Completed Event: Baseball versus Arizona State on May 30, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 17
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FINAL
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South Dakota State University Athletics
Friday, February 25
Arlington, Texas
3 p.m.
South Dakota State University
5
at
6
Texas-Arlington
Jacks fall short in season opener
2/25/2011 9:10:00 PM | Baseball
ARLINGTON, Texas - South Dakota State's late-inning rally came up just short as the Jackrabbit baseball team dropped a 6-5 decision to Texas-Arlington in its season opener Friday afternoon.
The Jackrabbits started strong, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run home run by Jesse Sawyer. Zach Rhodes singled with one out and Joel Blake followed with a base hit before Sawyer connected on his 39th career homer, a shot to left center.
UTA countered with a pair of runs against Jackrabbit starter Alex Oberle in the home half of the first on a two-run single by Jesse Payne. The Mavericks took a 4-3 lead in the second on a two-run double by Michael Guerra.
SDSU knotted the game at 4-all with a run in the third inning. Billy Stitz led off with a base hit, moved to second on a groundout, stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blake.
UTA, 2-3 overall, took advantage of a Jackrabbit error to plate two runs in the sixth inning. Brian Nephew led off the frame and advanced to second on a bunt single by Nick Orr. Both runners moved up a base on an errant throw to get Orr at first base. Ryan Walker plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly and Guerra delivered an insurance run with a double down the left field line.
The Jackrabbits drew within a run on a run-scoring single by Eric Cain in the eighth inning and nearly tied the game in dramatic fashion in the ninth. With two outs, Stitz tripled into right field but was thrown out at the plate to end the game in a bid for an inside-the-park home run.
Blake led the Jackrabbits' 11-hit attack with a 3-for-3 day at the plate. Stitz, Rhodes and Cain all collected two hits.
Oberle went the distance on the mound for SDSU, allowing six runs on 13 hits while striking out two and walking two.
Michael Oberto earned the victory in relief for UTA after striking out three in two scoreless innings. Adam Boydston was credited with the save.
Guerra was 3-for-4 with three runs batted in to lead the Mavericks at the plate.
SDSU returns to action Saturday at the UTA Invitational, taking on Dallas Baptist (Texas) in an 11 a.m. contest.
UT ARLINGTON 6, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 5
SDSU 301 000 010 5-11-3
UTA 220 002 00x 6-13-0
SDSU: Alex Oberle and Zach Briggs. UTA: Kyle Merck, Michael Oberto (5), Collin Reynolds (7), Adam Boydston (9) and Chad Comer.
W-Oberto (1-0). L-Oberle (0-1). SV-Boydston (1).
HR: SDSU-Jesse Sawyer (1).
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballSunday, May 31
Saturday, May 30
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