FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Texas State 6, Houston 0
HOUSTON, Texas – Kyle Livingstone hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth to give Texas State a four-run cushion, and the Bobcats closed out Friday night’s home opener against the Houston Cougars with a 6-0 victory at Cougar Field.
Texas State takes a 1-0 start to the season and takes its ninth overall win over the Houston ball club.
Livingstone, alongside Jason Martinson, Jordan Kopycinski and Kyle Kubitza combined for Texas State five hits. Kubitza went 2-for-4 with a single RBI to lead the team.
Michael Russo pitched 6.0 innings to pick up the opening-night win for the Bobcats. Russo allowed just four hits and struck out four batters, as well.
In the top of the fifth, Texas State put a mark on the board when Kubitza opened the inning with a single to left field. The sophomore moved to second base after Houston starter Michael Goodnight balked, but was nearly left stranded after the next two Bobcats were retired off strikes. Goodnight hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and walked another to advance Kubitza to third base and load the bases.
William Kankel replaced the starter on the mound, but walked in a pair of runs before the innings was over to give Texas State the lead.
On two outs in the following frame, Livingstone notched his first homer of the season and knocked in Kubitza, who doubled to left center to reach base, to push the Bobcats ahead, 4-0. Texas State tacked on its final run of the game in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout from Daniel Neumann.
Carson Smith relieved Russo in the final three frames, allowed the Cougars two hits and struck out three in his 11 batters faced.
Houston committed four errors in the game, and Goodnight was handed the loss.
Tomorrow’s game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start at Cougar Field. Right-handed senior Garret Carruth is set to take the mound for the Bobcats, and will be facing off against southpaw Ty Stuckey.
Stephen F. Austin 9, Grambling 4
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Lumberjacks jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and got six strong innings from Tyler Herriage in taking a 9-4 win over Grambling on Friday at Jaycees Field.
The win was the first for SFA (1-0) on Opening Day since it beat Arkansas-Little Rock to open the 2006 season. The ‘Jacks pounded out 14 hits on the day, including a 4-for-5 day from Tanner Hines who also crossed home plate three times on the afternoon. Herriage captured the win with 6.0 innings of work in which he gave up just a single run and struck out eight Tigers (0-1).
Hines was not the only one getting into the act, however, as eight ‘Jacks registered at least one hit. Darren Crabtree and Jarid Scarafiotti each finished 2-for-4 on the afternoon while Bobby Loveless and Ryan Priest each cranked solo home runs for SFA.
After the Tigers squeaked across a run in the top of the first SFA was able to quickly get it back off of Turner on a two-out single from Scarafiotti that plated Hines. One inning later Priest led off with a solo shot to left field that gave SFA its first lead and Garrett Smith added some insurance four batters later with an RBI single that scored Michael Haynes to push the lead to 3-1 after two innings.
Loveless then got into the act with a one-out solo home run in the third and pushed the lead to 6-1 in the fourth with an RBI single up the middle that scored Hines for the second time.
Herriage continued to cruise through the sixth before being lifted for Brett Rogers, who pitched a perfect seventh inning before Jeremy Shelby touched him up for a three-run home run in the eighth that cut the lead to just two runs at 6-4.
But the ‘Jacks added some more cushion in the bottom of the eighth on RBI from Crabtree and Scarafiotti before Landon Kozeny came on to get the final three outs, including a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
SFA and Grambling will square off again at 2 p.m. on Saturday with Jared West slated to get the ball for SFA.
Central Arkansas 14, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 8
CONWAY, Ark. – Central Arkansas opened the 2010 baseball season with an offensive explosion Friday afternoon, downing Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 14-8, before an opening day crowd of 356.
UCA piled up 17 hits, including four each from senior shortstop Bobby Pritchett and freshman designated hitter Ethan Harris. The Bears scored a combined eight runs in the first three innings, survived a lull in the middle innings, then exploded for five more runs in the eighth to put the game away. Senior lefthander Brandon Solberg came on in relief and went 4.1 innings for the victory.
Pritchett went 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored, while Harris was 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored in his first career game.
The Cougars collected 11 hits, including home runs from Adam Eggemeyer and Zach Hawkins. A sophomore third baseman, Hawkins was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Eggemeyer’s leadoff home run to right field. The Bears then jumped on SIU-Edwardsville starter Josh Malin for three runs in the bottom of the first.
Chase Huchingson led off the inning with a single through the right side. Harris doubled to the gap in left center to score Huchingson. Catcher Michael Pair sent Harris to third with a single through the right side. Blake Roberts hit into a fielder’s choice that brought in Harris for a 2-1 lead for the Bears. Clay Washington made it 3-1 with a double off the top of the fence in left center.
