Stephen F. Austin vs Seattle University
ST. GEORGE, UT – Stephen F. Austin defeated Utah Tech 13-10 in ten innings to win their third straight game and take the first game of the weekend series. The Lumberjacks improve to 9-12 (WAC 3-4) while the Trailblazers fall to 7-16 (WAC 2-2).
Last week’s WAC Hitter of the Week, Cal Martin, picked up right where he left off with an RBI single in the first inning and then a two-run home run in the third inning to score three of the first four Lumberjack runs. Right before Martin’s home run in the top of the third, Julian Thompson knocked out the first home run of the game to lead the inning off.
After holding the Trailblazers hitless in the first three innings, Utah Tech picked up their first hit of the game in a big way in the fourth inning, driving a home run over the left center wall, making the score 4-1 after four innings.
Peyton Parker joined the home run party the next inning, crushing a solo shot over the Utah Tech left-fielder. Following another single from Martin and a Tom Biggs’ double, Cole Hill kept the scoring going with a double to right field, brining in both Martin and Biggs. Cody Fleischer kept the line moving with a single to center field, scoring Hill and giving SFA a 8-1 going into the bottom of the fifth.
Skip AdThe Trailblazers’ bats started to come alive in the following innings as a three-run homer in the fifth, a two-run homer in the sixth, and a solo homer in the seventh quickly took away the Lumberjack’s comfortable lead of seven runs to just one. Utah Tech completed their comeback in the bottom of the eighth when they placed runners on first and third. An attempted double-steal for the Trailblazers went wrong for the Lumberjacks as an errant throw from behind the plate allowed the Trailblazer from third to score and tie the game at 8-8.
After a scoreless ninth inning, the first game between the Lumberjacks and Trailblazers was going into extras. The ‘Jacks were held hitless since their four-run fifth inning.
Following two quick outs to start the top of the tenth, the ‘Jacks loaded up the bases for Scout Sanders. Sanders drove a deep, playable, fly ball to left field that was dropped by the Utah Tech left-fielder, which allowed everyone on base to score and gave SFA the lead back at 11-8. The ‘Jacks continued to take advantage of the costly error as Parker drove in Sanders with an RBI single and Martin recorded his fourth hit and fourth RBI of the game with a double to right field.
The Trailblazers were able shorten the deficit with a two-run home run in the bottom of the tenth but nothing more as SFA held on for the 13-10 win. Tonight’s win marks their third straight conference win and fourth extra innings win of the year.
Martin led the offense tonight as he went 4-for-6 with four RBIs and two runs. Parker, Biggs, and Thompson all collected two hits on the night and each picked up at least one run. Alex Rodgers brought in the most Lumberjack runs with three.
Garrett Gearner picked up his third win of the year after coming into relief in the ninth inning and Benny Emmons III was awarded the save for closing out the game.