STATE COLLEGE ROUNDUPS

SUN BELT ARKANSAS STATE 6, LOUISIANA-MONROE 2

Bradley Wallace gave up two runs on two hits and Tanner Ring pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings as Arkansas State (22-17, 8-9 SBC) clinched a series victory by defeating Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday night at Warhawk Field in Monroe, La.

Wallace (4-1) gave up just 2 runs on 2 hits in 7 innings, which matched the longest outing of his career. After a rough start in the first inning in which he threw 30-plus pitches and gave up a run, the junior right-hander settled down and allowed just three hitters to reach base. He issued a walk in the fourth inning, gave up a home run to Brandon Alexander in the sixth and then hit a batter in the seventh.

Ring recorded the game’s final six outs as the ASU won its third consecutive game.

ASU took the lead for good in the top of the third inning when it scored three runs on three hits. The Red Wolves had the bases loaded twice in the inning, which began with a lead off walk to Logan Uxa. Ryan Roberts and Alex Potts reached to load the bases. Austin Baker reached on a fielder’s choice when Uxa was thrown out at the plate, but Baker collided with first baseman Corben Green, which allowed Roberts to score and give ASU a 2-1 edge.

Dustin Jones followed with a double to left-center that drove in Baker and Potts to give ASU a 4-2 lead. ASU loaded the bases again after Collin Massanelli and Ryan Emery each drew a walk and Kaleb Brown singled, but Claude Johnson grounded out to third base to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.

Uxa added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh with a two-run home run to right field to push the lead to 6-2.

TROY 14, UALR 6

Troy center fielder Ali Knowles hit a grand slam in a seven-run fourth inning and drove in five runs to help hand UALR its second consecutive loss Saturday afternoon at Riddle Pace Field in Troy, Ala.

Knowles finished 2 for 5 to lead Troy(28-11, 10-7 Sun Belt), which outhit UALR (18-20, 5-12) 11-8.

Troy led 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. Knowles hit his grand slam off UALR starter Blake Huffman (4-3), and Logan Pierce added a two-run double later in the inning.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Arkansas State 6, La.-Monroe 2 Troy 14, UALR 6 Florida International 7, Middle Tenn. 4 South Alabama 6, Western Kentucky 3 Florida Atlantic 5, La.-Lafayette 4

SOUTHLAND TAMU-CORPUS CHRISTI 3, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0

Central Arkansas (27-10, 7-7 Southland Conference) was held to one hit and committed four errors in a loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (22-16, 9-5) at Chapman Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Bears didn’t have a hit until Chris Townsend led off the ninth with a single. Pinch-runner Doug Votolato advanced to second on a ground out before Jonathan Davis walked. But Ethan Harris grounded out to end the game.

Islanders starter Trevor Belicek (6-1) finished with 10 strikeouts.

Texas A&M-CC led 1-0 after one inning and 2-0 after the fifth, then made it 3-0 in the eighth on Brad Lamberti’s RBI single.

UCA starter Jeffery Enloe (6-3) allowed 10 hits, all singles, in his third consecutive complete game.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Texas A&M-CC 3, Central Arkansas 0 Nicholls St. 9, McNeese St. 2 Lamar 11, Northwestern St. 1 Oral Roberts 7, Sam Houston State 2 SE Louisiana 7, Stephen F. Austin 3

SWAC SAMFORD 8, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 2

Samford (21-19) scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull away from Arkansas-Pine Bluff (14-24) at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham, Ala.

The Bulldogs led 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth when Christiaan Durdaller homered to left field for a 4-2 lead. Tommy Corbin and Caleb Bryson hit consecutive singles and Richard Greene walked to load the bases. Austin Allison hit a RBI single and Zeth Stone followed with a run-scoring single that scored Corbin. Greene then came home on a Golden Lions error. Allison stole third base and scored on another UAPB error.

Dwayne Hysmith went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Kyle Schwartz (3-4) allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked two.

Sports, Pages 27 on 04/21/2013

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