JAGS CLINCH ULM SERIES WITH DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team swept a doubleheader from ULM Saturday at Stanky Field to clinch the three-game Sun Belt Conference series.
USA (11-8, 2-0 SBC) took game one 5-3 from ULM (10-8, 0-2 SBC) before clinching the series with a 6-0 shutout in game two.
South Alabama will return to action Sunday when it hosts ULM at 1 p.m. at Stanky Field in the series finale.
USA 5, ULM 3 (Game 1 of Doubleheader)
GAME FACTS
- Dylan Hardy led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second and advanced to third with one out on a flyout to right field by Travis Swaggerty. Brendan Donovan followed with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Hardy with the game's first run.
- ULM tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning on a one-out RBI single to center field by Joey Jordan. Cade Harper followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Turner Francis for a 2-1 lead. The Warhawks added their third run of the inning when Jordan scored on the throw down to second on a stolen base by Braedon Barrett.
- The Jags responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. Carter Perkins led off the inning with a double off the left field wall, and scored one batter later on an RBI double to left field by Will Luft to cut the ULM lead to 3-2. Donovan delivered a two-out RBI triple to center field later in the inning to tie the score at 3-3.
- USA rallied with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to take a one-run lead. Paul Russo drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a single to right field by Perkins and scored on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by Luft for a 4-3 Jaguar lead.
- The Jags added the game's final run in the bottom of the eighth when Luft reached on a hit by pitch with one out, and later scored on a wild pitch with two outs.
NOTES
- Donovan went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and Luft finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Perkins added two hits, including a double, and one run scored.
- Tyler Carr (2-2) allowed two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts against one walk in six innings pitched to earn the win.
- Jaguar right-hander Zach Greene tossed three scoreless relief innings, and allowed just one hit while striking out three to record his first career save.
- ULM right-hander Cole Gray (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits with one strikeout and four walks in three innings pitched in the loss.
- Chad Bell went 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored to lead the Warhawks offensively.
USA 6, ULM 0 (Game 2 of Doubleheader)
GAME FACTS
- USA took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second. Brittain led off the inning with a walk, and moved to third on a one-out double to center field by Michael Sandle. Russo followed with an RBI groundout to second to score Brittain for a 1-0 lead.
- The Jags loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on a single to left field by Hardy and consecutive walks by Swaggerty and Donovan. Brittain followed with an RBI infield single to third to score Hardy and double the USA lead at 2-0. Hunter Stokes then delivered a three-run double off the right field wall on a 3-2 pitch from ULM right-hander Richard Hebert for a 5-0 Jaguar advantage.
- USA added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hardy drew a leadoff walk, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by ULM catcher Jacob Charron. Donovan followed with an RBI single back up the middle to plate Hardy with the final run of the game.
NOTES
- Jaguar right-hander Chase Shell struck out a career-high 10 batters against one walk, and allowed just three hits in six shutout innings to earn his second win of the year.
- JoJo Booker and Andy Arguelles combined for three scoreless relief innings, and allowed just one hit with four strikeouts.
- ULM left-hander Trey Jeans (1-1) allowed four runs on three hits with five strikeouts and five walks in 4 2/3 innings in the loss.
- Seven Jaguar starters hit safely in the game, led by Stokes who finished 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
- Turner Francis finished 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Warhawks offensively.
QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the doubleheader sweep:
"You hate to play doubleheaders at any time, but we won the series in one day. It wasn't easy and they (ULM) threw some pretty good arms at us, but our guys fought like crazy. We had some good at-bats, and I thought our guys pitched really well."
- On the pitching:
"Zach Greene was really good for us in the first game, and Chase Shell was phenomenal. He worked right through an error made behind him, and I thought he got tougher. He showed me something tonight. I liked the way he pitched; he moved his fastball around, used both sides of the plate and threw his offspeed for strikes. I was really pleased with Chase, and then JoJo Booker came in and it was good to get Andy Arguelles back out there for an inning."
