SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (10-41, 6-23) won game two of their final conference series of the season as they defeated the Sacramento State Hornets (24-28, 12-14) by a final score of 7-5 in a late Saturday evening matchup, thanks to five solo home runs from the Lumberjacks lineup.
The Lumberjacks evening got started with a bang as Cole Hill would hit a leadoff home run on a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for his seventh home run of the season to put SFA ahead 1-0 early. The Lumberjacks bats stayed hot in the top of the second as they would hit back-to-back home runs to begin the second inning with more offensive fireworks. Cal Martin would lead off the top of the second by crushing a ball to center field for his sixth home run of the campaign to push SFA ahead 2-0. Tom Biggs would follow suit of Martin by hitting his fifth home run of the season to deep right-center to stake SFA to an early 3-0 lead. The Hornets would push across a pair of runs in the bottom of the second to cut the SFA lead to 3-2 after two full innings.
SFA would get a run back in the top of the third as Colton Griffin would draw a five-pitch walk and later advance to third on an error, before coming around to score on a Peyton Parker sacrifice fly to left field to put SFA ahead 4-2 after three full innings. Tom Biggs would keep swinging a hot bat in the top of the fourth as Biggs would drive a ball to right field for his second home run of the game and sixth of the season to reclaim the three-run lead for SFA at 5-2. The Hornets would respond with a run of their own to cut the ‘Jacks lead down to two runs at 5-3 after four full innings. SFA would add another run in the seventh as Colton Griffin collected his second double of the game with one out and came around to score on a Brock Knoerr RBI single to regain the three-run lead for the ‘Jacks at 6-3 after seven innings.
Sacramento State would add a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to trim the SFA lead down to 6-5, however, the Lumberjacks would continue their power hitting as in the top of the ninth, Dylan Bourgeois launched his second home run of the season over the right field wall to give SFA a critical insurance run and extend the SFA lead to 7-5. The Hornets would threaten in the bottom of the ninth with a pair of runners on base, however, Reid Boyett would lock down the win for SFA by striking out the final batter for Sacramento State.
SFA’s power was on full display in game two of the series as four different Lumberjacks hit solo home runs in this one. Tom Biggs (2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR) crushed a pair of solo bombs, while Cole Hill (1-5, R, RBI, HR), Cal Martin (2-4, R, RBI, HR), and Dylan Bourgeois (1-4, R, RBI, HR) all joined in the home run party with solo bombs of their own. Meanwhile, Brock Knoerr (1-4, RBI) drove in Colton Griffin (2-4, 2 R, BB, 2 2B) for the eventual winning run for SFA. Elian Balmaceda (2-6) took the win on the mound for the Lumberjacks, while Reid Boyett pitched 4.2 innings to lock down his first save of the season.
The Lumberjacks will be back in action tomorrow, May 12th for the rubber match against the Hornets in the series finale. First pitch for tomorrow’s game is set for 2:00 p.m. CST. You can watch all the action on ESPN+ as well as follow along with all the action on social media or with live stats through the SFA Athletics website.
By: Peter Trainor, Student Assistant for Strategic Communications