UCA got four more runs in the second when Zack Dickson singled and went to third on Pritchett’s double to right center. Both runners scored when Harris singled to left for a 5-1 lead. Roberts then tripled over the SIU-Edwardsville center fielder’s head to bring in two more runs.
The Cougars got two runs in the top of the third but UCA answered with another run in the bottom of the frame when Jake Fuller had a leadoff double and scored on Pritchett’s single to center field.
SIU-Edwardsville closed the gap to 8-7 with a single run in the fourth and three more in the fifth. The Bears added a single run in the bottom of the fifth on Michael Pair’s RBI single that scored Pritchett. The Bears broke it open with a five-run eighth, led by a two-run single from Pritchett. Kyle Prevett also walked with the bases loaded for a run and Greg Noble’s ground out scored another. Harris singled up the middle to make it 14-8.
Solberg, who struck out three and walked two, allowed two base runners in the top of the ninth but ended it with a groundout. UCA starter Reece Cross went four innings, striking out four. Pair was the only other UCA player with multiple hits, finishing 3-for-6.
UCA hosts Creighton at 4 p.m. Saturday, then takes on SIU-Edwardsville again at Sunday at 1 p.m.
Lamar 4, Maine 2
BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar went hitless for the first four innings Friday night then rallied for a 4-2 victory over Maine in a season-opening game marred by a 45-minute delay caused by a temporary power outage.
The Cardinals were leading 4-1 in the middle of the sixth inning when the umpires, coaches and school officials decided to suspend the game as electrical workers prepared to repair a loose connection in a nearby transformer.
Many in the Vincent-Beck Stadium crowd of 542 sat in near pitch darkness while the crew completed the needed repair work. After play resumed at 8:50 p.m., relief pitchers Garrett Steward and Cory Holly came to the rescue of starter Eric Harrington by combining to hold the Black Bears to a lone run over the final three innings.
Maine’s starting pitcher Matt Jebb held the Cardinals hitless through the first four innings, and the Black Bears pushed across a fourth inning run to give him a 1-0 lead.
Coach Jim Gilligan’s Cardinals broke through with a four-run fifth inning, however, as Clayton Farhat, Pablo Salinas and Quentin Luquette rapped singles to go along with a pinch-hit double by Cameron Campbell. Salinas’ single drove in pinch-runner Kevin Roebuck with the Cardinals’ first run of the single, while Salinas scored the second on a sacrifice fly by Aaron Buchan. Luquette’s single to right field pushed across Campbell with the inning’s third run.
The Cardinals added their final run moments before play was suspended as Anthony Moore led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to centerfield and came around to score on a double to right field by Wade Mathis.
Maine notched its run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Tyler Patzalek.
Harrington, a sophomore right-hander, allowed three hits and the lone Black Bear run over six innings. He struck out five and walked three.
Holly worked the final two innings to earn the save. He gave up one hit and did not walk a batter.
The teams will complete the three-game series with a Saturday doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.
Southeastern Louisiana 6, Eastern Illinois 5
HAMMOND, La. – With the bases loaded and two out, Cody Gougler singled to right center to bring home Matt Fowler, and give the Southeastern Louisiana baseball team a 6-5 victory over Eastern Illinois on opening night of the 2010 season. The Lions needed five runs in the final two innings to get the job done.
The teams played scoreless baseball until the sixth inning, when they traded runs. Eastern Illinois opened things up when Ben Thoma singled in Zach Borenstein in the top half of the frame. Southeastern countered in the bottom half, as Gougler grounded out to score Josh Cryer.
Then the Panthers put together a huge seventh inning, plating three runs, all unearned. Gerik Wallsten executed a sacrifice bunt to score Shawn Ferguson. That was followed by a Daniel Rowe single, which brought home Curt Restko. Rowe advanced to third on an error. He would score when Cam Strang reached base on another Lion error, one of seven on the night.
Eastern Illinois padded its lead in the top of the eighth inning with another unearned run, as a Restko sacrifice fly to center allowed Richie Durbak to come home. Derbak had reached on a single, then advanced to second on an error and to third on a wild pitch.
Southeastern started to step up on offense in the bottom of the eighth. Jeff Harkensee led off with a home run to right. After Josh Cryer accepted his second hit by pitch of the evening, Justin Boudreaux doubled him home. Two batters later, pinch hitter Chad Livingston singled in Boudreaux.
