STATE DIVISION I BASEBALL ROUNDUP
UALR 10, TENN.-MARTIN 8
After trailing 4-0 through one inning, Arkansas-Little Rock found its offensive rhythm as it defeated Tennessee-Martin in comeback fashion Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set at Skyhawk Field in Martin, Tenn.
Tyler Williams had a productive day at the plate, hitting a pair of home runs and recording 5 RBI. Williams hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that gave the Trojans their first lead of the game at 6-4. His second homer of the day came on a two-run shot in the top of the fifth that extended the lead to 9-4.
Ben Harmon picked up three hits in the contest for the Trojans, including a double and a triple. UALR (19-16, 8-4 Ohio Valley) collected 14 hits. Tenn.-Martin (13-23, 5-7) was led by Mac Danford, who hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth that cut the deficit to 9-7. Danford finished his day with four RBI.
UALR starting pitcher Austin Stubber got the early hook after giving up the four first-inning runs without recording an out. Jacob Weatherley came on in relief and pitched five complete innings to earn the win.
SOUTH ALABAMA, 3 ARKANSAS STATE 1
Arkansas State fell to South Alabama on Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set at Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala.
A solo home run from Brennan Holt put the Jaguars up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. Arkansas State (17-20, 4-11 Sun Belt) responded in the top of third as Allen Grier hit a solo home run of his own to tie the game.
The game would remain knotted until the bottom of the seventh when South Alabama (20-16, 6-9) picked up a pair of runs that proved to be the difference. A passed ball from Red Wolves relief pitcher Max Charlton allowed Ethan Melton to score from third to give the Jaguars a 2-1 lead.
An RBI groundout from Rett Johnson later in the seventh inning scored Tyler Borges to extend the lead. Melton was tagged with the loss for ASU, while South Alabama reliever Gant Starling was credited with the win. Grant Wood pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save for the Jaguars.
KENNESAW STATE 11, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 1 (8)
The University of Central Arkansas was run-ruled in its series finale at Kennesaw State on Sunday afternoon due to an explosive fourth inning from the hosts. The Bears (13-21, 4-11 ASUN) opened the scoring in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from AJ Mendolia to go ahead 1-0.
The Owls (20-14, 10-5) scored two runs in the second inning and one in the third to go ahead 3-1 before they blew the game open with a six-run fourth inning.
Kennesaw State sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth against three different UCA pitchers. The Owls recorded six hits and a walk to make the score 9-1.
They added runs in the fifth and eighth inning on a pair of RBI singles to win in eight innings.
TEXAS SOUTHERN 12, UAPB 8 (11)
Tyler Legendre’s two-run single in the top of the 11th inning started a fourrun rally that led to a come-from-behind victory for Texas Southern over the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at the Torii Hunter Complex in Pine Bluff.
Legendre drove in four runs on the day for the Tigers, who completed a three-game sweep after trailing 7-5 in the eighth inning. Eleven players had at least one hit for Texas Southern (14-18, 10-3 SWAC), led by Michael Goudeau’s three. Goudeau, C.J. Castillo and Jordan Vidato each scored two runs in the win.
Terry Gavin went 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored for UAPB, which outhit its conference counterparts 18-17 but couldn’t hold on to the late lead and lost its third straight game. Jaylon Nauden had three hits for the Golden Lions.