UAPB swept by Illinois State

A grand slam in the top of the fourth inning gave Illinois State the lead Sunday as the Redbirds swept the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team.

UAPB fell 13-3 at the Torii Hunter Complex in the finale of a three-game weekend series.

UAPB (6-5) led 3-0 after the first inning thanks to runs batted in by Jalyn Williams, Brandon Simon and JaKobi Jackson, but didn’t score again despite tallying 10 hits.

Illinois State (5-5) took a 4-3 lead in the fourth off a grand slam by right fielder Noah Rabin. The Redbirds added a run in the fifth, then pulled away by scoring 8 runs across the final 3 innings.

Golden Lion starter Jacob Ehling (2-1) exited after facing one hitter in the seventh inning. He allowed 6 runs on 4 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. He pitched 4 scoreless innings.

Illinois State starter Thomas Harper (1-0) earned the win thanks to the grand slam despite allowing all 3 UAPB runs. He struck out 8 hitters and walked 1 in 4 innings of work before the Redbirds turned to the bullpen.

This was UAPB’s first series loss of the season after losing 8-2 Friday and 5-0 Saturday. The Golden Lions had started the season by winning 2 of 3 against Alabama A&M and sweeping a four-game series with Arkansas Baptist.

UAPB returns to action Wednesday against UA-Little Rock at 2 p.m. in Pine Bluff.

SOFTBALL

TEXAS WESLEYAN 4, UAPB 3 (SAT.)

The UAPB softball team wrapped up play at the Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic in Oklahoma City with two games Saturday, starting with the Lady Lions’ second loss of the weekend to Texas Wesleyan.

TWU (10-5) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning off a 2-RBI triple by shortstop E.B. Zimmerman, who then scored on a sacrifice fly.

Samaria Jackson and Malani Francis delivered RBI in the bottom of the sixth for UAPB (5-8), but the Lady Lions couldn’t tie the game. Both teams scored a run in the seventh, but UAPB stranded the tying run at second base after TWU pitcher Abbie Bird (6-3) ended the game with a strikeout.

UAPB starter Kayla Adams (4-3) went the distance with 5 strikeouts and no walks. She allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits.

UAPB 9, LANGSTON 0 (SAT.)

UAPB finished the tournament with its second shutout win of the weekend, this one against Langston University.

UAPB (6-8) starter Danika Bryant (2-1), who threw a no-hitter in the Lady Lions’ first game of the weekend, went the distance. She allowed 4 hits and 1 walk with 7 strikeouts.

The Lady Lions scored 2 runs each in the third and fourth innings before pulling away with a 5-run seventh. Jada Carhee hit 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs. Gabriella Belyeu hit 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and a run, while Malani Francis hit 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and 2 runs.

The Lady Lions return home to face Saint Francis University (Pa.) at 2 p.m. Wednesday.