In the ninth inning, Philip Freeman drew a one out walk. Harkensee then continued his huge night with a single to move Freeman to third. Clean-up hitter Cryer laid down a sacrifice bunt after that, but in an attempt to deny the tying run, Eastern Illinois pitcher Matt Miller tossed the ball to the plate, and Freeman was able to slide under catcher Wallsten’s tag. Two batters later, Gougler provided the previously mentioned drama to clinch victory.
The second game of the series is Saturday at 2 p.m. at Alumni Field.
McNeese State 7, Valparaiso 6
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Matt Fontenot knocked in Mace Hebert and Jace Peterson with a walk off double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give McNeese State a 7-6 season opening baseball victory over Valparaiso Friday night.
The Cowboys scored six runs in the final two innings to come from behind after Valparaiso had taking a 5-0 lead after four and a half innings.
The teams play again on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Jaden Dillon who came on to hurl the final five innings for the Cowboys claimed the victory, giving up only one hit and one run while striking out four. Matt Click had started the game for McNeese but gave up six hits and five runs in four innings.
Valparaiso used three pitchers in the game and the loss went to reliever Jarad Miller who pitched only two-thirds of an inning, giving up three hits and both runs in the bottom of the ninth.
McNeese had nine hits in the game and Valparaiso seven. No Cowboy got more than one hit and the team’s extra base hits were the double by Fontenot and a triple by Andy Riche’ that drove in three runs in the eighth inning.
Valparaiso scored five of its six runs in the first five innings, one coming on the game’s only home run, a solo blast by Ryan O’Gara in the first inning.
The first Cowboy run was scored in the fourth with Bryn Thompson singling in Lee Orr who had opened up the inning with a walk.
Riche’ triple plated three of the Cowboy four runs in the eighth and the other run in that inning came on a single by Blake Ellender to score Riche’.
In the bottom of the ninth, Jace Peterson started things off with a single for the Cowboys and after Orr grounded out, Seth Granger was hit by a pitch and replaced by Mace Hebert. Fontenot then belted what was called a ground rule double as the ball went under the right-field fence and it scored both Peterson and Hebert.
Lefthander Tyler Davis is slated to start Saturday’s game for the Cowboys.
No. 11 TCU 4, Sam Houston State 0
FORT WORTH, Texas – Junior Dallas Gallant held No. 11 TCU to four hits in six innings while giving up only two unearned runs to highlight action for Sam Houston State as the Bearkats fell to the Horned Frogs 4-0 in the opening baseball game of the season.
Gallant struck four of the 24 batters he faced. Justin Jackson finished the game for Sam Houston. TCU ended the evening with seven hits while the Bearkats collected six.
Ryan Mooney went 2-for-2 to lead the Kats at the plate. Taylor Davis produced a double and Braeden Riley, Tyler Fiebrich and Mark Hudson picked up the other hits for Sam Houston.
The Horned Frogs scored unearned runs in both the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. Left fielder Jason Coats singled, moved to third on a passed ball and stole home for TCU’s first run. Second baseman Jerome Pena singled and later scored on a throwing error.
TCU’s two earned runs came in the bottom of the eighth inning as third baseman Davy Weik had an RBI double and first baseman Matt Curry produced a run-scoring single.
Sam Houston and TCU will meet in two more games this weekend with the pair playing at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. SHSU student radio 90.5 the Kat will broadcast both games live.
Dallas Baptist 13, UT Arlington 2
ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington lost its season opener 13-2 to No. 40 Dallas Baptist on Friday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark. The Patriots had four players hit home runs, keeping the Mavericks from tying a school record with three consecutive Opening Day victories.
UT Arlington plated the first runs of the game on a pair of wild pitches in the third inning. The Patriots answered with six runs (four unearned) in the top of the fourth. Dallas Baptist sent 10 batters to the plate as they posted four hits and capitalized on a dropped fly ball by left fielder Bryant Lopez.
UT Arlington starter Jason Mitchell took the loss allowing seven hits and six runs in 4.0 innings of work while striking out four. Brandon Williamson collected the win for Dallas Baptist after throwing 6.0 innings and allowing five hits and two runs with four strikeouts. Jared Stafford pitched the game’s final three innings and struck out four while earning the save.
The Patriots had at least one base hit in every inning but the fifth inning while six players finished with a multi-hit game. Austin Knight (2-for-3, two RBI), Ryan Enos (2-for-5, HR, two RBI) and Tyler Robbins (3-for-5, RBI) were among the top hitters for Dallas Baptist.
Junior shortstop Jesse Payne went 2-for-4 in his first NCAA Division I game and was the only Maverick with a multi-hit game. Michael Choice went 1-for-4 with a single through the left side in the third inning.
