RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball team bounced back from an 11-4 loss in the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader to win the nightcap, 4-2, and in doing so, win the series over Arkansas-Monticello.
GAME ONE
In the opener, the Wonder Boys (11-8, 6-6 GAC) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a RBI single up the middle by
Josh Detweiler in the bottom of the first. The offense for the Wonder Boys in the opener would struggle to find its footing as they were held scoreless over the next four innings.
During that time, UAM's offense started to click. The Boll Weevils (6-12, 4-8 GAC) tied the game at one-all in the third inning on a RBI single and then created some separation with four runs on three hits in the top of the fifth. An inning later, UAM took a five-run lead with a run scoring in the top of the sixth.
Tech got two of those runs back in the bottom half with a RBI groundout by
Austin Terrell and a RBI single to right-centerfield off the bat of
Kandon Bennett.
Unfortunately, UAM matched those two runs with two of their own in the top of the seventh to go back up by five runs, 8-3.
In the eighth, Bennett collected his second RBI of the game with a double down the left field line to score
Carter Thessing, who doubled to left-centerfield two batters earlier. That Bennett RBI double ended up being the last run scored by the Wonder Boys in the game.
UAM picked up three runs of insurance in the top of the ninth to bring the score to its eventual final of 11-4.
GAME TWO
In the second game, Tech once more took the first lead of the game as they scored two runs in the bottom of the third.
In that inning,
Ty Van Meter reached base on an error by the UAM shortstop to lead off the frame. Thessing then singled to left-center to move Van Meter to second. A single through the left side of the infield for
Sam Stephenson loaded the bases with no outs.
Another misplay by the Boll Weevils shortstop on what appeared to be a tailormade double play resulted in all runners being safe and Bennett recording a RBI on the fielder's choice. After an out, the Wonder Boys plated their second run of the inning on a sharp line drive to centerfield that resulted in a sacrifice fly for Detweiler.
The Boll Weevils eventually knotted the score in the top of the fifth and saddled Tech starter
Shane Scott with a no-decision. Despite the ND, Scott was still sharp in the start as he scattered four hits, allowed two earned runs, walked none and struck out four in 4.1 innings of work.
While spirits were dampened some following UAM tying the game in the top of the fifth, they were quickly shot back up as Detweiler launched a go-ahead two-run home run over the roof of the indoor batting facility in left field.
That home run by Detweiler was his sixth of the season and proved to be the game-winning blast as Van Meter, who came on in relief to end the fifth inning, put the clamps down on the mound over the next two innings and allowed no runs and just one hit while striking out four en route to collecting his first win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Wonder Boys will not have a mid-week game this coming week and will return to action on the weekend as they play host to Southern Nazarene. The three-game series is scheduled to begin Friday, March 18 at 6 p.m. out at Baswell Field.
