? Box score
NACOGDOCHES ? Stephen F. Austin scored just one run against UTSA starter Blake Brannon on Sunday, but Lance Luetge made it stand, as he tossed 8.1 shutout innings and the Lumberjacks won the rubber game of this weekend’s three-game series against the Roadrunners by a score of 1-0 at Jaycees Field.
UTSA dropped their first Southland Conference series of the year and fell to 24-17 overall and 14-4 in league play, while SFA improved to 23-19 and 10-8.
Brian Ferguson, who entered the contest just 1-for-24 (.042) this season, stroked a two-out double to left center that brought home Justin Long with the game’s lone run and it was all Luetge (6-2) from there.
The left-hander scattered five singles and struck out two as he pitched into the ninth. After he got junior Trent Lockwood to pop out to third to start the final frame, SFA head coach Donnie Watson called on Russ Fornea and the right-hander retired the final two hitters of the contest, including a game-ending strikeout of junior Zach Etheredge, to record his first career save.
Brannon (3-5) tossed his best game of the season. The senior right-hander went the distance, allowing the second-inning run on just three hits, while fanning four. He retired the final 10 hitters he faced and 14 of the last 15 overall.
The Roadrunners had several chances late in the game, as they led off the sixth, seventh and eighth innings with base hits, but Luetge was able to escape from each frame with no damage done. UTSA stranded six base runners in the contest.
Senior Ryan Saltzgaber went 2-for-4 to pace the Roadrunners offense. Junior Marshal Davis, Etheredge and redshirt freshman Tim Palincsar had UTSA’s other three hits on the day. Sophomore Michael Rockett was 0-for-4 and his 13-game hitting streak came to an end.
The Roadrunners are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Victoria to face Houston for the third time this season. The two teams have split the previous two meetings (UH, 12-10, Feb. 22/UTSA, 4-3, Feb. 27). First pitch from Riverside Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.
