Eighth Inning Errors Difference in Game for ETBU

BASEBALL: MARSHALL, Texas (2/26/13) – Two throwing errors on a pickoff play became the difference in the game as Louisiana State University-Alexandria slipped past East Texas Baptist University, 6-4, in a nine-inning game. LSU-Alexandria scored three runs in the top of the eighth to come from behind on the road handing ETBU their sixth loss of the year.

In the eighth inning, with two outs, LSU-Alexandria’s Winn Smith stole second as the runner from third tried to come in. Jimmy Russo, ETBU’s pitcher, just barely over threw the pickoff attempt to third baseman Phillip Windham as Smith came in for the go ahead run. On that same play, Smith then came in as the ball went down the baseline giving LSU-Alexandria a two-run lead, 6-4. The tying run came in on a hit earlier in the inning with two outs before the error took place allowing two runs to score.

Russo received the start and had his longest outing of the year going 7.2 innings getting three strikeouts. He recorded four earned runs with six scoring and gave up nine hits walking only one batter. Kirby Moore finished the final 1.1 innings striking out two and not giving up a run or a hit.

Jeremy Pinder, Lance Anding, and Garrett Parsons all had two hits for ETBU. Tyler Bates recorded two RBI while Phillip Windham and Anding each had a RBI.

ETBU put three runs on the board in two innings for a quick 3-0 lead. Bates brought in the first run on a ground out in the first inning as Pinder came in from third base. Two batters later, Windham single to right center field as Parsons became the second run. In the second inning, Bates earned his second RBI on the night bringing in Landing with a sacrifice fly to right field for the 3-0 lead.

LSU-Alexandria crept back into the game with one run in the third and fourth inning to pull within one, 3-2. Anding made it a two-run lead in the fourth inning as he squeaked through a single on the left side of the infield as Wesley Schoon touched home plate. In the top of the sixth, LSU-Alexandria added another run trimming the lead to one, 4-3. After a scoreless seventh, LSU-Alexandria stole the game away in the eighth with three runs, 6-4.

ETBU is now 4-6 on the year and will host a three-game American Southwest Conference crossover series with Sul Ross State starting on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at Woods Field.