SUN BELT
UALR 3, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2
UALR (19-18, 12-8 Sun Belt) scored single runs in the third, fourth and eighth innings to take a 3-1 lead Saturday, but the Trojans had to withstand a Georgia Southern (24-16, 10-10) rally in the ninth to force a series rubber match at J.I. Clements Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from Ryan Cleveland, but the Trojans responded in the third and fourth innings. An RBI single from Nik Gifford in the third and an RBI single from Hayden Martin in the fourth gave UALR a 2-1 lead. Dalton Thomas hit his seventh home run of the season in the eighth inning to increase the Trojans' lead to 3-1.
Georgia Southern rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Cleveland hit a home run on an 0-1 pitch to start the inning. Jordan Wren walked, which chased UALR pitcher Cory Malcolm. Cody Daylor came in and got C.J. Brazil to ground out, Hunter Thomas to strike out swinging and Kent Rollins to foul out to end the game.
Ryan Scott and Gifford were each 1 for 3 for UALR, while Martin and Thomas were each 1 for 4. Cleveland was 3 for 4 to lead Georgia Southern, and Evan McDonald was 2 for 4.
ARKANSAS STATE 12, LOUISIANA-MONROE 4
Arkansas State (17-21, 7-13 Sun Belt) scored eight runs in the seventh inning Saturday to earn a series victory over Louisiana-Monroe (15-24, 6-11) at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.
The Warhawks took an early lead with an RBI single from Nathan Pugh, who later stole home for a 2-0 lead. The Red Wolves cut the lead in half in the third inning, thanks to an RBI single from Garrett Rucker. It could have been a two-run single, but Ty White was thrown out at home by right fielder Jacob Stockton.
Pugh added a two-run home run in the top of the fourth to give Louisiana-Monroe a 4-1 lead, but ASU cut into the lead in the fifth and sixth innings. Joe Schrimpf hit a two-run home run in the fifth, and Austin Baker added a home run in the sixth to tie the game. ASU broke the game open in the seventh inning, scoring 8 runs on 2 RBI doubles, 2 RBI singles, including one from Rucker that drove in 2, 2 walks and a flyout.
Baker and Schrimpf were both 2 for 3 to lead Arkansas State, which stranded 7 base runners, while Rucker was 2 for 4. Pugh was 2 for 4 to lead ULM, which managed 4 hits as a team.
SOUTHLAND
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 6, NORTHWESTERN (LA.) ST. 3
Central Arkansas (16-21, 7-10 Southland) scored two runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth Saturday, then held off a Northwestern (La.) State rally in the seventh to even the weekend series at Bear Stadium in Conway.
The Bears took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Matt Anderson. Tyler Langley was hit by a pitch to start the third inning for UCA. He then stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brooks Balisteri, who finished 2 for 3. An RBI single from Chris Townsend scored Langley for a 2-0 lead. Townsend then stole second but could not advance when Brandon Montalvo grounded out to Demons third baseman Regan Kaufman. Logan Preston's RBI single scored Townsend to give UCA a 3-0 lead.
Northwestern State cut the lead to 3-1 in the fourth on an RBI single from Kaufman, but UCA responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Justin McCarty scored on Ty Tice's RBI double, then Tice scored on an RBI single from Balisteri to make it 5-1. The Demons cut the lead to 5-3 in the seventh on an RBI groundout from Nick Heath and an RBI single from Cort Brinson. UCA added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning when Langley scored on a wild pitch.
Preston was 2 for 4 and was the only player besides Balisteri with multiple hits for the Bears. Kaufman was 3 for 4 to lead Northwestern State and David Fry was 3 for 5. Cody Davenport got the victory after allowing all 3 Demons runs, which were earned, on 8 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks over 62/3 innings. Chase Hymel took the loss after allowing 5 of UCA's 6 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk in 31/3 innings.
SWAC
PRAIRIE VIEW 17-0, UAPB 13-7
UAPB (17-20, 13-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) used a five-run fifth inning to break open the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Prairie View (10-24, 5-15), which was moved up because of anticipated bad weather in Prairie View, Texas.
The Golden Lions took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning of the second game. Jordan Knox singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch to start the inning, then stole second base after Aderly Perez flied out for the first out. Knox scored on an RBI double from Julian Jones to left-center field, then Jones advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jacob Columbo reached when he hit the ball to Prairie View first baseman Angel Avalos, who threw the ball to catcher Santiago Rojas but could not stop Jones from scoring. Dontrell Brown then doubled down the right-field line, putting runners at the corners with two outs, but Jerimiah Figueroa flied out to end the threat.
Roberto Colon doubled down the left-field line to start the fifth inning for UAPB. He then scored on Jaqueese Moore's RBI double to a 3-0 lead. Consecutive singles from Tommy Haas and Knox brought Moore home, then Haas scored on a double down the left-field line by Perez for a 5-0 lead. That chased Prairie View starter Darrien Williams. His replacement, Edward Robledo, gave up a single to Jones, who advanced to second on a poor throw that allowed Knox to score. Columbo hit a sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 7-0 before Brown struck out and Figueroa grounded out to end the inning. UAPB added two more runs in the ninth inning on an RBI single by Perez and an RBI double from Jones.
Jones led UAPB offensively, going 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Knox was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and Perez was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Avalos and Nick Gurka were both 2 for 4 to lead Prairie View.
Sports on 04/24/2016