Jacks drop series opener to 'Dons

Thursday, May 14

Erv Huether Field

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

31-21, 17-11

Fort Wayne

26-23, 13-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
IPFW	0	5	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	7	6	0
South Dakota State	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	7	4

5/14/2015 10:02:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

Kendall Whitman's grand slam capped a five-run second inning, lifting Fort Wayne to a 7-2 victory over South Dakota State in the opening game of a three-game Summit League series Thursday afternoon at Erv Huether Field.

The Mastodons, who clinched a berth in next week's Summit League Baseball Championship by ending a seven-game losing streak, improved to 26-23 overall and 13-15 in league play. SDSU dropped to 31-21 overall and 17-11 in The Summit League.

Brandon Soat drove in the first run of the second inning for Fort Wayne with a single up the middle to score Shannon Baker, who reached on a one-out walk. Two more walks issued by Jackrabbit starter Adam Bray loaded the bases for Whitman, who launched his grand slam over the fence in right field.

SDSU broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk to Tony Kjolsing and added a run in the seventh when Cody Sharrow tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zach Coppola. Sharrow collected three of the Jackrabbits' seven hits.

Fort Wayne put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh on sacrifice fly and bases-loaded walk.

Shane Trevino led the Mastodons with two of their six hits.

Mastodon starter Evan Miller allowed one run on three hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked three. Cody O'Neal followed with five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings as Fort Wayne pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts on the afternoon.

Bray lasted only 1 2/3 innings in having his four-game winning streak snapped. The senior right-hander struck out three, walked four and gave up three hits.

Marcus Heemstra kept the Jackrabbits in the game with 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in which he struck out three, walked one and allowed one hit.

The two squads will meet again Friday. Start time has been moved up an hour to 2 p.m.

NOTES: SDSU leads the season series, 3-1, and the all-time series, 34-10 … SDSU freshman Luke Ringhofer extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a double in the seventh inning … Coppola had his streak of reaching base safely in 45 straight games, as well as his 15-game hitting streak, come to ends by going 0-for-4 at the plate … SDSU committed four errors … the Jackrabbits dropped to 14-5 at home this season … the start of the game was delayed 51 minutes by rain

FORT WAYNE 7, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 2
IPFW 050 000 200 7-6-0
SDSU 000 100 100 2-7-4
SDSU: Evan Miller, Cody O'Neal (5), Jake Weber (8) and Jonathan Reece. SDSU: Adam Bray, Marcus Heemstra (2), Talon Jumper (7), Derringer Huff (7), Blake Fiedelman (9) and Reid Clary.
W-Miller (6-4). L-Bray (7-4). Save-none.
HR: IPFW-Kendall Whitman (6).