 games – in 54 games last season he had 23 RBIs.

Smith pushed the lead out to 7-1 with a two-RBI single in the sixth. Soignier scored his first run of the night on ULM’s second successful attempt and the first-third steal play in the seventh inning.

Soignier broke out of a 14-game homerless slump with his towering solo blast in the ninth inning.

UALR jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on an RBI groundout Daniel Guffey after the first two batters of the inning reached being hit by a pitch and drawing a walk.

The Trojans (7-20, 3-11) made the score a little more respectable with a pair of runs on Nate Brown’s second double of the game in the eighth inning.

Sullivan (3-3) took the loss for UALR allowing seven runs on 10 hits over six innings of work. Matt Apfel and Brown led the Trojans with a pair of hits.

The Warhawks and Trojans wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. ULM will send Poche (1-1, 4.94 ERA) to the mound, while UALR will counter with Anthony Pryor (0-3, 11.28). The game can be heard live on 1680 AM in the Monroe area and worldwide on the internet at ulmathletics.com.

WKU 5, FIU 4

MIAMI, Fla. — Western Kentucky University (21-8, 9-2 SBC) got back-to- back solo home runs from Matt Rice and Wade Gaynor as well as a two- out, RBI single by freshman Kes Carter in a three-run eighth inning as the Hilltoppers rallied for a 5-4 win over FIU (18-8, 7-4 SBC) in a Sun Belt Conference contest on Saturday evening at University Park.  Coupled with Middle Tennessee's second-straight loss at Louisiana- Lafayette, WKU moves back into sole possession of first place in the league standings. 

The Panthers again grabbed the early lead, plating two in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by Tyler Townsend and a run-scoring single by Tim Jobe. 

WKU got one of those runs back in the second on an RBI groundout by Matt Hightower, plating Jake Wells.  Hightower finished 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in two RBI and scoring once, in addition to his strong outing on the mound.  Wells was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. 

After a bumpy first, Hightower settled in and never faced more than four Panther hitters in an inning until the seventh frame.  The senior lefthander tossed 102 pitches over 6.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks, striking out two in the no decision. 

Hightower also benefited from excellent defense behind him as the league's best fielding team turned three infield double plays and recorded their 13th game this season in which they did not commit an error. 

Tom Ebert entered the game with a 1.80 ERA for FIU and lived up to his billing, surrendering three runs, all earned, on eight hits and one walk, striking out seven, also in a no decision.  With the help of picking off Chad Cregar from first base in the third inning, Ebert retired 10 consecutive Toppers until hitting Matt Payton with a pitch in the fifth. 

Hightower, with a two-out, RBI double to the wall in right center scored Wells from first to tie the game at 2-2 in the sixth.

Still a 2-2 game in the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers took advantage of a tiring Hightower, as FIU drew two-straight walks and pushed both men home on just one hit, a single through the right side from Ryan Mollica to retake the lead 4-2. 

After Ebert got Cregar to strike out swinging to open the eighth, Rice smacked an 0-1 pitch off the scoreboard in left to trim the deficit to 4-3.  Rice, who finished 3-for-5, singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 24 games, now tied with Bill Weyers (1992-93) for the longest such streak in WKU history.

FIU brought in Daniel DeSimone out of the bullpen and he was promptly greeted by a solo blast off the bat of Wade Gaynor, also over the wall in left, to tie the game at 4-4.  DeSimone had gotten Gaynor to swing at his first two offerings, but the junior third baseman crushed his team-leading 12th long ball of the year on the 0-2 pitch. 

DeSimone got Wells to ground out, but Hightower reached on a error and then Terrence Dayleg was hit by a pitch, setting up Kes Carter with the game-winning, RBI single through the left side of the infield.  With a full count and two outs, Hightower was running on the play, enabling him to score from second.

Lammar Guy, one of last night's heroes for FIU, led off the ninth with a rocket to left field and was advanced to second with on an infield groundout.  But WKU's Bart Carter struck out Pablo Bermudez and Mollica with the tying run in scoring position to end the game.  Mollica and Guy each had two hits for FIU.

JB Paxson (2-0) relieved Hightower in the seventh, and worked two- thirds of an inning, allowing one hit and striking out one in three batters faced to notch the victory.  Carter (2) was near perfect in his

1.2 innings of work, picking up his second save.  

