April 25, 2009
Box Score
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - UT Arlington dropped its second straight conference game to Stephen F. Austin after a 5-2 loss on Saturday afternoon at Jaycees Field in Nacogdoches, Texas. SFA (18-23, 9-13) scored three runs on two base hits in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie while the Mavericks (23-19, 14-9) suffered the loss despite a 3-for-4 performance at the plate from shortstop Tim Steggall and an eight-strikeout outing by starting pitcher Nathan Long.
Steggall hit his first career home run to left field in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie, giving the Mavericks a 1-0 lead. Long allowed an unearned run after a failed pick-off attempt led to a Lumberjack run in the fourth inning that tied the game. Long finished the inning by striking out three straight batters.
The Mavs and Jacks traded runs in the sixth inning with Steggall notching his second RBI of the day with a single up the middle and SFA scored on an RBI single to left field to knot the score at two.
Long walked the lead-off batter in the eighth inning which prompted Mavericks' head coach Darin Thomas to bring in sophomore lefty Adam Boydston. Long scattered nine hits and allowed three runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts and one walk in seven innings. Long's eight strikeouts move him into fifth place in school history for career strikeouts with 201.
After Boydston walked Sean Meyers, third baseman Brian Ferguson reached base on an infield, bunt hit to load the bases with nobody out.
Ryan Priest drove in the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to left field as Tanner Hines, who led off the inning with an infield single, scored to give the Lumberjacks a 3-2 lead.
SFA tacked on two runs on a fielder's choice ground ball that ended with a throwing error by Maverick second baseman Jay Pitschka, after Bo Coffman's slide into second base broke up the double-play and led to Pitschka's throwing error allowing the second run to score on the play.
The Mavericks went in order in the ninth inning on a flyout to right field by pinch hitter Blake Holt and back-to-back strikeouts by Evan Raley and Pitschka to end the game. SFA closer Richard Folmer picked up his second save in the series by pitching the ninth inning.
Senior Andrew Kainer used his final at-bat on Saturday to extend his school-record hit streak to 29 games with a double to the left-center field gap. Kainer finished the game going 1-for-4.
Matt Otteman recorded his fourth straight multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with a run scored. He now has six multi-hit games during his last seven games and leads the Mavericks with 25 multi-hit games this season. He also leads the team with a .443 batting average and with 52 RBI.
The Mavericks were also paced offensively by designated hitter Preston McCoy (2-for-4) and catcher Chad Comer (2-for-3).
UT Arlington will look to avoid a series sweep tomorrow as the Mavericks and Lumberjacks conclude their SLC series with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Jaycees Field.