UT Arlington and Dallas Baptist will close their weekend series with a doubleheader at Patriot Field Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
No. 21 Southern Mississippi 11, Northwestern State 0
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Northwestern State opened the 2010 season on Friday afternoon by being blanked by the 21st-ranked Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, 11-0, at Pete Taylor Park.
The Golden Eagles (1-0), a participant in last year’s College World Series, got a stellar performance from All-American starting pitcher Todd McInnis, who hurled six shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out nine.
The Demons (0-1) did not collect their first hit until the sixth inning when center fielder Oscar Garcia slapped one through the right side to halt the no-hit bid.
Northwestern State got its only other hit with one out in the ninth inning when second baseman Chris Hebert singled to center field.
Demon starting pitcher Ryan Zimmerman took the loss after he gave up six runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched. He walked one and struck out two.
“It was a very frustrating first day,” third-year coach J.P. Davis said. “We were very uncharacteristic of what we’ve been all spring. I was very surprised by Ryan’s performance. He did a good job of getting ahead of their batters, but couldn’t put them away. Six of their nine hits against him were on two strikes.”
Michael Ocamp was the first Northwestern reliever to hit the mound and he gave up five runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Mathias Simmons and Troy Remedies combined to throw the final 2.1 innings and allowing no runs and just three hits.
Southern Miss put 17 hits up on the board and led by designated hitter Adam Doleac who went 2 for 2 with a home run, a triple, five RBI and a run scored. It was his two-run homer in the bottom of the first that led to a 4-run, 2-out inning for the Golden Eagles.
Doleac was at it again in the sixth when he plated two runs on a 2-out triple.
Southern Miss put the game away in the sixth with five runs to make it 11-0.
“Their runs came in bunches,” Davis said. “We did a poor job of limiting the big inning. But we’ll get better.”
The three-game series continues on Saturday with the Demons likely to start junior college transfer Luke Irvine on the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette 6, Nicholls 2
LAFAYETTE, La. – After a seven-inning pitcher’s duel, Louisiana-Lafayette rallied to defeat Nicholls 6-2 in the 2010 season opener for both teams.
Early on, the Colonels (0-1) had the advantage as senior left hander Jarret Dunnam handcuffed the Ragin’ Cajuns through 5.0 innings. Dunnam retired 12 of the first 14 batters he faced, allowing just two hits and stranding both runners through the first four frames.
The Colonels jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning after junior designated hitter Sam Konnoff started a two-out rally by reaching and advancing to second base on a throwing error. Senior second baseman Brady Bourque (who went 2-for-4 on the night) followed with a single to right-center to score Konnoff. The first RBI of the season put Nicholls up 1-0 after two.
Unfortunately for the Colonels, Cajun starter Zach Osborne was nearly as steady as Dunnam. Osborne allowed just three more hits during his 6.0 innings of work and pitched out of jams by stranding runners in scoring position in the third and fifth innings.
Ultimately, the Cajuns would tie things up on a two-out rally of their own. After consecutive two-out singles, UL-Lafayette took advantage of back-to-back walks from Dunnam to load the bases, and then walk in the tying run. Dunnam would regain his composure by inducing a ground-out to short to end the inning with the bases loaded and limit the damage to one run in his final inning of work.
After both teams traded zeroes in the sixth, and both starters exited the game, the Colonels got to work against the Cajun bullpen in the seventh. Kasey Culverson drew a leadoff walk and Bear Comer reached on an error.
Tristan Rogers followed by laying down a sacrifice bunt. However, the Cajuns tried to retire Culverson at third, but the Colonel right fielder beat the throw and the bases were loaded.
Chase Jaramillo followed with a run-scoring double play that plated Culverson and staked Nicholls to a 2-1 lead, but the Colonels couldn’t muster any more than that heading into the stretch.
Senior right hander Drew Erwin came on in relief of Dunnam and delivered 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to send it into the eighth with the Colonels up by one, but the Cajuns struck with a big eighth inning.
UL-Lafayette strung together three hits and took advantage of a Colonel error and a hit-by-pitch to plate five runs in the eighth and take the lead for good. A two-run double by Matt Goulas was the biggest blow.
The Colonels will try to rebound on Saturday when they return to M.L. Tigue Moore Field for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch. Junior left hander Clint Dempster is scheduled to take the hill for the Colonels.
Prairie View at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Postponed
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – With wet weather making the baseball diamond at Chapman Field at unplayable, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi has rescheduled Friday’s season opener with Prairie View as part of a Saturday doubleheader. The first game will begin at 11 a.m. with the second game to follow, conditions permitting.