Texas State walks off App State, extends streak to double figures
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State baseball team walked off Appalachian State 3-2 in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday night at Bobcat Ballpark.
The Bobcats (12-4-1, 2-0 SBC) extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games, while the Mountaineers (5-11, 0-2 SBC) have now dropped seven of their last eight games overall.
TXST initially pulled ahead in the fifth inning in what shaped up to be a classic pitcher's duel. The first runs of the night came on an infield single from senior Derek Scheible. His hit drove home fellow senior Jared Huber, and classmate Mickey Scott touched home on a throwing error by the shortstop.
Appalachian State pulled one back in the sixth on an RBI groundout, and play was then halted for 1 hour, 24 minutes due to lightning in the area. This marked the fourth-consecutive weekend series for Texas State that had to be altered due to inclement weather.
The Mountaineers came out of the delay with the momentum and tied the game in the top of the eighth, but the Bobcats were able to earn the walkoff triumph thanks to a bases-loaded walk drawn by junior Jaylen Hubbard.
Huber led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and true freshman pinch runner Dalton Shuffield advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Jonathan Ortega was intentionally walked, and Scheible drew another walk to fill up the bags. Hubbard needed just five disciplined pitches to earn the game-winning walk, giving TXST its second walkoff win of the season (Stephen F. Austin, March 4).
Texas State's 8-9 hitters were a perfect 4-for-4 on the day. Huber was 3-for-3 with a run scored and a walk from the eight hole. Scott was 1-for-1 with a run, a walk and two sac bunts at the bottom of the order.
Junior Connor Reich was dominant on the mound, posting just one run on four hits in 7.0 innings. He struck out five and walked one before leaving after the delay. Reich made way for senior Cam Baird (2-0), who earned the win after giving up one run on two hits across the final 2.0 frames. He struck out five and walked just one.
App State relief pitcher Luke Watts (0-1) was saddled with the loss after tossing the final 1.2 innings. He gave up one run on two hits, while walking four and striking out one. Starter Colin Schmid allowed two runs on five hits in 6.1 frames, walking seven and striking out five.
Joel McDaniel went 2-for-4 and was the only Mountaineer with multiple hits. Leadoff hitter Alex Leshock scored both runs and was driven home both times by Drew Beck.
Texas State will look for the sweep at 11 a.m. March 18 from Bobcat Ballpark.
Osby and Hixon Combine to Shut Out Little Rock
TROY, Alabama – Daren Osby and Rush Hixon worked together to lead Troy's 2-0 shutout of Little Rock to even the Sun Belt series on #SpitSTRONG Day at Riddle-Pace Field.
Osby (2-0) went seven scoreless, allowing just four hits and striking out four batters to earn the victory for Troy (13-6, 1-1). The local product Hixon (1) took over in the eighth and struck out three batters to earn his first career save.
Today's performance on the mound was no fluke for Troy – as the Trojan pitching staff has allowed just 13 earned runs over the past seven games (a 1.86 ERA).
The Trojans struggled on the offensive side of the ball, recording just five hits in the game for the second game in a row. Joey Denison got back to his run-driving-in ways after picking up his 27th RBI of the season – he entered the weekend ranked third nationally in the category.
Little Rock (10-9, 1-1) was never able to get anything going and was held scoreless for the first time this season. Troy Alexander recorded the only extra-base hit for the squad with a double – he finished 1-for-3.
After the original starter went down with a hamstring injury during warm-ups, Little Rock decided to throw freshman Hayden Arnold (0-2) on the mound. Arnold was effective for the most part – allowing just two runs on five hits – but was saddled with the loss in the end.
Quotable – Troy head coach Mark Smartt
"Wow, Osby was great today. He and Hixon gave us quality innings; any time you throw a five-hit shutout at this level, you're seeing a great pitching performance. We're not scoring much right now; and when you're not scoring, you have to rely on somebody to have a great day on the mound and Osby was that guy today."
