RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Picture-perfect weather conditions from the outset was just the beginning of what turned out to be an all-around great day for the Arkansas Tech baseball team as they won their home-opener over Arkansas-Monticello in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon by a score of 16-8.
The offensive onslaught by the Wonder Boys (4-4) started in the second inning when they scored five runs on five hits while also capitalizing on two UAM errors.
Logan Schwenke led off that inning with a walk. He quickly scored the first run of the game in the next at-bat as
Keaton Ranallo doubled down the left field line. A bunt single by
Brandon Bunton moved Ranallo to third and put runners on the corners.
Markos Cabranes then singled sharply at the feet of the UAM pitcher. On that same play, Cabranes got all the way to third base as UAM had a pair of throwing errors, the first by the pitcher and the second by their right fielder. During all of that, Ranallo and Bunton scored to give Tech a 3-0 lead.
Shane Poe then singled home Cabranes and advanced to second on a wild pitch during the next at-bat, which ended with
Sam Stephenson doubling home Poe. UAM then got out of the inning on a ground out and a double play.
Getting their feet under them in the top of the third inning, the Boll Weevils struck for three runs on two hits to make it a 5-3 game. An inning later, they capitalized on a leadoff triple to cut the Tech lead to single run, 5-4.
Jordan Muschalek came on in relief that inning with two outs and ended the inning with a swinging strikeout of UAM's leadoff hitter.
The bottom of the fourth saw the Wonder Boys put the game away as they erupted for 11 runs on seven hits while also taking advantage of a UAM error.
The RBIs in that monster inning went to Duddleston on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, a two-RBI single by
Nick Jones, a sac bunt RBI by Schwenke, a RBI sac fly by Ranallo, a single by Cabranes, a two-run double by Poe, a double by
Cade McBride and a two-run double by Jones, giving him four RBIs in the inning.
Neither team scored in the fifth and UAM would plate two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to avoid the seven-inning run-rule and force the game to its complete nine innings. UAM also added a run in the eighth to bring the score to its final of 16-8.
Muschalek earned the win in relief and was one of five pitchers to see action against the Boll Weevils.
Ethan Fritz made the start and struck out six in 3.2 innings of work.
Jackson Sorey pitched 0.1 innings and
Kade Cartwright pitched 1.2.
Grant Shahan had the final inning.
The Wonder Boys will now turn their attention toward the first Great American Conference series of the year as they play host to Oklahoma Baptist. The three-game series is scheduled to begin on Friday night with a first-pitch time of 6 p.m.
