BETHANY, Okla. – The offense for the Arkansas Tech baseball team remained red hot on Saturday as the Wonder Boys totaled 31 runs on 40 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Southern Nazarene. The twin-bill sweep also completed an overall series sweep for Tech, their second in GAC play this season.
 
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Wonder Boys (12-6, 10-2 GAC) fell behind early on a solo home run by the Crimson Storm (1-15, 1-11 GAC) in the bottom of the first. That early deficit would not last too long as the Wonder Boys scored three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. In that inning, Josh Detwiler had a RBI single, Trace Maddux registered a sacrifice fly and Jonathon Arrieta singles through the left side to account for Tech's scoring.
 
An inning later, ATU added two more runs on a Garrett Crews infield RBI single to shortstop and a Detwiler RBI double. The Crimson Storm pushed across two runs of their own in the bottom half and once more pulled within two runs.
 
Single runs in the sixth and seventh inning and three runs in the eighth for the Wonder Boys put Tech comfortably up 10-3. During that round of scoring, Detweiler added two more RBIs to his total with a double in the sixth and a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Drew Bailey also had a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Trace Maddux belted a two-run home run in the eighth.
 
SNU was able to push across two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a pair of bases loaded walks to make it a 10-5 game, but the Wonder Boys struck for five runs on five hits in the top of the ninth to push their total out to 15.
 
In that inning, Detwiler forced home a run as he reached on an error. Maddux notched a RBI double and Arrieta had a two-run single to left field. Briley Harlan accounted for fifth run of that inning on a single through the left side. SNU plated a run in the bottom half to bring the score to its final of 15-6.
 
On the mound in the opener, the Wonder Boys used three pitchers. Riyan Rodriguez got the start and pitched 4.0 innings, allowing three hits, three runs (two earned), walking two and striking out six. Mason Griffin (Rogers, Ark.) earned the win in relief as he pitched 4.0 innings and allowed just two hits and two runs. Griffin would walk four and strikeout 10. Shane Scott handled the last inning and allowed one run on two hits but notched a strikeout.
 
GAME TWO
In the second game, Tech raced out to an 8-0 lead through the first five innings of play. Bailey got the Wonder Boys on the board in the second with a two-run single to right field. An inning later, Maddux doubled home two more runs. In the fourth, Bailey notched his third RBI of the game as he homered to left field.
 
Bailey's big day at the plate continued in the fifth as he hammered a two-run homer out to left field. Prior to Bailey's second round-tripper, Arrieta had picked up a RBI on a sacrifice fly.
 
A pair of doubles by the Crimson storm in the bottom of the fifth accounted for their only two runs of the game.
 
After that, the Wonder Boys kept their foot on the gas and scored five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to reach their 16-run total in the second game.
 
In the sixth, Tech got RBI singles from Crews, Detwiler, Maddux and Arrieta. Maddux's single scored two while the other three plated one run. In the seventh, Maddux forced home his fifth run on a sacrifice fly. Stormy Taylor then rounded out the offensive onslaught by the Wonder Boys with a two-RBI double to left-centerfield.
 
Hayes Cox got the start on the mound for the Wonder Boys and pushed his record out to 5-0 as he pitched 5.0 innings. He would work around eight hits and three walks but allowed just two runs (one earned) and struck out seven. Mason Griffin (Austin, Ark.) pitched an inning in relief and allowed no runs or hits and struck out two. Nick Kovar handled the final inning and did so efficiently in 12 pitches.
 
NOTES
For Saturday's doubleheader, the Wonder Boys hit .476 as a team (40-for-84) with nine doubles, a triple and three home runs. Six players hit .500 or better on Saturday with Detweiler and Crews hitting over .700 respectively. Bailey would home twice and drive in six runs while Maddux doubled twice, homered once and racked up nine RBIs.
 
Overall, for the series, the Wonder Boys hit .453 as a team (58-for-128) with 14 doubles, a triple and four home runs. Six of the starters from the lineup hit .400 or better with four over .500.
 
UP NEXT
The Wonder Boys will now prepare for a rare mid-week game this coming Tuesday as they will travel to Arkadelphia to take on Henderson State in a non-conference game. First-pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.