RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Tech baseball team picked up a win in the series-opener at home against Ouachita Baptist on Saturday night with a 2-0 shutout out at Baswell Field.
Both runs scored early in the game as Tech scored a single run in the second inning and another single run in the third.
The run in the second scored on a throwing error by the Tigers' starting pitcher, Cooper Timmons as he airmailed first base on
Cole Dawson's successful sacrifice bunt attempt. Scoring on the play was
Shane Poe, who doubled to right field to lead off the inning two batters prior.
In the third, the Wonder Boys' run centered around Dawson once more as he was hit-by-a-pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. Forced home on the plunking of Dawson was
Christian Olea, who walked with one out earlier in the inning.
Brendyn Bard doubled while Poe walked earlier in the inning to get the bases loaded.
That little bit of offense would standup for the Wonder Boys as they got a solid start out of
John Gray and dominant relief pitching from
Simon Murray and
Mason Griffin.
Gray would pitch 5.0 innings and scatter three hits with one walk and struck out five. Murray came on in the sixth and handled that inning and the next two to get the game to the ninth. He would also allow three hits, walk one and strikeout five.
Griffin was touched up a little with two hits allowed, but he was able to shut the door on his first save of the season as he got a game-ending groundout to second base with the tying run on base.
The Wonder Boys and Tigers will conclude their three-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
