STATE DIV. I ROUNDUPS

ASUN CENTRAL ARKANSAS 10, TENNESSEE-MARTIN 6

Evan Hafley hit a walk-off grand slam to give the University of Central Arkansas its sixth victory of 2023.

UCA (6-7) was tied with Tennessee-Martin heading into the ninth inning after scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the score 6-6.

Kade Seldomridge and Tanner Leonard led off the ninth inning with singles before Tenn.-Martin loaded the bases by intentionally walking Kolby Johnson.

Hafley capped his three-hit, five-RBI night by sending the first pitch over the right-field fence to end the contest. UCA had 14 hits and stole four bases. Charlie Christensen (1-0) earned his first career win thanks to two scoreless innings to close out the Tenn.-Martin offense. He struck out one batter and did not allow a baserunner

SUN BELT EASTERN ILLINOIS 11, ARKANSAS STATE 8

A five-run third inning wasn’t enough for Arkansas State as Eastern Illinois came at the Red Wolves consistently and took the series opener Friday evening at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.

The Panthers went up 3-0 in the top of the third, but ASU (7-6) countered with RBI singles from Brandon Hager, Kody Darcy and Cross Jumper plus a Cason Campbell RBI double, grabbing a 5-3 advantage.

The Red Wolves retook the lead on Hager’s RBI double in the fourth after Eastern Illinois (7-4) had tied the game at 5-5, but the visitors scored the next six runs — all off ASU relievers.

Tyler Jeans threw 5 innings as the Red Wolves’ starter, allowing 5 runs on 6 hits while striking out 9 and walking 2.

OHIO VALLEY UALR 9, GRAMBLING STATE 5

After falling behind 3-0 before it had even come up to bat, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock dug its way out of an early hole and put away Grambling State on Friday at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock.

The Trojans walked in a pair of runs with two outs in the top of the first but quickly got a pair back, putting their first two batters on base and scoring them on a Nico Baumbach RBI single. UALR (7-4) pulled level on Alex Seguine’s RBI single in the second, then grabbed a 6-3 advantage on designated hitter Ryan Lee’s three-run home run in the third.

Grambling State (3-10) got within one in the fourth, scoring a pair of unearned runs.

The UALR tandem of Scott McDonough and Austin Stubber would not allow the Tigers any more as the two UALR relievers combined for five scoreless, no-hit innings, striking out six to close out the series-opening win.