DeSimone (2-2) was charged with the loss after giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits in one-third of an inning.

In a match-up of the best offense (WKU) and pitching (FIU) in the Sun Belt Conference, it is ironic that FIU won Friday's 9-8 game that featured 27 hits while the Hilltoppers picked up the win in the 5-4 decision tonight that featured as-advertised quality pitching. 

WKU and FIU will play the rubber game of their three-game series tomorrow at 12:00 PM CT at University Park in Miami, Fla.  A win would give the Toppers their seventh-straight series win.

April 4, 2009

Louisiana-Lafayette 5, Middle Tennessee 3

LAFAYETTE, La. - Middle Tennessee's 11-game conference win streak ended in a 5-2 loss to UL-Lafayette on Friday night.

Sophomore Bryce Brentz (Knoxville, Tenn.) (3-1) took the loss on the mound allowing three runs on four hits with five strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Brentz had a no hitter through the sixth inning and left the game with the bases loaded. The runners on base when he left the game scored on a double by Kyle Bostick.

Middle Tennessee (21-5, 11-2) had eight hits in the game with three extra base hits led by junior Stuart Meinhart (Brentwood, Tenn.) who went 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBI.

Senior Nathan Hines was the only other Blue Raider with multiple hits as he ended the night 2 for 4 with a double.

ULL's (13-12-1, 6-6) Zach Osborne earned the win as he allowed no runs or hits in 3.1 innings of work with five strikeouts. Alex Fuselier received the start allowing two runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work.

Each team had eight hits on the night with Bostick hitting the only extra base hit for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Meinhart hit a two-run home run to left field to put the Blue Raiders up 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Bostick hit a bases loaded double off Montgomery to put the Ragin' Cajuns up 3-2. Then Olasin hit a single to left field which allowed Bostick to score from second and extend the lead to two.

ULL added a run in the bottom of the eight on squeeze play with the bases loaded allowing Hawkins to score from third.

The Blue Raiders will play game two of the series with the Ragin' Cajuns at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

FIU 9, WKU 8

MIAMI, Fla. — Ryan Mollica's infield single deep in the hole on the right side drove in Lammar Guy from third while an alert Garrett Wittels scored from second with the walk-off, game winner in the bottom of the ninth as FIU (18-7, 7-3 SBC) rallied for a 9-8 win over Western Kentucky University (20-8, 8-2 SBC) in the Sun Belt Conference series opener on Friday night at University Park. 

The marathon, back-and-forth affair finished just eight minutes shy of four hours.  The game featured the league's best offense (WKU) against the conference's best pitching (FIU).  The loss is the first in 15 games when WKU was leading after eight innings of play (14-1). 

The Panthers pushed across single runs in the first and third inning to grab a 2-0 lead through three complete. 

WKU got on the board in the fourth as Matt Rice grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, but it allowed Wade Gaynor to score from third and cut the deficit in half at 2-1.  The Hilltoppers pulled even with two outs in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple off the wall in centerfield by Matt Payton.  The WKU second baseman's team-best fourth three-bagger of the season plated Kes Carter as Payton finished 3-for-5. 

In the home half of the fifth, the Panthers got to Hilltopper ace Matt Ridings as three consecutive FIU hitters had first-pitch base hits off the junior righthander, the last, a three-run homer over the left field wall by Guy making it 6-2.  Guy went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored for FIU.  Ridings allowed six earned runs on 11 hits and three walks, striking out one, throwing 105 pitches in 4.2 innings in the no decision. 

But the Toppers immediately responded, scoring five runs in the top of the sixth, all with two outs, to take their first lead of the game 7- 6.  Senior shortstop Terrence Dayleg slapped a full-count double to right center, driving in two runs, and then freshman outfielder Jared Andreoli smoked a 2-0 offering from Panther hurler Scott Rembisz over the wall in right for his first career home run, a three-run blast. 

Andreoli finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored. 

Rembisz entered the game with an ERA of just over 2.00, but was chased in the sixth after allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and two walks, fanning three in 5.2 innings.  He too received a no decision. 

The Topper bullpen came on in relief of Ridings and shut down the Panthers for 3.1 innings.  Chad Adcock, Garrie Krueger, Ben Paxton, and Evan Teague combined to allow just one hit and one walk over that span. 

