Courtesy University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Athletics Department
UAFS will continue its hectic week on Friday when it begins its three-game Heartland Conference baseball series against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin at Crowder Field.
The Diamond Lions and the Falcons will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Friday and one nine-inning game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Live statistics will be available for the first game of Friday’s doubleheader only.
It will be the fifth, sixth and seventh games in seven days for the Diamond Lions, who swept a three-game conference series at Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday and Monday and lost a 3-2 nonconference heartbreaker to Harding University on Wednesday.
UAFS (9-6, 8-4) will look to win its fourth conference series in a row. The Diamond Lions opened the season with a 2-1 series loss at then No. 15-ranked St. Edward’s but followed with a 2-1 series win at then No. 1-ranked St. Mary’s, a 2-1 series win against then undefeated Texas A&M International at Crowder Field and a sweep of winless Oklahoma Panhandle State at Goodwell, Okla.
The Diamond Lions enter the weekend series third in the conference behind No. 4-ranked St. Mary’s (14-4, 12-3) and Texas A&M International (14-5, 9-3). UAFS has a one-game lead over No. 24-ranked St. Edward’s (10-7, 7-5).
UAFS is batting .252 as a team with 31 extra-base hits, including three home runs. Five starters are batting .250 or better – senior third baseman Adam Baker (.351), junior outfielder Kyle Dickens (.294), senior catcher Ben Smith (.292), junior second baseman Ryan Gros (.268) and senior designated hitter Christian Allen (.250).
The Diamond Lions pitching staff has compiled a 4.54 ERA with 47 walks and 69 strikeouts over 111 innings. Junior right-hander Koby Chadick (3-1) leads all starters with a 3.13 ERA with 12 walks and 17 strikeouts over 23 innings. Sophomore right-hander Hasten Freeman leads the team with four saves in four save opportunities.
The Falcons (4-12, 2-10) have not won a conference series and have been swept twice in conference – at Texas A&M International and at home against St. Mary’s. UTPB is coming off a 2-1 conference series home loss to Newman.
UTPB has lost two games in a row.
The Falcons are batting .224 as a team with 17 extra-base hits, including one home run. Three starters are batting .300 or better – junior infielder Neil Madsen (.333), junior outfielder Ryne Head (.313) and sophomore outfielder Ozzie Bueno (.313).
UTPB’s pitching staff has compiled a 3.38 ERA with 44 walks and 83 strikeouts over 143 2/3 innings. Senior right-hander Travis Wilcox (1-2) leads all starters with a 1.95 ERA with six walks and 24 strikeouts over 37 innings.
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