RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough to overcome a six-run deficit heading into the frame as they lost the opening game of their three-game series with Southeastern Oklahoma, 8-5, on Friday night at Baswell Field.
In the game, the Wonder Boys (26-17, 19-9 GAC) fell behind early as Southeastern Oklahoma scored a two-out run in the top of the first inning. Tech managed to get that run back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI double off the bat of
Keaton Ranallo.
Southeastern came back in the top of the second and scored three runs on four hits while also benefiting from a Tech error to take a 4-1 lead. The Wonder Boys would get one of those runs back with a RBI single by
Sam Stephenson with the bases loaded. It appeared that Tech was threatening for more as the bases remained loaded with one out following the Stephenson knock, but Southeastern was able to wiggle off the hook with just the one run scoring.
Neither team scored in the third, but Southeastern started to create some separation with a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth as they extended the lead to 8-2.
Over the course of those same middle innings, Tech would collect four hits, but stranded each one on the base paths. Facing one of the top relievers for Southeastern to begin the seventh, the Wonder Boys were then retired in order in that inning as well as the eighth.
In the ninth, the Wonder Boys were able to put together a rally against that Southeastern reliever and went on to score three runs.
Cade McBride started the inning off with a walk. Stephenson then singled up the middle which allowed McBride to take third. A wild pitch then allowed McBride to score easily and Stephenson to move into scoring position.
Following consecutive outs, Ranallo kept the rally going with a sharp RBI double the other way to drive in Stephenson.
Logan Schwenke then deposited a RBI single to right for Tech's third run of the inning and final run of the inning.
The Wonder Boys and Savage Storm will conclude their series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. First-pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
