SUN BELT
ARKANSAS STATE 9,
TEXAS STATE 6
Texas State scored all of its runs in the fourth inning Saturday, but Arkansas State (24-25, 11-15 Sun Belt) came back to score three runs each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro for the victory.
The Bobcats (26-25, 13-13) did their damage in the fourth inning with two outs. Theodore Hoffman walked to start the rally, then advanced to second on Dylan Paul's single. Luke Sherley was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Nick Perez drew a four-pitch walk from ASU starter Peyton Culbertson, who was replaced by Tyler Zuber. Mickey Scott singled and advanced to third on an error by ASU right fielder Ty White. That error allowed three runs to score and gave Texas State a 4-0 lead. Scott scored on a throwing error by second baseman Jeremy Brown for a 5-0 lead. Cody Lovejoy singled to right, stole second and scored on Jonathan Ortega's single for a 6-0 lead.
Jake Bakamus hit a three-run home run for the Red Wolves to cut the lead to 6-3 in the sixth inning. Joe Schrimpf singled to center field to start the seventh for ASU. He scored on Garrett Rucker's triple to left-center field. Rucker scored when Tanner Ring reached on an error by Sherley, cutting the lead to 6-5. Ring advanced to second on Austin Baker's groundout and moved to third on a passed ball. He then scored on a triple from Matt Burgess to tie the game at 6-6.
Bakamus struck out to start the eighth inning for ASU and White walked. He scored on Schrimpf's double to center field, giving the Red Wolves a 7-6 lead. Rucker walked and Ring struck out swinging. Schrimpf and Rucker scored on Baker's double down the right field line for ASU's final two runs.
Schrimpf went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI for ASU, while Bakamus was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and Baker was 3 for 5 with 2 RBI. Paul and Scott were both 2 for 4 to lead Texas State.
Zuber (5-3) got the victory after allowing 2 earned runs on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts in 51/3 innings. Pasquale Mazzoccoli (0-4) took the loss after allowing ASU's 3 runs in the eighth inning. He also had 4 strikeouts and 2 walks in 12/3 innings.
UALR 16,
LOUISIANA-MONROE 0
UALR (24-23, 15-11) scored six runs in the fourth inning and seven in the fifth and clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament for the first time since 2013 after beating Louisiana-Monroe (20-31, 10-16) at Warhawk Field in Monroe, La.
Nik Gifford flied out to start the fourth for the Trojans. Tyler Gunter walked and Jonathan Davis singled through the left side. Zach Baker hit an RBI double to left field to score Gunter, then Davis scored on Kyle Kirk's single to left-center field for a 2-0 lead. Hunter Owens walked, which chased Warhawks pitcher Brayden Bouchey. Chris Hunt replaced him and gave up a three-run triple to Hayden Martin, who scored on Ryan Scott's RBI groundout for a 6-0 lead.
Gifford walked to start the fifth and advanced to third on Gunter's single through the right side. He then scored on a wild pitch. Davis walked and Hunt was replaced by Josh Leone. Baker reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners at first and third with one out. Kirk followed with an RBI single to increase the lead to 7-0. Owens was hit by a pitch and Leone was lifted for Trey Auger. After Martin was ruled out on an infield fly, Scott reached on a fielding error by ULM first baseman Will Daniels and advanced to second. That error allowed Kirk and Baker to score for a 9-0 lead. Daltan Thomas followed with a grand slam to left field for a 13-0 lead.
Baker hit a home run to left field in the sixth for UALR, which added two more runs in the seventh on an RBI double from Thomas and an RBI single from Davis. Gifford scored in the ninth on a wild pitch.
Gunter was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored to lead the Trojans, while Thomas was 3 for 6 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored and Baker was 2 for 6 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored. Cory Malcom (5-4) threw a complete-game three-hitter for the victory. He also had nine strikeouts and allowed two walks. Bouchey (5-3) took the loss after allowing 5 earned runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts over 31/3 innings.
SOUTHLAND
McNEESE STATE 5,
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3
Outfielder Matt Gallier was 3 for 3 with 4 RBI and 1 run scored to lead McNeese State (25-22, 14-15) over Central Arkansas (24-24, 13-13) and force today's rubber match in the series at Joe Miller Ballpark in Lake Charles, La.
Gallier hit a two-out, two-run single in the first inning to give the Cowboys an early 2-0 lead, then added a home run in the fifth and had an RBI single in the seventh. Lewis Guilbeau also had an RBI double in the fourth inning. Brandon Montalvo hit a home run to lead off the seventh inning for UCA, which got two more runs in the eighth when both Montalvo and Chris Townsend reached on consecutive fielder's choices.
Guilbeau was 3 for 5 for McNeese State, while Ricky Ramirez was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored. Brooks Ballisterri and Matt Anderson were both 2 for 4 to lead UCA, which managed just 6 hits. Ethan Stremmel (4-1) threw a complete-game six hitter for the victory. He also had seven strikeouts and two walks. Connor Gilmore (2-8) took the loss after allowing all 5 McNeese State runs on 8 hits with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts over 61/3 innings.
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports on 05/15/2016