#SpitSTRONG
Before Saturday's game, Troy honored freshman infielder Bobby Spitulski – who made his first trip back to visit with his team since he and his family were involved in a serious car accident in January. Spitulski threw out the ceremonial first pitch and stayed with his teammates in the dugout for the entirety of the game.
Noteworthy
• After seeing his 10-game RBI streak end last night, senior Joey Denison drove in a run on an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning. The Troy-native ranked third in the country in RBIs entering the series.
• Brandon Lockridge singled and walked in the game to extend his reached base streak to 19 games to kick off the 2018 campaign.
• Troy's stolen base leaders Brandon Lockridge and Drew Frederic each recorded a stolen base Saturday – Lockridge leads with 12, followed closely by Frederic with 11. The two are both perfect on stolen base attempts so far this season.
On Deck
Troy and Little Rock will face off on Championship Sunday to clinch the series. First pitch from LHP Max Newton (1-0) is set for 1 p.m.
Louisiana Baseball Routs Georgia Southern 11-2 To Even Series
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns baseball team exploded for a season-high 15 hits as the Ragin' Cajuns stormed past Georgia Southern 11-2 to even the series on Saturday at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The 11 runs are a season high for the Cajuns (8-10, 1-1 SBC) who had three triples in a game for the first time since the 2016 season. Louisiana scored all 11 runs in the game with two outs.
Sophomore Jack Buck notched his second victory of the year limiting the Eagles (8-11, 1-1 SBC) to two runs on five hits in 7.0 innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Georgia Southern starter Seth Shuman was tagged with the loss after surrendering a career-high seven runs on 12 hits in 6.0 innings of work.
LEADING THE CAJUNS
Kole McKinnon led the way with a career-best three hits including a triple and drove in two runs. Daniel Lahare, Hunter Kasuls, Kennon Fontenot, Hayden Cantrelle and Luke Coker each had a pair of hits in the win, while Kasuls had a career-high three RBI on a triple and a double.
Freshman Austin Perrin tossed two scoreless innings in relief scattering three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Jeddediah Fagg brought home a run on a safety squeeze.
After two scoreless innings, the Cajuns exploded for five runs on six hits to take a 5-1 advantage. A two-run single by Fontenot and a two-run triple by Marco Ramos highlighted the scoring in the inning.
Kasuls tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth with a two-run triple to right centerfield to make the score 7-1.
The Ragin' Cajuns put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh on a two-run triple to right centerfield by McKinnon to take a 9-1 edge.
The Cajuns picked up their final runs of the game in the top of the eighth as Cantrelle and Gavin Bourgeois came home to score on an error.
UP NEXT
Louisiana and Georgia Southern close out the series tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT with the rubber match at J.I. Clements Stadium. Senior left-hander Colten Schmidt will make the start for the Ragin' Cajuns, while freshman right-hander David Johnson will take the bump for the Eagles.
Coastal Defeats Arkansas State, 26-14
JONESBORO, Ark. - Coastal Carolina scored in its first eight innings, including a 10-run fourth, and Kevin Woodall Jr., hit two home runs with six RBI and tied a CCU record with five runs scored to defeat Arkansas State 26-14 Saturday night at Tomlinson Stadium/Kell Field.
The 30th-ranked Chanticleers improve to 14-7 overall, 2-0 in the Sun Belt while the Red Wolves drop to 8-7, 0-2. Due to the threat of rain, Sunday's series finale will now start at Noon (CT)/1 pm (ET).
In the high-scoring game,
• The 26 runs by CCU is its fifth-most in school history and its most since winning at Charleston Southern 29-13 on Mar. 20, 2010.
• The CCU record for runs in a game was a 36-3 win over Stony Brook on Mar. 6, 2009, followed by a 29-1 win over Voorhees on Mar. 25, 1982 and a 28-4 win over St. Mary's on Feb. 27, 1996.
