RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball team fell just short in the opening game of their weekend series against Arkansas-Monticello on Friday night, losing 3-2.
UAM would get on the board first with a run in the top of the first. The Wonder Boys would get things going in the bottom of the third as they scored twice to take a one-run lead.
Shane Poe led that inning off with a sharp single up the middle. A batter later, Poe scored on
Grant Jones' successful sacrifice bunt that also included a throwing error by UAM. On that play, Jones reached and got to third while Poe scored from first.
Cole Dawson then drove in the go-ahead run on double to right-centerfield.
In the top of the fifth, UAM knotted the game at two-all with a solo home run to right.
That score held until the top of the eighth as the Wonder Boys starter
John Gray and UAM's starter Connor Irvine were locked in an old-fashioned pitcher's duel. The go-ahead run for the Boll Weevils in the inning came as they were able to move around a leadoff hit-by-pitch and drive in the run with two outs.
The Wonder Boys would get the tying run to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to get the big hit to tie the score or take the lead as UAM held on for the one-run win in the opener.
The two teams will now decide the series on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
