Incarnate Word, Southeastern Oklahoma and Cameron, each won their opening games of the Lone Star Conference Baseball Championship at Crutcher Scott Field in Abilene, Texas.
Incarnate Word 3, Texas A&M-Kingsville 2
Lone Star Conference regular season champion Incarnate Word knocked off Texas A&M-Kingsville, 3-2 to open the 2011 LSC Baseball Championship as Player of the Year Kirk Jewasko outdueled Ian Jones Saturday morning for the win.
Jewakso was outstanding through the middle innings going eight strong innings striking out seven including the final two batters to end the game. He allowed two runs while scattering eight hits to pick up his 12th win of the season.
The Javelinas tied the game in the fifth inning when Corey Stigall singled to center to score Julian Duran. Duran singled with one out and moved to second on a Trent Wagner single as well.
However, UIW would pick up the game winning in the sixth when Ryan Flowers drove home Daniel Qualls. Flowers singled over the second base bag easily scoring Qualls who led off the inning with a triple that bounced around the right field corner.
Incarnate Word improved to 34-14 on the year while the Javelinas fall to 24-23 and move to the loser's bracket. The Cardinals will play the loser of the 7 p.m. game between Tarleton State and Cameron at 3 p.m. while TAMKU plays the loser between Southeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma.
Southeastern Oklahoma 5, Southwestern Oklahoma 3
Southeastern Oklahoma was able to shake a couple years of first round struggles as they scored runs over four of the final five innings to take a 5-3 win over Southwestern Oklahoma in game two of the Lone Star Conference Baseball Championship at Crutcher Scott Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Savage Storm took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Riley Keith tripled scoring Brad Shankle. Shankle was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and scored two batters later. The Savage Storm would try to add another run on a failed suicide squeeze however it would be all they need to knock off the Bulldogs.
Heath Wyatt, who has been one of the dominate pitchers the past two seasons in the LSC pitched the final 3.2 innings of one hit baseball. Wyatt struck out two and walked none showing his dominance out of the bullpen.
Jimmy Johnson was solid through 5.1 innings scattering six hits allowing three runs all of which were earned to get a no-decision.
Eric Walker and Blake Gentry both had a pair of hits respectively for SOSU as Gentry scored three times. Gentry went 2-for-2 and also walked twice.
Southwestern Oklahoma starter Austin Woodard was solid in six innings of work, however picked up the loss.
Nelson Espinal recorded two hits for the Bulldogs in the loss.
Southeastern Oklahoma advances to tomorrow's winner's bracket game to face the winner of Cameron and Tarleton State. Southwestern Oklahoma will play Texas A&M-Kingsville in an elimination game at 11 a.m.
Cameron 4, Tarleton State 1
Ricky Cramer put the Cameron Aggies on his back into a winner's bracket game on Sunday as he went the distance striking out nine to pick up a, 4-1 win over Tarleton State on Saturday in the Lone Star Conference Baseball Championship at Crutcher Scott Field.
Cramer was spotted a lead as the Aggies scored two runs in the first and second innings to take an early, 4-0 lead. That would be all Cramer needed as he was impressive scattering six hits and nine strikeouts in a complete game effort where he only allowed one run.
The Texans threatened in the fifth when Zane Hensley led off with a double, but Cramer would strike out Chris Cassaza and Tim Rainey. Rainey's strike out would be a strike them out, throw them out as Travis Hayes was caught stealing to end the inning leaving Hensley at third.
Ryan Salt pitched excellent in relief as he entered in the second inning and pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless baseball. TSU would actually hold the Aggies scoreless over the final seven innings, but could not muster the offense needed for a comeback.
LSC Hitter of the Year Chase Larsson was held at bay going 1-for-4, but his first inning triple helped spark Cameron's two-run first inning. Joe Halley was 3-for-4 with an RBI for Cameron as well.
Cameron moves into a Sunday winner's bracket game with Southeastern Oklahoma at 7 p.m. while improving to 31-14 on the season. The Texans fell to 25-12 in the games only upset by seed and will face Incarnate Word at 3 p.m. in an elimination game for TSU.