The play of the game came in the seventh as Chad Cregar leaped and snared a line-drive off the bat of Pablo Bermudez, erasing a sure double and preventing two runs from scoring.  Cregar also had a good night with his bat, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

After WKU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to lead 8-6, Teague retired Tim Jobe, but Mike Martinez then reached on a fielding error by Matt Payton at shortstop, who was part of a whole infield realignment after starting third baseman Wade Gaynor left the game with an injury.  Wittels singled followed by an RBI double by Guy to plate Martinez, drawing FIU within one.  After Teague struck out Junior Arroyo, WKU intentionally walked Bermudez, setting up a lefty-lefty matchup with Mollica and Teague.

Mollica's grounder in the hole was stopped by a diving Jake Wells, but Mollica beat out the throw to Teague covering as Guy scored the tying run.  In the aftermath of the bang-bang play, Wittels rounded third and came on home for the game winner. 

RJ Fondon (4-1) earned the win for FIU after tossing 3.1 innings of three-hit relief, allowing just one unearned run, walking three and striking out six. 

Teague (2-2) suffered the loss for WKU, surrendering three unearned runs on three hits and one walk in 1.2 innings. 

WKU and FIU will play game two of their weekend series tomorrow night at 5:00 PM CT at University Park in Miami, Fla.  The Hilltoppers now need to win the final two games of the series to extend their streak of consecutive series wins to seventh-straight.

ULM 24, UALR 5

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—ULM scored early and often in a 24-5 victory at UALR Friday night in the Sun Belt Conference series opener at Gary Hogan Field. The Warhawks belted out 10 extra-base hits, including four home runs as they won for the seventh time in eight games.

ULM (17-11, 7-6 Sun Belt) scored runs in eight innings and pounded out a season-high 23 hits on the night. Perry Smith, Jordy Poche, Boomer Blanchard and Jon Prevost each had three hits to lead the Warhawks. Ben Soignier, Matt Laird, Nick Wade and Ryan McMillan all had a pair of hits.

Prevost hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season in the fifth inning, Laird added his sixth homer of the season in the sixth and Tom O’Gorman picked up his first collegiate hit and home run with one swing in the eighth inning.

Prevost led the Warhawks with four RBIs. Soignier, Laird, O’Gorman and McMillian all added three as ULM tied its season-high run total – ULM scored 24 runs against Stephen F. Austin in the second season of the game.

Keith Christensen (2-2) went six innings to pick up the win for the Warhawks allowing a pair of runs on seven hits. Josh Turner and Matt Cawthon combined to close out the game allowing three runs, just one of which was earned.

All 13 ULM position players that made the trip to Little Rock saw action in the game. All but two Warhawks picked up a hit and 10 different players recorded an RBI.

Adam Champion (1-3) took the loss allowing eight runs – seven earned – on nine hits in just three innings of work.

The teams continue the three-game Sun Belt series tomorrow at 6 p.m. The Warhawks will send southpaw Justin Anderson (4-1, 4.55 ERA) to the mound, while the Trojans will counter with Jake Sullivan (3-2, 5.05).

Troy 5, Arkansas State 2

JONESBORO, Ark. – For the Troy Trojans, freshman pitcher Tyler Ray was just what the doctor ordered.

The right-hander squared off with senior preseason All-Sun Belt pitcher Chase Ware from Arkansas State in the first game of a three-game weekend series, and matched the Red Wolves hurler pitch-for-pitch long enough for the Troy offense to finally break through, leading to a 5-2 Troy victory.

The Trojans (16-12, 5-5) ran their all-time record against ASU to 10-0 with the victory and won their first Friday night Sun Belt Conference game this year. The Red Wolves fall to 12-15 overall and 6-7 in league play with the loss.

“Tyler Ray pitched very, very, well tonight,” Troy head coach Bobby Pierce said. “It was exactly what we needed on a Friday night. Hats off to him because their guy is very good.”

Ray (3-2) kept the Wolves at bay into the eighth inning before tiring, turning the game over to junior Chris Sorce. Despite some shaky outings lately, Sorce answered the call, preserving the Trojans’ lead over the final inning and two-thirds for his first save of the year.

“Tyler ran out of gas late in the game, but Chris came in and got the job done,” Pierce said. “Chris Sorce was better than he had been lately and we were able to make some big plays in the field, including the one Brett Henry made that might have been a game-saver.”

