JONESBORO, Ark. (5-4-2008) ? In the first complete game of his career, Arkansas State senior Joel Boeschen held Florida International to just four hits, leading the Indians to a 7-1 victory over the Golden Panthers Sunday at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field. With the win, ASU captured the Sun Belt Conference weekend series with the Golden Panthers, 2-1.
Boeschen (3-3) allowed just six baserunners on the afternoon, retiring the first 12 he faced and 15 of the first 16. Boeschen struck out six FIU batters on the day while issuing just one walk.
“The coaches kept telling me at the beginning of the game to give everything I've got, and whatever happens, happens,” said Boeschen. “I had good stamina the whole game, and was able to complete it.”
Arkansas State never trailed in the game, scoring three times in the first inning. Freshman left fielder Todd Baumgartner led off the inning for the Indians with a double, advanced to third on a single from junior center fielder Derrick Coleman, and scored on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Brandon Eller. A two-run home run from senior shortstop Ryan Hudgins gave the Tribe a 3-0 lead at the end of one.
“It always makes you feel good when you throw up a zero in the first inning and your team backs you up by putting up three,” added Boeschen. “It put them in a situation where they had to fight from behind the whole game.”
The Indians added three more in the fourth to stretch the ASU lead to 6-0, getting an RBI triple from right fielder Jett Jones to score the first run of the inning. Run-scoring singles from Baumgartner and junior catcher Lawson Hipps accounted for the remaining two runs in the fourth.
Florida International spoiled the shutout for Boeschen with a run in the sixth, getting an RBI double from third baseman Jorge Castillo to put the Panthers on the board.
A solo home run from Indian third baseman Guy Brown in the eighth scored the final run of the day.
Hipps went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead ASU at the plate, while catcher Steven Stropp had two of FIU's four hits to lead the Golden Panthers.
Senior Eric Horstmann (2-2) took the loss for FIU, giving up three runs on three hits in two and two-thirds innings.
Arkansas State will be back in action May 9 when the Tribe travels to Boca Raton, Fla. for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with the Owls of Florida Atlantic.
