FOOTBALL
Thompson named defensive coordinator at Texas State
John Thompson isn’t coaching at Arkansas State anymore, but he’ll be staying in the Sun Belt Conference.
Thompson, 58, was introduced Monday as the defensive coordinator at Texas State by Bobcats Coach Dennis Franchione. Reports circulated earlier this month that Thompson’s next move would be to the school located in San Marcos, Texas, but Franchione didn’t announce it until Monday during a news conference previewing spring practice.
“I have known John a lot years and always had a great deal of respect for him and his defense,” Franchione said. “His defense caused you problems on offense. Everywhere I have been, he caused us problems offensively.”
Thompson, who was defensive coordinator at ASU and served as interim coach in two GoDaddy Bowl victories, will take over a defense that held teams to 147.4 rushing yards per game to lead the Sun Belt last year. It was fourth in total defense (396.7 yards) and fifth in scoring (27.3 points).
Thompson will join offensive line coach Brad Bedell, who was ASU’s offensive line coach last season, at Texas State.
Texas State hosts ASU on Nov. 22.
GOLF
HSU men finish third
Henderson State shot a final-round 300 Tuesday to finish third at the Washburn/Capitol Plaza Invitational in Topeka, Kan. Brice Howard was Henderson’s top performer, shooting 73-71-75—219 and tying for fifth. Gil Debusscher finished tied for eighth and Mauricio Lira finished tied for 17th. Central Oklahoma won the 15-team event with a 54-hole total of 875, while Lindenwood finished at 883 and Henderson State finished with 887.
BASEBALL
Henderson State rallies late, sweeps doubleheader
Henderson State scored all five runs during a two-out rally in the sixth inning to earn a 5-1 victory over Central Christian College on Tuesday as it swept a doubleheader. The Reddies won the first game 9-3.
With the bases loaded in the sixth, Joseph Gary recorded Henderson State’s first hit to drive in Tadarious Hawkins and Jesse Grace scored. Hayden Lessenberry’s double scored two more runs to give Henderson State (9-19) a 4-1 lead. Lance Fields also had an RBI single to set the final margin.
Matt Evans went 4 for 4, including a double, with 3 RBI in the first game. Henderson State had 12 hits in the game, scoring three runs in the second inning and five in the fourth inning.
Arkansas Baptist sweeps
No. 18 NE Mississippi
Dontrell Brown belted a home run and Jace Powers improved to 4-0 as Arkansas Baptist swept a doubleheader from No. 18 Northeast Mississippi on Tuesday night at UALR’s Curran Conway Park. Arkansas Baptist won the first game 5-4 and the second game 3-2.
Derek Wooten picked up his second save of the season in the first game. Justin Vincent (3-1) was the winning pitcher in the second game, with Chase Sealy going 2 for 3 at the plate for the Buffaloes (15-8).
SOFTBALL
Southern Arkansas’ Miller earns conference honor
Southern Arkansas freshman pitcher Shelby Miller was named the Great American Conference’s pitcher of the week Tuesday. Miller went 2-0 with an 0.88 ERA and 1 save in 3 appearances in the Muleriders’ series sweep over Harding. She did not allow an extra-base hit and held the Lady Bisons to a .190 average over 16 innings. Miller had a career-high seven strikeouts in her second start against Harding and had 14 strikeouts for the weekend.
WRESTLING
Bailey signs with Williams Baptist College
Tim Bailey, a 2012 graduate of Moon Area High School in Allegheny County, Pa., signed a letter of intent with Williams Baptist College on Tuesday. Bailey, who hopes to wrestle at the 133- or 141-pound level, has been at Clarion University the past two seasons, where he wrestled for Williams Baptist Coach Kerry Regner.