ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball team lost their non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at Henderson State, 8-5, to wrap up their second weekend of action.
In the game, the Wonder Boys (2-4) held several leads throughout, but a grand slam by the Reddies (2-1) in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the difference.
The Wonder Boys got the scoring started early in the top of the first on a RBI single to right field by
Evan Hafley. The Hafley RBI scored
Kandon Bennett, who led off with a single to left field. In the bottom of the third, the Reddies knotted the score on a two-out RBI single to left.
A half inning later, Tech reclaimed the lead on a single up the middle by
Trace Maddux. In the at-bat before,
Garrett Crews singled to left. Crews then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch ahead of Maddux's RBI knock.
In the sixth, Crews was in the middle of another scoring effort as the Wonder Boys plated two in the inning. Crews would lead off the inning by reaching on a fielding error by the Reddies' pitcher. Crews then stole second was moved to third on a groundout by Maddux. In the ensuing at-bat, Crews scored on a RBI single up the middle by Jonathan Arrieta.
Arrieta then got to third in the next at-bat as
Drew Bailey laid down a bunt single. On the Bailey bunt, there was an error by the Reddies' catcher to allow Arrieta to get to third.
Elijah Boyer then chased Arrieta home on a sacrifice fly to give the Wonder Boys a 4-1 lead.
The Reddies would tie the score once more in the seventh as they plated three runs on three hits in the frame.
It did not take long, however, for the Wonder Boys to jump back in front as they pushed across a run in the top of the eighth. Maddux was the catalyst of that run as he led off the inning with a single and then stole second and third base during the next at-bat. After a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Bailey laid down a successful safety sacrifice bunt to score Maddux.
Trouble brewed early in the bottom of the eighth, however, as the Reddies loaded the bases with no outs thanks to an error and a pair of walks. That set the stage for the biggest swing of the game as the Reddies connected for a go-ahead grand slam.
The Wonder Boys limited the damage from there striking out the next three batters, but the deed was done as Tech retired in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for their home-opener this coming weekend as they are set to host Southeastern Oklahoma for a three-game Great American Conference series out at Baswell Field. The series is scheduled to begin on Friday evening with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Important fan attendance information at Baswell Field will be released next week.
