Was there - just watched Ladyjacks softball hit a walk-off home run to beat Lamar, walked over in time to watch the complete bottom of the ninth and another walk-off. Great day for SFA on the diamonds.
Photo by SFA Athletics
Stephen F. Austin Baseball
Watch: Stuart's grand slam anchors SFA's weekend sweep of ACU
A single stroke of the bat set in motion an SFA sweep over the Abilene Christian Wildcats this weekend. Stephen Stuart's big fly, walk-off grand slam, powered the Lumberjacks to their first of three conference wins (so far) and set the tone for each of the next two.
For a moment, it didn't look like he would get that opportunity. As Alex Hrinevich stood in the batter's box with a full count and two outs, it appeared that he waved at a pitch just outside the zone. A checked swing was called a ball, and therefore a walk, but it definitely crossed into borderline territory.
With Hrinevich on first and the bases loaded, Stuart's pinch-hit homer completed a seven-run inning for SFA, rallying from four down in the 9th to give the Lumberjacks their first elusive Southland Conference victory.
It would set the stage for a couple more weekend wins; an offensive explosion a bit later in the afternoon with a 14-6 blowout, and a Sunday 4-2 pitchers' dual that saw the Lumberjacks escape a jam in the top of the 8th inning before scoring a couple go-ahead runs in the bottom.
Notably, catcher Jarrod Huber, who has been thrust into a full-time starting role since (what appears to be) a season ending injury to Clark Kahawaii last week, has been on base in every game since. Although Huber has started more games, Kahawaii is regarded as the better defensive player. If there is any defensive fall off now, certainly Huber may have an opportunity to take advantage of more consistent at-bats to improve on his .174 average. His four hits this weekend (as well as a walk-off hit of his own on Wednesday) are definitely steps in that direction.
While still starring up in the standings at McNeese and their 9-0 record, SFA's 3-3 start has vaulted them into 6th in this still very young season.
The Lumberjacks will host non-conference foe Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday to wrap up their homestand before traveling to San Antonio for a weekend series with Incarnate Word.
For a moment, it didn't look like he would get that opportunity. As Alex Hrinevich stood in the batter's box with a full count and two outs, it appeared that he waved at a pitch just outside the zone. A checked swing was called a ball, and therefore a walk, but it definitely crossed into borderline territory.
With Hrinevich on first and the bases loaded, Stuart's pinch-hit homer completed a seven-run inning for SFA, rallying from four down in the 9th to give the Lumberjacks their first elusive Southland Conference victory.
It would set the stage for a couple more weekend wins; an offensive explosion a bit later in the afternoon with a 14-6 blowout, and a Sunday 4-2 pitchers' dual that saw the Lumberjacks escape a jam in the top of the 8th inning before scoring a couple go-ahead runs in the bottom.
Notably, catcher Jarrod Huber, who has been thrust into a full-time starting role since (what appears to be) a season ending injury to Clark Kahawaii last week, has been on base in every game since. Although Huber has started more games, Kahawaii is regarded as the better defensive player. If there is any defensive fall off now, certainly Huber may have an opportunity to take advantage of more consistent at-bats to improve on his .174 average. His four hits this weekend (as well as a walk-off hit of his own on Wednesday) are definitely steps in that direction.
While still starring up in the standings at McNeese and their 9-0 record, SFA's 3-3 start has vaulted them into 6th in this still very young season.
The Lumberjacks will host non-conference foe Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday to wrap up their homestand before traveling to San Antonio for a weekend series with Incarnate Word.
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