TULSA, Okla. - May 23 - Southern Utah starter Mac Nelson pitched a
complete-game three-hitter as the Thunderbirds captured a 4-1 win over
the Centenary Gentlemen to stay alive in The Summit League Baseball
Tournament and to advance to play a third game tonight against either
Western Illinois or Oral Roberts. SUU moves to 30-27 on the year while the Gents end their season with a 30-26 record.
Centenary scored the first run of the game after playing some small ball with sacrifice bunts leading to a run in the bottom of the second. The Thunderbirds answered with two runs of their own in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead.
Nick Freitas was intentionally walked in the inning with men on second and third and one out as the Gents hoped to turn a double play to end the inning. However, SUU took advantage of the opportunity and Bucky Aona dropped a two-run single just beyond the infield in centerfield for the two runs of the frame.
Mac Nelson continued to pitch well through the rest of the game, allowing only a single hit in the bottom of the fourth and ninth inning while retiring 13 batters in order in between.
Southern Utah added two more runs to pad the lead in the top of the eighth inning as Nick Freitas and Bucky Aona collected consecutive one-out singles. Following a stolen base by Freitas and a wild pitch that advanced Aona to second base, Chester Wilson came to the plate and singled down the left field line scoring both base runners for the eventual 4-1 outcome.
Mac Nelson's victory marked his seventh of the season as the senior is now 7-2 on the year, while Centenary's Boone Whiting was given the loss after 8.0 innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on nine hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
Freitas made his mark on the history books at Southern Utah during the game with his record-breaking 34th stolen base of the season, breaking the record of 33 set by Charlie Hahl during the 2006 season.
Southern Utah will now prepare to face the loser of the Oral Roberts/Western Illinois game this afternoon, facing off against the team in tonight's night cap. The winner of that game will then go on to compete in the championship game Saturday afternoon.
