CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - In game one of the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament Northwestern State battled back with an eighth inning rally coming from behind to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the inning. However, it was UTSA (32-22) that mounted a late rally of their own as they came back to win it in the ninth inning by a score of 5-4.
Tyler Carpenter came up with the game winning RBI with two out in the bottom of the ninth. With the win the Roadrunners won the opening game of the Southland Conference Tournament.
UTSA had a shut out going through the seventh as the led 3-0 before the Demons put together their rally to take the lead. Northwestern's (26-25) rally was capped off with a Chase Lyles single to left that resulted in two RBIs that allowed the Demons taking the lead.
Brett Aguilar led of the ninth for UTSA and came up with a double before being moved over to third on a Lance Brown sacrifice bunt. Ryan Rummel then singled to chase Aguilar home. A wild pitch resulted in Rummel taking second and then an intentional walk resulted in runners being on first and second. The next Roadrunner was retired and then Carpenter delivered as he stepped up to the plate and delivered the game winning hit.
In game two No.7 seed Sam Houston downed No. 2 seed Southeastern Louisiana 7-2 behind a complete game from Sean Weatherford. Weatherford's complete game was his third this season. He gave up nine hits in his Southland Conference Tournament opening round outing while striking out four.
Sam Houston was clinging to a one run lead after a Nick Zaleski home run before adding a run in the sixth inning. The seventh inning was a big one for the Bearkats as they blew the game open with a five-run inning.
The Bearkats got three hits apiece from Tyler Knight and Heath Pugh. Breadon Riley, John Reed and Daniel Nottebart each had two hit games in the win. Riley's hits accounted for three RBIs.
Brandon Efferson (5-5) was the losing pitcher for Southeastern Louisiana.
Three players hit homeruns to lead number one seed Texas State over Stephen F. Austin in game three. Paul Goldschmidt, Tyler Sibley and Lance Loftin all hit homers to power the Bobcats to the 9-2 win.
Bo Coffman put SFA out in front in the second inning after he doubled and scored and a Justin Long triple.
It did not take long for Texas State to get busy with their bats as Goldschmidt, the Southland Conference Player and Hitter of the Year, sent a shot over the left field fence to put the Bobcats out in front 3-1.
In the fourth inning, Texas State did more damage as Loftin, and Sibley homered and Jason Martinson tripled to give the Bobcats a 7-2 lead. Martinson picked up another RBI later with a sacrifice fly.
Kane Holbrooks, the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year improved to 10-1 with the win. Erich Lehmann went to 7-5 on the year with the loss.
Lamar beat UT Arlington in the last game of round one action as Tyler Link pickep up two RBIs helping to give Lamar the 4-3 win.
UTA scored in the second, third, and fifth innings to take the 3-0 lead, Starter Ryan Robinson mixed his pitches up well to keep the Lamar bats quite early and he gave up just seven hits over six innings.
UTA's Michael Choice was 3-for-4 and the teams combined for 19 hits in the game. Lamar's Brian Nedham picked up the win in relief going 5 2/3 innings and moving his record to 4-3 on the year. He gave up just one run after relieving Eric Harrington.
