The SDSU baseball team started their season off by dropping three games in Clarksville, Tenn. The Jacks dropped two games to Northern Illinois by scores of 10-6 and 9-6. The Jacks also lost to the host team, Austin Peay State University, 3-1.

 

During the first game against Northern Illinois on Friday, Feb. 13, SDSU gave up five runs in the second inning en route to the 10-6 loss. Junior right-handed pitcher Eldon Evans was credited for the loss after making a relief appearance in the fourth inning and pitching two innings. Evans gave up three runs on three hits, while walking three batters and striking out two. Offensively, the Jackrabbits scored three of their six runs in the fourth inning as senior catcher Reid Clary led off and reached base on an error by the NIU third baseman. Clary later scored on a single by senior Al Robbins. Robbins and senior Eric Danforth also crossed the plate to score in the bottom of the fourth inning.

 

“I think we just kind of walked some guys and got behind guy and then credit to Northern Illinois, they just hit the ball when runners were in scoring position and scored runs. I just think we weren’t, me and [Adam] Bray, weren’t on the same page as we normally are, and I don’t think it’ll happen again,” Clary said of the five-run Northern Illinois second inning.

 

The Jacks were the first run to pose a scoring threat in their game with the hosting Governors on Valentine’s Day. During the second inning, Robbins hit a single with two outs and was moved into scoring position at third base on a single by freshman Anthony Schneider. The Governors avoided giving up the run as Danforth hit into a fielders choice and they retired Schneider at second base.

 

Although the Governors stopped the threat in the second, the Jacks were able to score the first run of the game, SDSU’s only run, in the fifth inning. Robbins scored from third base on a ground ball hit by Danforth. Austin Peay scored two runs in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead and then scored again in the seventh to seal their 3-1 victory.

 

SDSU left runners on third base in both the seventh and eighth innings. Senior lefty Chris Anderson took the loss from the mound for the Jacks. Anderson threw six innings, giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out four batters and walked two.

 

“They were aggressive in the zone, any ball that was in the zone they were swinging at, and disciplined enough to not chase balls out of the zone. They did a good job of attacking the fastball early in counts,” Anderson said. “All around, I don’t think I really had my best stuff. My fastball wasn’t at its best, changeup wasn’t at its best and slider was actually pretty bad. … Overall I didn’t really have much that day, but I just kind of went out and made as many quality pitches as possible.”

 

In their final game of the weekend, the Jacks fell once again to Northern Illinois by a score of 9-6.

SDSU scored in the second inning to start the offensive action in the game as Clary crossed the plate on a RBI double off the bat of junior Cody Sharrow. The Jacks picked up one run in each of the following two innings and one more in sixth before taking multiple walks in the top of the ninth to bring the final score a little bit closer.

 

Defensively, the Jacks gave up three runs in the fourth inning, two runs in the sixth and four in the bottom of the eighth inning. The pitching loss was charged to sophomore Ryan Froom, who pitched two innings and gave up two runs on five hits.

 

“I think we did some things really well. Obviously the results aren’t what we wanted when we go down and play and start the season off, but we had a chance to win all three games. We just didn’t make plays or certain pitches when we needed to and that’s one thing teams have to learn. I’m glad it’s going to be earlier in the season and not later in the season, but I thought we saw a lot of good things especially from a physical standpoint … Under the conditions, our kids really did some things well. … I think there was something there that we could build on,” head coach Dave Schrage said.  

 

The Jacks were slated to return to action this coming weekend in Elon, N.C., but due to inclimate weather the tournament was called off Tuesday afternoon. The team is considering other options for the weekend, but are also scheduled to play in Nacogdoches, Tex. against Stephen F. Austin State University Feb. 27, 28 and March 1.