| Senior All-American Michael Rockett extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his leadoff home run in the seventh. |
NACOGDOCHES ? Right-hander Erich Lehmann did not allow a hit and faced the minimum through the five innings and Stephen F. Austin evened up this weekend's three-game Southland Conference series with an 8-2 victory against UTSA on Saturday at Jaycees Field.
Lehmann (2-3), who gave up a pair of runs on a half dozen hits in his 6.1 innings of work, retired the Roadrunners in order in each of the first four frames and did not allow a base runner until he walked senior designated hitter Jose Hernandez to lead off the fifth. Junior catcher Ryan Rummel broke up the no-hitter one inning later when he stroked a single to left to start the sixth.
By the time UTSA (16-13, 8-6 SLC) got to Lehmann, the Lumberjacks already had built a 5-0 lead off Roadrunners southpaw starter Casey Selsor (4-2).
SFA (11-17, 4-9 SLC) scored two runs in the second on a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Zach Gardner and a base hit by Tanner Hines, which went through the hole vacated by sophomore second baseman Ryan Hutson when he covered second on a Gardner stolen base attempt.
The Lumberjacks chased Selsor from the contest with three runs two panels later on Gardner's chopper through the left side of the infield, a passed ball by Rummel and an RBI grounder to second by Sean Meyers.
A solo home run by Hutson with two down in the sixth ended Lehmann's shutout bid and senior All-America center fielder Michael Rockett's seventh long ball of the year to lead off the following frame got the Roadrunners within three at 5-2. Consecutive one-out singles by senior first baseman Aaron Powell and junior third baseman Lance Brown chased Lehmann from the game, but Chris Court retired the first two hitters he faced to strand the base runners and maintain the three-run cushion.
UTSA threatened in the eighth, but Richard Folmer left the tying runs on base and the Lumberjacks went on to plate three insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to ice the victory.
Folmer, who retired four of the five hitters he faced, picked up his fifth save of the year.
Sophomore right fielder Tyler Carpenter and Hutson both had a pair of hits to lead the Birds and Rockett's homer pushed his hitting streak to 14 games, his second such streak of the year.
Selsor surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks in 3.1 innings. Senior left-hander Kris Ruepke kept the game within striking distance with four solid frames out the bullpen, allowing just a run on four hits.
Brian Ferguson and Jarid Scarafiotti both had three hits to lead Stephen F. Austin at the plate.
The rubber game of the series will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Freshman right-hander Clay Schrader (2-1, 3.78 ERA) will oppose righty Jarod Schrom (0-0, 4.24).