Arkansas Express Continues To Roll

FAYETTEVILLE -- Pitching and defense continues to carry Arkansas Express.

Bubba Carter pitched a four-hitter to lead Arkansas Express to a 1-0 victory over Natural Baseball Academy of Olathe, Kan., in the Hawg Baseball Showcase on Thursday. Carpenter struck out eight in 62/3 innings before being replaced by Cody Scroggins, who got the final out.

Arkansas Express moved to 13-5 on the year after their fourth consecutive win in the Hawg Baseball Showcase. The victory followed a strong pitching performance by Logan Clark, who went six innings on Wednesday with relief help from Ty Harris.

"Bubba's been pitching like that all year," Arkansas Express coach Greg Harris said of Carter, a right-hander from Conway. "He really did a great job pitching, especially considering how humid it is."

Natural Baseball Academy didn't go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Luke Popp was close to dropping a leadoff hit into shallow center field, but second baseman Jacob Adams made a running, backhanded catch for the first out.

Nate Amos struck out before Adam Samazin, a Colorado signee, lined a single to chase Carter. Scroggins took over and got the final out when Zach Young grounded to first base.

Both teams finished with four hits and one error.

"We've won 11 games in a row now and we've really cleaned up our defense," Harris said. "That's surprising when you're taking about Showcase kids who don't get together and practice. The catch by Jacob Adams kept the leadoff batter off base in the seventh inning, so that was a huge play."

Catcher Austin Ply drove in the only run with a sharp single in the second inning. The hit scored Tyler Herrin, who walked and stole second.

"It was a low, inside ball and I was able to hit it up the middle," said Ply, who'll be a senior at Little Rock Christian. "We didn't do a lot at the plate today, but our pitching was great."

Ply also contributed on defense when he picked a runner off first base in the fifth inning. Carter retired the first two batters before Young reached on an error and Jordan Yarbrough walked. That brought up leadoff hitter Trent Brents, who had a single in the first inning against Carter. But Brents was left standing at the plate when Ply made a quick and accurate throw to first base to get Yarbrough and retire the sides.

Samarzin finished with two of the four hits for Natural Baseball Academy. Left-hander Jack Pauley took the loss despite allowing only four hits.