SFA Takes Rubber Game Against Trojans

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A 5-2 loss by Little Rock baseball gave Stephen F. Austin the series win in Sunday afternoon's rubber game at Jaycees Field.
 
Dalton Thomas was a perfect 2 for 2 at the plate with an RBI and a walk. Zach Baker went 1 for 3 with a triple, a run and a walk. Riley Pittman had the Trojans' only other base hit as he came on to pinch hit.
 
The game began with three scoreless innings in which only one SFA hit occurred. Zach Baker earned the Trojans' first hit of the game in the top of the fourth with a leadoff triple to left center. A deep sacrifice fly to the warning track in left by Dalton Thomas scored Baker and broke up the shutout.
 
The Lumberjacks responded in the bottom half of the inning by going up 3-1. SFA rattled off four hits, walked twice and was hit by a pitch. Little Rock went to the bullpen twice in the inning, but reliever Dylan Slayton stopped the bleeding as he got the ground out with bases loaded to end the inning.
 
Stephen F. Austin continued the charge in the bottom of the fifth. After a double and a throwing error put runners on the corners, Alex Hrinevich hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Zac Michener for the Lumberjacks' fourth run. A single by Josh Evans forced Little Rock to go to the bullpen once again as Preston Oberling came on. Oberling was effective as he got a fielder's choice and a pop up to end the bottom frame.
 
The Trojans cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the sixth. With bases loaded, Hunter Owens hit an RBI ground out to second as Christian Reyes came home. Little Rock left runners in scoring position as a strikeout end the frame.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Stephen F. Austin upped its lead to 5-2. After a leadoff walk and a ground out, an RBI double by Evans scored Gavin Gregory.
 
SFA loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with one out, but it hit a wall when Reed Willenborg came on and got a line out to third and a ground out to short.
 
Despite the defensive stop, Little Rock's offense had nothing left in the tank for SFA closer Tyler Starks as he picked up his third save of the season with three strikeouts.
 
Trojan starter Chandler Fidel (1-2) took the loss in 3.1 innings of work while Lumberjack starter Patrick Ledet (1-2) earned the win in 5.1 innings.
 
Little Rock will now make the short trip to Conway on Tuesday night for the first game of the Rock 'n' Roar Rivalry at Central Arkansas. First Pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., at Bear Stadium.