RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball team came up just short in the series finale against Oklahoma Baptist, losing the rubber game by a score of 4-3 on Saturday afternoon out at Baswell Field.
The series loss was the first of the season for the Wonder Boys (14-8, 11-4 GAC) who are now tied atop the GAC standings with their weekend opponent, Oklahoma Baptist.
The Bison (12-7, 11-4 GAC) started quickly on offense as just three pitches into the game they were on the board with a leadoff home run. That 1-0 lead doubled in the top of the third on a RBI groundout to shortstop.
In the bottom of the frame, however, the Wonder Boys got things going on their end and scored three runs on four hits. The first three batters to come to the plate that inning all singled with
Garrett Crews singling through the left side,
Matt Robbins up the middle and
Evan Hafley through the left side.
Following a fielder's choice in the ensuing at-bat that cut down Crews at the plate,
Trace Maddux doubled in two runs to knot the game at 2-all. A batter later, the Wonder Boys took a 3-2 lead on a wild pitch that scored Josh Detwiler.
Neither team would score in the fourth or fifth innings. In the top of the sixth, the Bison were able to put together a two-out rally as they had three-consecutive singles to push across a run a tie the game at 3-all.
In the top of the eighth, Oklahoma Baptist scratched across a run on a sacrifice fly to go up 4-3. In the bottom of the frame,
Kandon Bennett led off with a single to right-centerfield and then ended up at third with two outs on a stolen base and wild pitch. Bennett was stranded at third on a strikeout to end the inning.
Wonder Boys reliever
Nick Kovar, who came in the top of the eighth was able to strand a pair of Bison base runners to keep it a one-run game heading into the bottom of the ninth.
On the very first pitch of the inning, Robbins drilled a double to deep centerfield. Two batters later, Robbins would get to third with one out as Detweiler reached on a fielding error by the Bison third baseman. On that error, Detwiler was able to make second to put the potential game-winning run in scoring position. With first base open, the Bison elected to intentionally walk Maddux to set up a double play anywhere.
Following the intentional pass of Maddux, the Wonder Boys were down to their final out after a foul out for the second out. Two pitches later, Bennet roped a liner to third base, but the ball was snared at the hot corner, ending the game and sealing the win for the Bison.
The Wonder Boys will be in action next weekend as they will play on the road at Ouachita. The three-game series with the Tigers is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start on Friday, April 2.
