ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 6, TEXAS SOUTHERN 5

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (18-17, 10-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference) scored two runs in three separate innings Friday, but had to withstand a late Texas Southern rally to win the series opener at the Torii Hunter Complex in Pine Bluff.

The Golden Lions took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Larry Sims and a Kacy Higgins sacrifice fly. After Texas Southern (19-24, 136) cut the lead in half in the top of the third on a Kamren Dukes RBI groundout, UAPB scored two more runs in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Sergio Esparza and an RBI double by Ricardo Sanchez to take a 4-1 lead.

Christian Sanchez had an RBI double in the sixth and Dukes added an RBI single in the seventh to cut the lead to 4-3, but the Golden Lions got a sacrifice fly from Jarficur Parker and a home run from Nick Kreutzer in the bottom of the seventh to build a 6-3 lead. The Tigers rallied in the eighth to score two runs on an error by Golden Lions third baseman John Magnuson and an RBI groundout from Horace LeBlanc, cutting the lead to 6-5, but they could get no closer.

Ricardo Sanchez finished 2 for 3 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI for UAPB, while JP Soriano was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Tyrus Lopez (7-2) earned the victory after allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits with 3 hit batters, 2 walks and 1 strikeout over 61/3 innings. Nathan Sawrie earned his fourth save of the season after allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits with 2 strikeouts over the final 22/3 innings.