Henry’s place came in the ninth inning with one on and one out and Troy clinging to a 5-2 lead. Giovanni Garcia ripped a ball down the line that was ticketed for the corner, but Henry dove and backhanded the ball and, from his knees, threw out Brandon Eller at second base.

The Red Wolves followed with a single by Guy Brown and a walk to Jordan Kimball, loading the bases and bringing the potential winning run to the plate. At that point, Sorce bore down and struck out ASU leadoff hitter Cody Pace to seal the victory.

Troy jumped on top of Ware (3-1) in the first inning, getting a leadoff single from Bart Pettus and an RBI double from Ryan Ditthardt, but the Trojans didn’t scratch against the ASU hurler again until the eighth inning.

The Red Wolves tied the game in the fifth when Eller led off with a single and scored on a ground out by Garcia.

Ware finally wore down in the eighth as Troy batted around and scored four times. Charley Williams led off the inning with a solo homer to give Troy a 2-1 lead, but that was not enough for the Trojans.

“You have to love it when your team hears your message and then goes out and executes your message,” Pierce said. “Even though we were 9-0 against them in this series, every game has been hard-fought and I knew that would be the case here tonight. Ware was very good, but we were ready and took advantage when he ran out of gas.”

Following Williams’ third homer of the year, Pettus walked and Chad Watson followed with a bunt single. After Michael Precise delivered a sacrifice bunt, Ditthardt struck out, leaving the inning up to a struggling Henry.

After failing to hit the ball out of the infield off Ware his first three times up, Henry battled until he got a pitch he could handle, and delivered a single to center, scoring two runs. Steven Felix followed with a double to plate Henry for a 5-1 lead.

ASU got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Kimball, who reached on a one-out single and moved up after Ray walked two straight, scored on a sacrifice fly from Todd Baumgartner off Sorce. Sorce then struck out Murray Watts looking to end the inning and the ASU threat.

“This was a very big win for this team,” Pierce said. “To get a Friday win is something we have really needed and we had to work hard to get it. Now we have a chance to win the series on Saturday.”

Junior Jason Walls (1-2, 4.40) will get the call for the Trojans on Saturday and will face off with ASU senior left-hander Jett Jones (0-4, 6.89). The second game of the series is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start on Saturday.

Florida Atlantic 6, South Alabama 5

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Boca Raton's Travis Ozga homered and doubled en route to a 3-for-4 night as Florida Atlantic University rallied to beat the University of South Alabama 6-5. Ozga drove in two of FAU's six unanswered runs after the Owls fell behind 5-0 in the early innings. His hit-streak has now reached 18 games.

It was the opener of a three-game weekend set between the two Sun Belt Conference schools.

Florida Atlantic (16-10; 5-7 Sun Belt) improves to 13-6 at home and can even its league series' mark at 2-2 with one more victory over USA this weekend. 

South Alabama (11-16; 2-8 Sun Belt) jumped out in front with a run in the first inning and Sean Laird hit a three-run drive to left field in the third to give starter Miles Ethridge an early 4-0 cushion.

Ethridge pitched three scoreless innings before Nick DelGuidice drove in Ozga with a double down the left field line in the fourth. Colby Gratton followed with a two-out double which scored DelGuidice and FAU trailed 5-2 after four complete.

Ozga hit a towering homer to lead off the FAU sixth, his third, in an inning that would end Ethridge's night and see the Owls tighten-up the game, 5-4.

Alex Pepe continued his effective mid-relief pitching, spelling sophomore starter Mike Gipson in the seventh after Gipson's pitch-count reached 109. Pepe pitched a flawless seventh to lower his ERA to a staff-best 2.41. Gipson struck out six and walked one. 

It would be Ozga again picking up the Owls in the bottom of the seventh - hitting a two-out double into the left-field corner which scored Troy Bubley from first and tied the game 5-5.

Chris Schmitt (4-1) appeared in the top of the eighth and immediately retired the first three USA batters he faced, setting up an opportunity for FAU to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth. DelGuidice led off the inning with a single and would be moved to third when Anthony Mesa laid-down a squeeze bunt that plated the go-ahead run.

With FAU leading 6-5, Schmitt allowed a one-out single to Clint Reynolds in the ninth but would close out the inning and the game to give FAU the Friday night win.