A ninth inning, game-tying rally wasn’t enough for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Stephen F. Austin defeated the UAPB baseball team 7-6 in Nacogdoches, Texas, in the second game of a four-game weekend series.
UAPB (0-5) trailed 6-0 after five innings before scoring a run each in the sixth and eighth innings.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, UAPB third baseman Jaylon Nauden hit an RBI single to score first baseman Brant Voth, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. The next at-bat, pinch hitter Ben VanMaanen hit a 3-run homer to tie the game.
Gavin Terry singled to get the go-ahead run on base, but SFA reliever Jonathan Valdez struck out Eli Gries-Smith to keep the game tied entering the bottom of the ninth.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
SFA (2-4) catcher Ethan Adkisson led off with a single. Pinch runner Ben Hoshizaki advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Julius Swift, then moved to third on a wild pitch.
Right fielder Cermodrick Bland walked it off with a two-out RBI single to score Hoshizaki and give the Lumberjacks a 2-0 lead in the four-game series.
Valdez (1-0) got the win for SFA after pitching the final third of an inning. He allowed 1 run on 2 hits with one strikeout. UAPB reliever Cole Kenyon (0-1) took the loss despite not being responsible for any runs since he gave up the game-winning hit after inheriting the runner. He pitched 0.2 innings and struck out one batter.
Both starters pitched five innings. UAPB starter Brendan Hamlin allowed 6 runs on eight hits with four walks and two strikeouts. SFA starter Dylan Mulcahy did not allow a run, giving up just one hit with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Nauden hit 3 for 4 with 3 runs and an RBI. SFA designated hitter Josh Ibe led the Lumberjacks with 2 RBI and 2 runs, both team highs, on 1 of 2 hitting. Adkisson and centerfielder River Curs each hit 3 for 4.
This was the first game of a scheduled Saturday doubleheader. The second game was postponed due to weather in the top of the fourth with SFA leading 9-0. That game will resume at 1 p.m. Sunday with the series finale to follow 45 minutes after its completion.