Courtesy University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Athletics Department
Senior catcher Ben Smith and senior designated hitter Christian Allen each crushed home runs as part of a 16-hit barrage by UAFS on Monday as the Diamond Lions run-ruled the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies 17-7 in seven innings at Goodwell, Okla.
UAFS (9-5, 8-4) swept its first Heartland Conference series of the season and won its third consecutive league series in a row. The Diamond Lions beat the Aggies (0-15, 0-12) 3-0 and 3-2 in the series-opening doubleheader on Sunday. The series was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday but was eventually moved back to Sunday and Monday because of lingering effects of last week’s blizzard in the Oklahoma-Texas panhandle area.
Both home runs came during a five-run, sixth-inning outburst by the Diamond Lions, which extended their lead to 17-5. Smith hit a two-run home run and Allen a solo shot during the inning – the last of four multi-run innings for UAFS.
UAFS trailed 3-1 after the first inning before breaking the game open with its first multi-run inning – a 13-batter, seven-run charge in the second inning.
The Diamond Lions collected seven of their hits in the inning, including a RBI single by freshman shortstop Ozzie Hurt, a RBI sacrifice fly by senior outfielder Madison Beaird, a RBI single by Smith, a RBI single by Allen, a RBI triple by junior outfielder Kyle Dickens and a two-RBI double by senior third baseman Adam Baker.
Smith was 3 for 6 with four RBI, Baker was 3 for 5 with four RBI, Beaird was 1 for 4 with two RBI, Allen was 2 for 4 with two RBI, Hurt was 2 for 4 with two RBI, junior second baseman Ryan Gros was 2 for 5 with one RBI, Dickens was 1 for 2 with one RBI and senior outfielder Dax Dupire was 2 for 5.
Aggies starter Josh Land (0-4) suffered the loss in a brief 1 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs – seven earned – on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He was the first of four Aggies pitchers.
OPSU collected eight hits – one for extra bases – against two UAFS pitchers. Diamond Lions reliever Hasten Freeman (1-0) earned the win in relief of starter Neil Smith, who worked only three innings.
Freeman allowed three runs – two earned – on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts in four innings. Smith allowed four runs – all earned – on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings.
Aggies third baseman Ruben Aguirre was 2 for 3 with three RBI and a double, designated hitter Christopher McClendon was 1 for 3 with two RBI and first baseman Nick Crosswhite was 1 for 3 with one RBI.
UAFS 17, OPSU 7
UAFS 172 205 0 — 17 16 1
OPSU 301 100 2 — 7 8 3
N. Smith, Freeman (4) and B. Smith; Land, Smalls (2), Chavez (3), Nasello (6) and Ybarra. W – Freeman, 1-0. L – Land, 0-4. HRs – UAFS, B. Smith (1), Allen (1)
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