Jacks, DBU split offensive doubleheader

Saturday, April 3

Dallas, Texas

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Dallas Baptist [DH]

Jacks claim series with 9-4 victory at Murray

4/3/2010 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

DALLAS, Texas - South Dakota State and Dallas Baptist exchanged offensive outbursts in splitting a baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The Jackrabbits hit a Division I-era nine home runs to win the opener, 23-8, as six different players hit round-trippers. DBU came back to post a 21-5 victory in the nitecap to move to 16-12 on the season. SDSU ended the day 12-9 overall.

In the opener, the Jackrabbits hit back-to-back home runs twice. The first time came in the fifth inning as SDSU gained a 5-1 lead to start to pull away from the Patriots. Jesse Sawyer hit a two-run homer to open the scoring in the frame, and John Lee followed with his fourth home run of the season.

SDSU again went back-to-back in the seventh inning with a two-run blast by Dallas native Zach Briggs, which was followed by a home run by Zach Rhodes.

The floodgates opened for the Jackrabbits in the top of the eighth inning as they scored 10 times, connecting on three home runs. Joel Blake hit a three-run home run to left center, and Eric Cain followed three batters later with another three-run blast. Rhodes ended the scoring with a two-run shot for his second home run of the game.

In the ninth, Sawyer and Cain each tallied their second home runs of the game. Cain's two-run circuit shot gave him a 6-for-7 game at the plate with five runs batted in as he became the first Jackrabbit player in the Division I era to notch six hits in a game.

Beau Hanowski added four hits for the Jackrabbits, who out-hit the Patriots by a 25-12 count. The previous SDSU record for home runs in a game was six, which was set twice: at Dakota Wesleyan in 2008 and at Western Illinois in 2009.

Jackrabbit starter Sam Pieczynski earned the victory after pitching 6 1/3 innings. The senior right-hander allowed five earned runs on seven hits, while tallying two strikeouts and three bases on balls.

SDSU continued its offensive prowess in the first inning of Game 2, scoring four times. Sawyer drove in the first run with a base hit of the middle after Hanowski tripled with one out. Cain then continued his hot hitting with a three-run home run, his seventh round-tripper of the season.

However, the Jackrabbit bats fell silent for much of the rest of the game as DBU allowed only three hits the rest of the way.

Meanwhile, Dallas Baptist got its offense in gear, scoring twice in the first inning and four times in the third inning. Duncan McAlpine highlighted the Patriots' second inning with his ninth home run of the season.

Ryan Enos homered twice for the Patriots, upping his season total to 10 with solo shots to lead off the sixth and eighth innings. The Patriots scored at least two runs in every inning except the fourth and fifth in pounding out 26 hits.

Ben Mrachek added a home run and drove in five runs, including three on sacrifice flies.

SDSU starter Alex Oberle last only 2 2/3 innings in suffering his first loss of the season.

DBU pitchers Will Lane and Aaron Gilbreath combined to strike out 12 Jackrabbit hitters.

The Jackrabbits are scheduled to open the home season Wednesday, when they host Mount Marty. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Erv Huether Field on the SDSU campus.

Game 1: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 23, DALLAS BAPTIST 8
SDSU 100 131 4(10)3 23-25-1
DBU 001 004 210 8-12-0
SDSU: Sam Pieczynski, Shane Kraemer (7), Trever Vermeulen (7), Austin Busse (9) and Zach Briggs. DBU: Brandon Williamson, Duncan McAlpine (7), Michael LaCourse (8) and Chris Haney, Logan Moro (9).
W-Pieczynski (2-1). L-Williamson (5-2). SV-none.
HR: SDSU-Joel Blake (4), Jesse Sawyer 2 (8), John Lee (4), Eric Cain 2 (6), Zach Briggs (3), Zach Rhodes 2 (4); DBU-Travis Meiners (5), Austin Elkins (4).

Game 2: DALLAS BAPTIST 21, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 5
SDSU 400 001 000 5-7-1
DBU 224 004 45x 21-26-0
SDSU: Alex Oberle, Mike Robinson (3), Blaine Alberta (6), Austin Busse (8), Matt Spinar (8) and Zach Briggs. DBU: Will Lane, Aaron Gilbreath (6) and Duncan McAlpine, Logan Moro (9).
W-Lane (2-1). L-Oberle (2-1). SV-Gilbreath (1).
HR: SDSU-Eric Cain (7); Ryan Enos 2 (10), Duncan McAlpine (9), Ben Mrachek (1).