• The 26 runs by CCU is the most Arkansas State has ever allowed.
• The last time CCU had a double-digit scoring inning was also scoring 10 in the fourth versus Stony Brook in the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional in a 25-7 win on June 6, 2010.
• The 12 walks by Chanticleer pitchers tied a CCU record (marking the fourth time it has happened).
• The 18 walks by Red Wolves pitchers set an A-State record.
• The 30 combined walks ties for the second-most in a game in NCAA history.
• Woodall tied a CCU record with five runs scored, being the fifth Chant to do so. Ironically, the last player to do so was Rico Noel in that 29-13 win at Charleston Southern in 2010.
• Lee Sponseller and Zach Biermann each scored four runs.
• It marked the second time this season (and his career) Woodall had six RBI in a game.
• Kieton Rivers had a career-high five RBI.
• Kyle Skeels was 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored.
• Seth Lancaster, Biermann, Sponseller and Keaton Weisz each walked three times.
Lost in the box score is the fact that Patrick Orlando improved to 2-0, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and two walks. Also, Trevor Damron earned his first collegiate save as he worked the final four innings. While he did allow nine hits and seven runs (six earned) with three walks, he struck out a season-high eight.
The Chants grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to a Woodall line drive home run to left field.
A-State answered with five runs in the bottom of the first. Drew Tipton drew a leadoff walk, Tobias Johnson singled and Grant Hawkins loaded the bases with a walk. Kyle MacDonald brought the three runners home with a double to the right-center field gap. The Red Wolves after a walk and hit batter. Andrew Lannon then walked to force home MacDonald. Tipton hit a slow roller to second to score Logan Anderson.
Coastal bounced back in the second inning with two runs to make the score 5-3. Skeels had a leadoff single and Sponseller walked. After Rivers' team-leading fifth sacrifice bunt, Chavers doubled off the right field fence to plate both Skeels and Sponseller. Chavers finished the evening going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Woodall was responsible for another run in the third. The senior walked to start the frame and moved to third on a Biermann single. Skeels followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Woodall to cut the CCU deficit to one, 5-4.
Coastal scored for the fourth time in four innings, this time matching a feat that had not been done since the 2010 NCAA Regional as the Chants scored 10 runs in the inning. Chavers drew a leadoff walk and tied the game, 5-5, on a Weisz double down the left field line. Weisz now has 15 hits this season with seven being doubles. Lancaster walked and stole second to set-up Woodall's three-run home run to put the Chants up 8-5. Zach Biermann and Skeels followed with singles and CCU loaded the bases on a Sponseller walk. Rivers accounted for the fifth and sixth runs on the inning on a two-run single. Chavers walked, as did Weisz, Lancaster and Wood, the last three forcing in runs. The last run came when Weisz crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Sponseller made it five straight innings with at least a run as he hit a solo home run for his second four-bagger of the year.
The Red Wolves snapped a four-inning dry spell with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 15-7. Caleb Squire walked to start the home half and Casey Vaughan walked. Lannon loaded the bases with a walk. Tipton plated Squire with a single to center. While Johnson fouled out, the ball was deep enough to allow Vaughan to tag and score.
Coastal got those two runs back, plus one, to push its advantage to 18-7. With bases loaded and two outs, Rivers hit a three-run double to left-center field.
However, two doubles and a single led the three runs in the bottom of the sixth as CCU's lead was cut to eight, 18-10. Jeremy Brown doubled and scored on an Anderson single. Squire followed with a double to drive in Anderson. After a passed ball, Squire scored on an RBI ground out by Jaylon Deshazier.
The Chants piled on six more runs in the top of the seventh, thanks to a two-run single by Woodall, to lead 24-10. A-State would go away, scoring two in the bottom of the seventh.
Both teams scored two runs in the eighth to provide the 26-14 final score.