SDSU wins Summit League opener in 11

Friday, April 4

Omaha, Neb. (CU Sports Complex)

2:05 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Centenary (La.)

4/4/2008 1:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

OMAHA, Neb. ? Tyson Fisher singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 11^th inning, making the South Dakota State University baseball team's Summit League a successful one as the Jackrabbits defeated Centenary (La.), 6-5, Friday afternoon at the Creighton Sports Complex.

SDSU improved to 8-16 overall and 1-0 in Summit League play. Centenary fell to 16-7 overall, 0-1 in league play.

Fisher, a senior from Fortuna, Calif., drove in four runs for the Jackrabbits as he extended his streak of games with a home run to five. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Fisher hit an 0-2 Dakota Robinson pitch over the left-center field fence for a three-run home run, his sixth of the season.

Despite recording nine hits in the first three innings, the Jackrabbits were unable to put any more runs on the board as they stranded five runners.

Centenary tied the game with against SDSU starter Christian Larson in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Teddy Saenz.

The game remained knotted at 3-all until the eighth inning, when the Gents took advantage of three SDSU errors to grab a 5-3 lead.

The Centenary advantage was short-lived, however, as the Jackrabbits again tied the game with two runs off Gents closer Boone Whiting. Tony Martin led off the inning with a walk, moved to second on a base hit by Craig Parry and took third on a wild pitch. Justin Morar drove in Martin with a groundout and Jesse Ayala followed with a clutch two-out double to left field to plate Parry with the tying run.

In the 11^th, Tim Hanigan doubled down the left-field line with one out off reliever Aaron Bronson (1-1). After Korby Mintken popped out to shortstop, Fisher hit a sharp single to left center to score the winning run.

Larson, making his first start since March 8 at Sam Houston State (Texas), struck out two and gave up six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Jackrabbit relievers Mike Robinson and Kirby Morsching, both Rapid City natives, did not allow an earned run in a combined 6 1/3 innings of duty. Morsching, who pitched for the sixth time in the last seven games, gave up a base hit to the first batter he faced, then set down the last nine in a row to improve to 1-3 this season.

Parry led SDSU's 16-hit attack with 4-for-5 day at the plate. Hanigan and Ayala each contributed three hits, with Fisher and Martin adding two hits each.

Centenary had four players with two hits, including Steele Lewis and Cameron Penney who each drove in a run.

Dakota Robinson pitched the first seven innings for the Gents, allowing 11 hits and a walk, while striking out three.

The two teams continue their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 12:05 p.m.

Game Notes: SDSU improved to 3-4 in one-run games and 1-2 in extra-inning games ... both of the Jackrabbits' games played at the CU Sports Complex this season have been decided in 11 innings ... SDSU pitchers did not allow a walk in a game for the third time this season ... of Ayala's 16 hits so far this season, eight have been doubles ... Morsching made his team-leading 12^th appearance of the season ... Nick Adams took over the SDSU career lead for at-bats with 694, passing Greg Geary (692 from 2002-05) ... Fisher moved into sole possession of eighth place in career total bases with 327, breaking a tie with Cole Irish (322 from 1993-96) ... Hanigan extended his team-leading hitting streak to seven games

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 6, CENTENARY (La.) 5 (11 inn.)

CC 100 200 020 00 5-11-0

SDSU 300 000 020 01 6-16-3

CC: Dakota Robinson, Boone Whiting (8), Aaron Bronson (11) and Alex Maldonado. SDSU: Christian Larson, Mike Robinson (5), Kirby Morsching (9) and Tony Martin.

W-Morsching (1-3). L-Bronson (1-1).

HR: SDSU-Tyson Fisher (6).