State sports briefs

TRACK AND FIELD Geopfert wins national award

Travis Geopfert, who coaches Arkansas’ field events and multievent athletes, has been voted national assistant coach of the year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. It marks the second consecutive season Geopfert has earned the national honor.

Geopfert earned the award after three Razorbacks he coaches - Jarrion Lawson, Kevin Lazas and Anthony May - combined to score 20 of Arkansas’ 54 points at the NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend. Lawson won the long jump with a world-leading 27-6½ leap, Lazas finished third in the heptathlon and May took fifth in the high jump.

SOFTBALL UCA splits series against Northern Colorado

Central Arkansas split its home series against Northern Colorado on Wednesday in Conway, losing the first game 9-1 before winning the second game 12-7.

In the first game, Northern Colorado took advantage of two UCA errors to score seven unearned runs. UCA managed three hits.

The Sugar Bears jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second game thanks to a six-run second inning. Amy Gunnells went 3 for 4 with 1 home run and 2 doubles, and drove in 4 runs.

UAM sweeps Delta State

Arkansas-Monticello wrapped up a 10-game home stand Wednesday with a sweep of Delta State, winning the first game 3-2 and the second game 5-4 in 11 innings.

Brittany Eitel hit a home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning to seal the sweep for the Cotton Blossoms (18-11). Delta State (13-16) had jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a home run from Kaitlin Moore, but a home run from UAM’s Kali Piha tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning.

Arkansas Tech wins two

Victoria Huie and Ashley Savage played big roles for Arkansas Tech on Wednesday as the Golden Suns (10-12) swept a doubleheader from Fort Hays State in Russellville, 3-2 and 8-2.

Huie (4-5) scattered five hits over seven innings in the first game, while Savage hit a two-run home run. Savage, Ashley Keen and Jalissa Fum had two hits each in the second game.

MOTOR SPORTS Mid-America Modified Champ. at Batesville

Batesville Motor Speedway in Locust Grove will host the 18th annual Mid-America Modified Championship beginning tonight. A separate, complete card of racing will be held tonight through Saturday, with each main event paying $1,500 to win and $200 to start.

Competing on tonight’s card only will be former NASCAR driver Ken Schrader.

Hot laps begin at 6 p.m. each day and racing starts at 7 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $10 each day and children aged 11 and under get in free. Pit passes are $30 each day.

Sports, Pages 25 on 03/20/2014

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