DIVISION I ROUNDUPS

SUN BELT CONFERENCE

GEORGIA SOUTHERN 10, UALR 8

Georgia Southern scored five runs in its final two at-bats Friday night as it rallied to defeat UALR in the opening game of their Sun Belt Conference series at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock.

UALR starter Jarrid Garcia (1-2) took a 6-5 lead into the eighth inning, but the Eagles (22-16, 12-7) scored four runs in the top half of the inning to take a 9-6 lead and tacked on their final run in the ninth after the Trojans (14-20, 10-8) pulled within 9-8 with two runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Georgia Southern reliever Jason Richman (4-0) gave up 2 runs, 1 earned, on 5 hits in 41/3 innings before Chris Brown came on in the eighth and picked up his eighth save of the season.

Garcia (1-2) allowed 7 runs, all earned, off 8 hits over 71/3 innings. He struck out 11 and walked one.

Garcia struck out Aaron Mizell to lead off the eighth inning, but Chase Griffin singled through the right side to start Georgia Southern’s rally.

Hunter Thomas’ single to left field advanced Griffin to second and chased Garcia from the game. Dalton Busby greeted reliever Dyllon Brownmiller with another single to load the bases, and Cody Lanford’s sacrifice fly to right field brought in Griffin to tie the game at 6-6.

Cameron Allen came on in relief of Brownmiller, but pinch-hitter Ryan Cleveland hit a three-run home run to left-center that gave the Eagles a 9-6 lead.

UALR answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs.

Justin Steelmon reached on an error to lead off the inning and James Gillean singled up the middle to move Steelmon to second. After sacrifice bunt by Petr Sila advanced both runners, and Ryan Scott’s double down the right-field line drove in both to pull UALR to within 9-8.

A flyout by Tanner Rockwell and a strikeout by Drew Merten ended the inning.

Georgia Southern tacked on an insurance run in the ninth. A single by Kody Adams, a double by Mizell, an intentional walk to Thomas and another walk to Busby made it 10-8.

Sam Vogel walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth for UALR, but Brown closed out the game by striking out Mitchell Schueler and Steelmon and retiring Gillean on a flyout to right field.

Designated hitter Ryan Scott led UALR offensively, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored. Drew Merten and Schueler were both 2 for 5 with 1 run scored.

LOUISIANA-MONROE 3,

ARKANSAS STATE 2

Louisiana-Monroe center fielder Nathan Pugh’s diving catch in the eighth inning ended a late threat by Arkansas State as the Warhawks (19-18, 6-10 SBC) held on to defeat the Red Wolves(14-21, 4-14) in the opening game of their Sun Belt Conference series at Warhawk Field in Monroe, La.

The Red Wolves entered the eighth inning trailing 3-1, but ULM starter Alex Hermeling walked Austin Baker to open the inning. Hermeling retired the next two hitters, but Matt Burgess doubled into the right-center field gap to drive in Baker as ASU pulled to within 3-2.

Tanner Ring stepped to the plate next and lofted a shallow fly ball to center field, but Pugh’s diving catch prevented pinch-runner Tim Seldomridge from scoring the tying run.

ASU reliever Chandler Hawkins held the Warhawks scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, but Warhawks reliever Josh Leone retired the Red Wolves in order in the ninth inning as ASU lost its fifth consecutive conference game.

Hermeling picked up the victory, allowing 2 runs — both earned — on 5 hits with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts over 8 innings. Leone picked up his second save of the season with a perfect ninth.

Reliever Colton Kibler took the loss after giving up 2 runs — both earned — on 4 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Hawkins tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit with 3 strikeouts and no walks.

Joe Schrimpf led ASU with two hits and Zach George extended his on-base streak to 52 games, which leads the nation. Ty White and Burgess each had RBI.

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 2,

NW (LA.) STATE 1

Central Arkansas (19-12, 10-6 Southland) took advantage of two singles and two walks to score two runs in a victory over Northwestern (La.) State (20-17, 12-6) at Brown-Stroud Field in Natchitoches, La., on Friday.

Matt Anderson opened the sixth inning for the Bears with a four-pitch base on balls and moved to second when Travis Hall worked Adam Oiler for another walk. Braxton Phillips was called out on batter’s interference, but Hayden Steele worked Oiler another walk.

Logan Preston, the first batter to face reliever Hunter Duvic, drove in the first run with a fielder’s choice. Wesley Hoover pinch-hit for Ty Tice and singled to second, scoring another run. Brad Dillenberger got the Bears’ second hit and loaded the bases again, but Tyler Langley grounded out to the pitcher, ending the inning.

Chase Daughdrill got the Devils (20-17, 12-6) going with a two-out home run, his first of the year, in the ninth. CJ Webster followed with a single, but Derek Beier came in for UCA and struck out the two batters to earn the save.

Connor Gilmore (6-2) got the victory for the Bears, while Oiler (5-2) took the loss.

The teams play again at 2 p.m. today and 1 p.m. Sunday.

SEC

KENTUCKY 3, TENNESSEE 1

Kentucky (21-16, 7-9) scored two runs in the third and another in the seventh and held on to beat Tennessee (15-19, 5-12) at Cliff Hagan Stadium in Lexington, Ky., on Friday.

The Wildcats pulled ahead in the third, scoring on a RBI double from first baseman Evan White and a sacrifice fly in the next at-bat by left fielder Ka’ai Tom.

Tennessee didn’t allow another run until the Wildcats pushed across another run in the seventh.

The Vols threatened in the top of the ninth, as junior Christin Stewart led off with a stand-up double, then scored on Andrew Lee’s single. But a double play and groundout ended the rally for the Volunteers.

MISSOURI 4, ALABAMA 3

Junior right-hander Reggie McClain pitched 8 2/3 innings, striking out 5 and walking 1, leading the No. 18 Tigers (25-13, 11-6) by Alabama (19-17, 6-10) at Hi Simmons Field in Columbia, Mo., on Friday.

Alabama took the lead with the help of two Missouri fielding errors in the first.

The Tigers responded in the second after a leadoff double by Josh Lester, his sixth of the season. Lester advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Trey Harris and scored on a groundout to second base by Zach Lavy.

Ryan Howard led off the fourth inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a double-play ball by Harris. Back-to-back singles keyed a two-run fifth inning capped off by RBI from Brett Peel and Jake Ring .

Alabama put together timely hits in the eighth and ninth to close within one, but closer Breckin Williams got Chandler Avant to ground out to second base with two runners on for his ninth save.

SOUTH CAROLINA 5,

VANDERBILT 2

South Carolina took advantage of Vanderbilt’s wildness and Jack Wynkoop threw his first complete game of the season in a victory Friday night at Carolina Stadium in Columbia, S.C.

Vanderbilt (29-11, 12-5) tied the game in the seventh with a two-out rally that led to two runs.

The first four South Carolina (24-15, 7-10) hitters in the bottom of the inning walked to break the tie, and a sacrifice fly brought in another run.

Walker Buehler took the loss for the Commodores, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Wynkoop struck out 12 and walked one.

FLORIDA 6,

MISSISSIPPI STATE 3

Florida right-hander Logan Shore threw his first career complete game on the road and senior Josh Tobias drove in a career-high four runs as Florida (29-10, 10-6) beat Mississippi State (22-17, 6-10) on Friday night at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Miss.

Shore (6-2) gave up 6 hits and 3 runs with 6 strikeouts and no walks in his second complete game in his past four starts. The right-hander was supported by an offense led by Tobias (2-4), who had a three-run triple in the first inning and added a RBI double in the fifth, as well as three hits from Dalton Guthrie and two hits from Richie Martin.

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