RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball did not trail at any point of Sunday's series finale against Southern Nazarene, but five runs over their final two trips to the plate turned a tense one-run game into a comfortable 9-3 win, giving Tech the series sweep.
Sunday's game got off as good of a start as you could hope for as the Wonder Boys (14-8, 9-6 GAC) led 4-0 through four innings of play.
The first two of those runs scored in the bottom of the first on a two-RBI double by
Evan Hafley. The other two scored in the bottom of the fourth as
Logan Schwenke hit a booming two-run home run that hit off the netting in front of the scoreboard in left-centerfield.
That early offense was in support of starter
Will Horton and through those first four innings, it looked like Horton would only need one run the way he was pitching.
The Crimson Storm (3-23, 0-15 GAC) did not get their first hit off Horton until the top of the fourth inning, and through the first time through the order, Horton had racked up five strikeouts. He would go on to pick up two more Ks to tie his single-game high of seven strikeouts, and he was only through four innings.
Trouble started for Horton, however, in the top of the fifth. That inning, Horton issued a leadoff walk, which was then brought home on a two-run home run by the Crimson Storm, cutting the Wonder Boys' four-run lead in half. Following the homer, Horton surrendered a single and that would be the final batter faced by Horton.
Mason Griffin came on in relief of Horton and after issuing a walk himself and having runners at second and third with one out, Griffin tight-roped out of the inning without any further damage.
In the sixth, SNU continued to apply pressure and eventually loaded the bases with one out. All three batters reached base via the walk, which brought the end of the line to Griffin.
John Walsh came on in relief of Griffin and nearly induced an inning-ending double play, but a safe call at first resulted in a fielder's choice and a run scoring, making it a 4-3 game.
Walsh and the Wonder Boys then got out of the inning on a caught stealing.
Neither team scored in their next at-bats, but once more SNU made things interesting with the potential tying run being in scoring position with one out in the top of the seventh. Walsh masterfully worked out of that jam, however, by striking out the next two batters and inducing a groundout to short to end the inning.
The bottom of the seventh proved to be the turning point of the game thanks to some great baserunning by
Sam Stephenson.
After getting on base with a single up the middle with one out, Stephenson was aggressive on the basepaths and took second base on a deep flyout to right field by
Trace Maddux. That taking of second base allowed Stephenson to score a batter later as
Yadier Medina dumped a single into shallow right-centerfield.
SNU then went to their bullpen, but the inning was extended as the first walk was issued by Crimson Storm pitching. That kept the inning alive for
Sawyer Duddleston. The young left fielder then connected for an opposite-field three-run home run out to the bleachers in right field. The home run broke open the game and was his second in as many days.
With breathing room, Walsh worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning to keep the momentum on the side of the Wonder Boys.
In the bottom of the inning, more smart baserunning led to the Wonder Boys' ninth and final run of the game.
Ommar Jackson led off the inning with a pinch-hit single. He then got to second base on a wild pitch. Following a foul out for the first out, Jackson took third on a flyout to centerfield off the bat of Stephenson. Maddux then drove in Jackson on an infield single.
Shelby Quiggins then came on in relief for the Wonder Boys and pitched a perfect ninth inning, registering a pair of strikeouts, to end the game.
The Wonder Boys are scheduled to be in action this coming Tuesday evening at home against Henderson State for a non-conference game. First-pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
