Arkansas Tech Baseball Completes GAC Sweep of Boll Weevils

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Monticello Athletics Department

MONTICELLO — No. 22 Arkansas Tech defeated the University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team twice on Saturday in Monticello by scores of 12-3 and 14-8 to complete a three-game Great American Conference sweep over the Boll Weevils.

In Saturday’s first game, the Wonder Boys (22-7, 10-2 GAC) took advantage of three straight walks to start the second inning to go up 3-0 on a bases-clearing double from Drew Stanton. UAM (15-12, 7-8 GAC) answered in the bottom of the inning with one run on an RBI single from junior Alex Lang.

ATU added an unearned run in the third, rallied for four runs in the fourth and went up 9-1 with another run in the fifth before UAM reached the scoreboard again with two runs in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from junior Tyler Caruthers and an RBI fielder’s choice from junior D’Marco Poindexter.

Tech took an 11-3 lead in the sixth after scoring on a double-steal and a passed ball. The Wonder Boys finalized the scoring with a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the top of the seventh.

Lang ended the game a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with singles in the first, second, fourth and sixth, followed with a walk in the eighth. Seniors Taylor Eaves and Hunter Allday also produced multi-hit games. Eaves was 2-for-3 with two walks, while Allday was 2-for-4 and also reached base on a hit by pitch.

Senior Kenny Marshall (1-3) took the loss after allowing three runs off two hits with three strikeouts and four walks in the first 1.2 innings. Danny Parker (4-1) earned the win for ATU after allowing three runs off 10 hits with five strikeouts and two walks in the first five innings.

In the second half of Saturday’s double header, UAM erased a 7-0 deficit with six runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth to force a 7-all tie heading in the final inning, but ATU rallied for seven runs off six hits in the top of the seventh to seal the three-game sweep.

In UAM’s six-run fifth, junior Ray Johnson delivered the big hit with a three-run double to center after Allday walked to load the bases. Also in the inning, UAM scored on a double-steal, an RBI single from Lang and an RBI sacrifice fly out from Poindexter.

UAM knotted the score at 7-all in the sixth when Caruthers recorded a one-out single to center, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and then scored on a passed ball as Eaves drew a walk.

Following ATU’s seven-run seventh, UAM finalized the scoring in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from senior T.J. Cox. Cox led UAM offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two singles. Caruthers went 2-for-3.

Senior Eddie Smith (3-2) took the loss in relief after allowing four runs off three hits with one strikeout in only a third of an inning worked. Boone Weiss (2-0) earned the win for ATU after allowing two runs (one earned) off three hits with a strikeout and a walk in the final two innings.

The Boll Weevils step away from their Great American Conference schedule for a mid-week double-header this Tuesday, March 19 on the road against LeMoyne-Owen College. First pitch is set for noon on Tuesday in Memphis, Tenn.