Feb. 23, 2007

Penguins Drop Season Opener 8-1 at Stephen F. Austin

    Nacogdoches, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin scored five runs in the fifth inning after posting just one hit through the first four in an 8-1 victory over Youngstown State in the Penguins' season opener on Friday.
    In what began as a pitcher's dual between YSU's Lucas Engle and Lance Luetge, the Lumberjacks (4-8) banged out four hits in the fifth and scored all eight runs in their final four innings.
    Engle (0-1) surrendered five runs on five hits in five innings of work while Luetge (3-1) allowed one run on four hits in seven innings.
    SFU reliever Richard Folmer did not allow a hit in two innings of scoreless relief.
    The Penguins had a chance to score in the first inning when John Koehnlein singled and advanced to third with one out. Luetge, however, struck out Lou Gattozzi and Brent Parks to end the inning.
    Neither team scored until the fifth when five Lumberjacks cross the plate. Noel Trevino brought home Kevin Croft on a sacrifice fly with one out to make the score 1-0, and Steven Hill followed with a two-run double to left. Right fielder Jared Pitts then hit a two-run homer, his of the season, to left to bring in Hill and make the score 5-0.
    The Penguins got within four in the seventh when Erich Diedrich scored on Eric Marzec's sacrifice fly. Diedrich led off the inning with a double down the right field line and advanced to third on Brent Parks' single. Marzec then hit a one-out sac fly to center to plate Diedrich.
    SFA answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning and added two more in the eighth for the final tally.
    Pitts, Croft and Jeff Brewer had two hits apiece to pace the Lumberjacks while Koehnlein, Diedrich, Parks and Gattozzi each had hits for the Penguins. Diedrich's double extended his hitting streak to nine games dating back to last season.
    The Penguins and Lumberjacks will play again Saturday at 2 p.m. Eastern.