Jackrabbits erupt to split series

Saturday, April 24

Cedar City, Utah

1 p.m. MT

South Dakota State University

Southern Utah

4/24/2010 10:15:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

CEDAR CITY, Utah - South Dakota State exploded for 10 runs in the third inning, cruising to an 18-7, seven-inning victory over Southern Utah in the final game of a four-game Summit League baseball series Saturday afternoon.

In earning a split of the series, the Jackrabbits improved to 23-13 overall and 8-4 in The Summit League. SUU fell to 12-27 on the season, including 5-7 in league play.

SDSU opened the scoring with a four-run second inning, with the first two runs scoring on a single up the middle by Daniel Telford. Billy Stitz followed two batters later with a run-scoring single and came home on Beau Hanowski's double to left-center field.

The Jackrabbits sent 15 batters to the plate in the big third inning. Stitz and Telford each delivered two-run singles in the frame as SDSU notched seven hits and was aided by two Thunderbird errors. Andrew Melton and Joel Blake also recorded run-scoring doubles.

SDSU built the lead to 17-1 as Blake doubled in another run in the fourth and two more runs scored on an error in the fifth.

The Thunderbirds scored five times in the sixth inning, including a pair of two-run home runs by Taylor Shaw and Chase Rezak against the SDSU bullpen, but were unable to extend the game before the 10-run rule went into effect in the seventh inning.

Of SDSU's 17 hits, 13 were singles and four were doubles. Stitz continued his hot hitting in the series by going 4-for-6 with three runs batted in. Telford and Eric Cain each recorded three hits, while three other Jackrabbits had two hits apiece.

Freshman left-hander Shane Kramer was the beneficiary of the run support as he improved to 3-2 on the season with a five-inning, two-run outing. He struck out four, walked five and surrendering four hits.

SUU starter Justin Neubauer lasted only 2 1/3 innings after giving up nine runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Joe Goldenberg tallied two of the Thunderbirds' 11 hits.

SDSU returns home for a doubleheader Wednesday against North Dakota. Start time is slated for 1 p.m. at Erv Huether Field. The Jackrabbits will then host a four-game Summit League series against co-leader Centenary (La.) April 30-May 2.

NOTES: The all-time series between SDSU and Southern Utah is tied at seven games apiece ... Stitz ended the four-game series 13-for-22 (.591 average) with 10 RBI and six runs scored to go along with a .909 slugging percentage ... Blake and Stitz are tied for the team lead with 19 doubles - two shy of the single-season record of 21 set by Blake in 2009 ... of SDSU's 23 wins this season, 20 have been in true road games and one other was at a neutral site ... the Jackrabbits reached double figures in runs scored for the 16^th time this season and tallied double figures for hits for the 23^rd time in 36 games ... SDSU did not make an error in the final three games of the series

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 18, SOUTHERN UTAH 7
SDSU 04(10) 120 1 - 18 17 0
SUU 010 015 0 - 7 11 3
SDSU: Shane Kraemer, Mike Robinson (6), Blaine Alberta (7) and Zach Briggs, Nick Andrews (5). SUU: Justin Neubauer, Kyle Hamman (3), Adam Dell (5), K.C. Sandstrom (6), Kelsey Outram (7) and Taylor Shaw, Kyle Melling (7).
W-Kraemer (3-2). L-Neubauer (2-4). SV-none.
HR: SUU-Chase Rezac, Taylor Shaw.