RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Jonathon Arrieta turned in a four-hit, six-RBI performance, recording his first career home run as a Wonder Boy with a grand slam that helped propel the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boy baseball team (8-6, 4-1 Great American Conference) to a 10-6 win over Henderson State (3-8, 0-5 GAC) in the opening game.
Zack Kesterson delivered the big hit on the nightcap as his game-winning single in the eighth gave Tech a 4-3 walk-off win over the Reddies in the second game at Baswell Field on Sunday afternoon.
NEXT UP
- Arkansas Tech will return to the field on Monday Feb. 25 for the series finale with Henderson State. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP
- Britt Stroth (LF)
- Dylan McDearmon (SS)
- Harry Gard (RF)
- Riley Hickerson (CF)
- Tristan Thomas (3B)
- Zack Kesterson (DH)
- Jonathon Arrieta (1B)
- Korey Thompson (2B)
- Michael Post (C)
Isaac Hale (P)
HENDERSON STATE LINEUP
- Daniel Mitchell Jr. (LF)
- Joe Myers (1B)
- Blake Wynn (DH)
- Josh Aguilar (C)
- Joseph Shepherd (RF)
- Brandon Pollock (2B)
- Ryan Wieligman (SS)
- Bryson Haskins (CF)
- Daniel Colasanto (3B)
Drake Salsman (P)
SCORING PLAYS
- Tech 1st – R. Hickerson singled to right field, RBI; D. McDearmon advanced to second; B. Stroth scored. (Tech 1, HSU 0)
- Tech 1st – J. Arrieta homered to center field, 4 RBI; T. Thomas scored; R. Hickerson scored; D. McDearmon scored. (Tech 5, HSU 0)
- Tech 2nd – T. Thomas singled to left field, RBI; R. Hickerson advanced to second; D. McDearmon advanced to third; B. Stroth scored. (Tech 6, HSU 0)
- HSU 3rd – Mitchell Jr. flied out to lf, SF, RBI; B. Haskins scored, unearned. (Tech 6, HSU 1)
- Tech 3rd – D. McDearmon singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw, RBI; M. Post advanced to third, scored on a throwing error by 2b, unearned; K. Thompson scored. (Tech 8, HSU 1)
- Tech 4th – T. Thomas flied out to rf, SF, RBI; R. Hickerson scored. (Tech 9, HSU 1)
- HSU 5th – Mitchell Jr. advanced to second on a passed ball; B. Haskins scored on a passed ball, unearned. (Tech 9, HSU 2)
- HSU 6th – B. Pollock singled through the right side, RBI; J. Shepherd advanced to second; J. Aguilar advanced to third; B. Wynn scored. (Tech 9, HSU 3)
- HSU 6th – B. Haskins singled to left field, RBI; B. Pollock advanced to second; J. Shepherd advanced to third; J. Aguilar scored. (Tech 9, HSU 4)
- HSU 6th – D. Colasanto singled through the right side, 2 RBI; B. Haskins advanced to second; B. Pollock scored; J. Shepherd scored. (Tech 9, HSU 6)
- Tech 6th – T. Thomas out at first lf to 1b, SF, RBI; R. Hickerson out on the play; H. Gard scored. (Tech 10, HSU 6)
OF RECORD
- Winning pitcher – Isaac Hale (3-0)
- Losing Pitcher – Drake Salsman (0-2)
NOTABLES
- The Wonder Boys struck first, scoring five runs in the first inning, four or which came from a grand slam from Arrieta, his first home run as a Wonder Boy.
- Five Tech players recorded multi-hit performances as Stroth, McDearmon, Arrieta, Hickerson and Post all tallied two hits.
- Stroth and Hickerson also scored twice apiece, while Arrieta notched four RBIs and Thomas added three RBIs.
- Hale picked up his third win of the season after pitching 5.0 innings, while allowing two unearned runs.
- Patrick Miner tallied his second save of the year after pitching 4.0 innings and surrendering just one run.
ARKANSAS TECH LINEUP
- Britt Stroth (LF)
- Dylan McDearmon (SS)
- Harry Gard (RF)
- Riley Hickerson (CF)
- Tristan Thomas (3B)
- Zack Kesterson (DH)
- Jonathon Arrieta (1B)
- Korey Thompson (2B)
- Michael Post (C)
Hayes Cox (P)
HENDERSON STATE LINEUP
- Daniel Mitchell Jr. (RF)
- Blake Wynn (1B)
- Josh Aguilar (DH)
- Caleb Carr (LF)
- Brandon Pollock (2B)
- Ryan Wieligman (SS)
- Bryson Haskins (CF)
- Daniel Colasanto (3B)
- Hunter Collins (C)
Drake Salsman (P)
SCORING PLAYS
- HSU 2nd – R. Wieligman singled, bunt, RBI; B. Pollock advanced to second; C. Carr scored, unearned. (HSU 1, Tech 0)
- Tech 2nd – J. Arrieta doubled down the rf line, 2 RBI; T. Thomas scored; R. Hickerson scored. (Tech 2, HSU 1)
- HSU 4th – Mitchell Jr. doubled to center field, RBI; D. Colasanto advanced to third; B. Haskins scored. (Tech 2, HSU 2)
- Tech 5th – M. Post stole third, scored on a throwing error by c, unearned. (Tech 3, HSU 2)
- HSU 6th – J. Martin singled up the middle, advanced to second on a throwing error by cf, advanced to third on the throw; R. Wieligman scored. (Tech 3, HSU 3)
- Tech 8th – Z. Kesterson singled to right field, RBI; T. Thomas scored. (Tech 4, Tech 3)
OF RECORD
- Winning pitcher – Nolan Withrow (1-0)
- Losing Pitcher – Spencer Taack (1-2)
NOTABLES
- Zack Kesterson delivered the big hit for the Wonder Boys as his walk-off RBI single in the eighth scored Thomas from second.
- Eight different Wonder Boys recorded a hit, led by Thomas who went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
- Arrieta went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
- Hayes Cox pitched 7.0 innings, while surrendering three runs on nine hits. Cox also fanned ten.
- Withrow picked up his first win of the season after pitching a scoreless eighth.
-FIGHTON-