BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Arkansas State’s baseball team took the field at Bowling Green Ballpark on Friday with a chance to secure a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship game.
Troy’s bats made sure it did not happen.
The sixth-seeded Trojans (28-29) hammered the No. 2 seed Red Wolves for five runs in the first inning of an 8-3 victory, asserting control in pool play and putting ASU in a tenuous situation.
The only way ASU (33-22) can advance to Sunday’s championship game against Louisiana-Monroe is for Troy to lose to Middle Tennessee (30-28) at 11 a.m. today and for the Red Wolves to beat third-seeded Florida International (31-25) in a game scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
ASU would advance under that scenario as one of three teams tied at 2-1 in pool play, because it is the highest seed.
“This is just the way it goes,” ASU catcher Ryan Roberts said. “The season gives you good times, but we’ve got to bounce back. We don’t have a choice.”
The Red Wolves found themselves facing a 5-0 deficit after one inning after ASU starter Daniel Wright (2-6) lasted less than an inning, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits and 1 walk en route to the loss.
“The 5-spot put our offense in a hole,” ASU Coach Tommy Raffo said. “We were trying to fight back and trying to get back in the game, we just never made it even again.”
Reliever Seth McWilliams provided 3 2/3 innings of relief, giving up 1 run on 5 hits, on a day when four ASU relievers were called on.
“Just throw strikes,” McWilliams said. “That’s all you can do, and let your guys try to get going and get back in the game. I really couldn’t do much more after my arm wore down.”
The Red Wolves tried to respond. Center fielder Michael Faulkner opened the third inning with a single, and right fielder Collin Massanelli beat out a throw from Troy catcher Jake Harrell for a bunt single with no outs.
Two batters later, left fielder Logan Uxa roped a shot down the first-base line at Logan Pierce, who couldn’t keep the ball from ricocheting between his legs for an error. That brought in Faulkner to trim the lead to 5-1 as Massanelli moved to third.
Massanelli, a freshman, was helped off the field with a pulled hamstring. His status for today isn’t known.
Pinch-runner Kaleb Brown scored to make it 5-2 when ASU third baseman Claude Johnson hit a single to right field, which dropped in front of Troy’s Chase Mathis after he lost it in the sun.
The rally ended when designated hitter Ryan Emery lined out to first and Johnson was doubled up - a frustrating turn in a game where ASU left nine men on base and couldn’t come up with a timely two-out hit.
Roberts contributed an inning later when he crushed a 1-2 pitch by Ryan Brady over the wall in right field to pull ASU within 5-3.
Dustin Jones followed with a single to right center and that was it for Brady, who went 3 1/3 innings and gave up 3 runs on 6 hits while walking 2.
Troy Coach Bobby Pierce then made what turned out to be the game’s most important strategical move, bringing in left-hander reliever Nate Hill.
Sun Belt Tournament
ARKANSAS STATE VS. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL
WHAT Sun Belt Conference Tournament pool play game WHERE Bowling Green Ballpark, Bowling Green, Ky.
WHEN Approximately 3 p.m. Central today after the game between Troy and Middle Tennessee RADIO KWHF-FM, 95.9; KBTM-AM, 1230, in Jonesboro INTERNET astateredwolves.com
Sports, Pages 21 on 05/26/2012