Box Score (Photo of Jeremiah Steinert by Ron Macklin)
ABILENE, Texas -- The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs hung on for a 9-8 American Southwest Conference win Saturday night over McMurry University.
In Abilene at McMurry's Walt Driggers Field, the Bulldogs received three RBI and three hits from Ryan Nokelby (Santa Fe, Texas/Santa Fe) and three RBI and three hits (including a solo HR) from Cody Miller (New Braunfels/New Braunfels).
TLU's Travis Staggs (Elmendorf/Southside/Western Texas JC) picked up the victory to improve to 4-1 overall. Seven McMurry runs scored with Staggs on the mound, but only one of the runs was earned. TLU committed three errors on the evening.
Jeremiah Steinert (Sugar Land/Dulles) pitched 3-2/3 innings to close out the game and earn his second save. In the ninth, Steinert allowed a lead-off single and then a double to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 9-8. But he retired the next three batters in order. For the second out of the inning, he snagged a line drive hit right at him. The defensive play likely saved the tying run from scoring.
Zack Hewitt, who appeared in relief for McMurry in the second inning, took the loss and dropped to 0-1. Cory Davis started for McMurry and lasted only one inning. Davis allowed four earned runs.
Nokelby, TLU's junior right fielder, doubled with the bases loaded in the first inning and brought home two runs with the hit. Nokelby later singled home a run in the fourth.
Miller, the Bulldogs' sophomore DH, had a sacrifice fly RBI in the four-run first, hit a solo homer in the fifth, and singled home Nokelby in the ninth with a much-needed insurance run.
TLU's overall record moved to 14-7 overall and to 3-1 in the ASC West. McMurry fell to 8-8 overall and to 1-3 in the ASC West.
Games two and three of the series are set for a noon start Sunday, also from Walt Driggers Field in Abilene, Texas.
McMurry will have live stats and live audio webcasts for both games Sunday. The links can be found at http://athletics.mcm.edu/.
Baseball
College Linescore
Texas Lutheran 9, McMurry University 8 (Mar 14, 2009 at Abilene, TX)
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Texas Lutheran...... 401 120 001 - 9 13 3 (14-7, 3-1)
McMurry University.. 231 001 001 - 8 11 4 (8-8, 1-3)
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Pitchers: Texas Lutheran - Travis Staggs; Jeremiah Steinert(6). McMurry University - Davis;
Hewitt(2); Gaona(5). Win-Travis Staggs(4-1) Save-Jeremiah Steinert(2) Loss-Hewitt(0-1) T-2:55 A-78
HR TLU - Cody Miller. TLU Batting - Ryan Nokelby 3-5, 2B, 3 RBI; Miller 3-4, HR, 3 RBI.
Weather: Cloudy; low 40s
Davis faced 1 batter in the 2nd.
