LITTLE ROCK — TEXAS-ARLINGTON 7, SAM HOUSTON STATE 6
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Preston Beck’s home run in the bottom of the ninth inning sent No. 4 seed Texas-Arlington to the championship game of the Southland Conference Tournament with a victory over No. 1 seed Sam Houston State on Friday at Bobcat Ballpark.
The Mavericks (35-23) are 3-0 in the double-elimination tournament after eliminating the Bearkats. Texas-Arlington will face either Southeastern Louisiana or Stephen F. Austin in the championship game today. The Mavericks are looking to win their third Southland tournament title and first since 2006.
Travis Sibley finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI to lead Texas-Arlington.
Sam Houston State (38-20), the Southland’s regular-season champion, was led by Colt Atwood, who went 3 for 5. The Bearkats had eliminated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 4-3 earlier Friday after losing to the Islanders in their tournament opener Wednesday.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 4, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 3
SAN MARCOS, Texas - Jordon Lenaburg hit a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel Stephen F. Austin to a victory over Southeastern Louisiana to force an elimination game today against the Lions.
The Lumberjacks (26-32), who eliminated Texas State earlier Friday, were able to erase a 3-0 lead after the first three innings, holding the Lions (38-20) scoreless for the remaining six innings and stranding 10 Southeastern Louisiana runners on base to give them a chance in the ninth.
Max Lamantia finished with two hits and two RBI to lead the Lumberjacks and Chase Greening rebounded from a rough start to go five innings in his second start since Wednesday. Cory Ochs pitched three scoreless innings of relief, while Colton Eubanks got the victory with a scoreless ninth to move to 6-5 on the season.
At a glance
FRIDAY’S GAMES Sam Houston St. 4, Texas A&M-CC 3
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi eliminated Stephen F. Austin 9, Texas State 7
Texas State eliminated Texas-Arlington 7, Sam Houston St. 6
Sam Houston State eliminated Stephen F. Austin 4, SE Louisiana 3
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central SE Louisiana vs. S.F. Austin, 1 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Texas-Arlington vs. SE Louisiana/S.F. Austin, 5 p.m.
Sports, Pages 25 on 05/26/2012