Box Score

The Patriots Baseball Team fell to 6-7 on the road with a 13-5 loss to Stephen F. Austin University on Wednesday afternoon in Nacogdoches, Texas .  DBU's pitching staff allowed 14 hits, walked eight Lumberjacks, and allowed 13 earned runs, including five of the eight batters that walked scored.  With the loss DBU fell to 16-13, while SFA evened up their record at 14-14. 

The Lumberjacks started out fast in the bottom of the first inning after designated hitter Noel Trevino walked, which brought up Steven Hill, who hit his tenth homerun of the year to give SFA a 2-0 lead.

SFA added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning when they ran DBU's starting pitcher, Jereme Wilson from the game.  Zach Gardner started the rally when he drew a walk and scored off a RBI triple by Trevino, who scored on a single by Justin Pitts.  The Lumberjacks managed to push one more run across the board after they loaded the bases on a sacrifice fly.  With runners on second and third base, SFA's catcher Ryan Sinclair smashed a double to right center field, which allowed two runs to score.  Sinclair then stole third and scored the sixth run of the inning of a single by Justin Roland, which brought the score to 8-0 after three.

The Patriots broke up SFA's starter's perfect game in the top of the fourth inning when Freshman Austin Knight drew a walk and scored off a two out RBI double by Sophomore Evan Bigley.  With Bigley at second base, Senior Matt Tucker drove a pitch into right field for another two out RBI hit, which cut the Lumberjacks lead to 8-2. 

The Lumberjacks answered right back in the bottom half of the fourth inning, pushing their lead to 10-2 when they managed to get three of their first four hitters on base.  They then scored two runs off an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, ending Freshman Ryan Millard's day, who pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits.

SFA continued to run away with the game in bottom of the fifth inning when they loaded the bases on relieve pitcher Junior Wayne Dowling.  Dowling gave up a RBI sacrifice fly to get two outs in the inning but then gave way to Freshman Ryan Goins, who allowed a two out two RBI single, giving the Lumberjacks a 13-2 lead. 

The Patriots manufactured their third run of the game when Junior Austin Krum led the top of the sixth inning off with his team leading sixth triple of the season.  Krum then scored on a ground out by Knight. 

DBU scored one run in the top of the seventh to cut the Lumberjacks lead to 13-4.  Tucker led off the inning with a single, advanced to second off a single by Freshman Ryan Enos, and scored off a RBI single by Sophomore Trevor Head.

Senior Garrett Baker led off the top of the eighth inning with a single and advanced to third off of Bigley's second double of the game.  Baker then scored on a wild pitch with Enos at the plate, while Bigley was able to advance to third base.  The Patriots were not able to score Bigley, leaving him on base, which made the score 13-5.  

Picking up the loss for DBU was Wilson, who fell to 2-4 after going 2.2 innings and allowing eight runs on five hits.  Jason Leonhardt picked up the victory and improved to 1-1 on the season for the Lumberjacks.

Tucker, who extended his current hitting streak to 11 games, led DBU at the plate with a two for four day, including scoring one run and driving in one.  Bigley also had two hits in four at bats, including two doubles and an RBI.

The Patriots will look to jump back from the tough loss on Friday, March 30, when the travel to Ruston, LA to take on Louisiana Tech at 6:00.