JONESBORO, Ark. (2-25-2008) ? Riding strong performances by four pitchers, the Arkansas State Indians opened the home portion of the 2008 season with a 6-1 win over the Williams Baptist Eagles before 656 fans at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field.
Freshman Andy Ferguson pitched five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit in the process while striking out five. Junior Jett Jones worked two innings, giving up one run on two hits, while senior Pete Pasternak and junior Nick Lambert each threw one hitless inning to help the Tribe post its third consecutive win, improving to 3-1 on the season. Williams Baptist dropped to 4-9 with the loss.
“I'm pleased with the win and pleased with our pitching,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “We swung the bat well, we just hit balls right to them. I'm glad to get the win and happy that after dropping our season opener Friday, we came back and are now 3-1.”
“I'm also very thankful for our fans for the support they showed tonight,” added Kessinger. “To have over 650 fans at the ballpark on opening night was very exciting for our team and we are extremely pleased to have that kind of turnout.”
Freshman Drew Benes put the Tribe on the board in the second, belting a two-run home run for the early 2-0 lead. A sacrifice fly from freshman Lawson Hipps, who also gunned down three baserunners from his catcher position, made it 3-0 in the fourth.
The Indians went on to add three more in the fourth, going up 4-0 when sophomore Cody Pace laid a bunt down the third base line to score Benes. The Indians' final two runs came courtesy of an Eagle throwing error for the 6-0 final.
Williams Baptist scored an unearned run in the seventh to spoil the shutout for the Indians.
Ferguson (1-0) picked up the win for the Indians, while freshman Todd Baumgartner led ASU at the plate with two hits. Derrick Coleman, Guy Brown, Pace, Hipps and Benes all added one hit each, with Benes driving in a pair of runs and Hipps and Pace adding one RBI each.
Arkansas State returns to action Feb. 28, taking on Kansas State in the Lamar Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas. After opening the Classic against Kansas State, the Tribe will face Lamar Feb. 29, Michigan State March 1, and Lamar again to close out the tournament March 2.
