MONTICELLO --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (22-11) pounded out 17 hits en route to a 10-3 victory over the University of Montevallo Falcons today at Weevil Field. The win earned the Weevils a series split after yesterday’s 14-3 loss.

The Weevils opened scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Cody Ellis (Sr., Bullard, Texas) hit an RBI double, giving UAM an early 1-0 lead. Montevallo knotted the game in the top of the second and took a 2-1 lead after the top of the third, but Ryland Kathrein (So., Chilliwack, B.C.) once again gave the Weevils the lead (3-2) with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

UAM pushed ahead 4-2 in the fifth inning when Ken Merrill (Sr., North Little Rock, Ark.) led off with a solo homer to left center; but the Falcons were able to pull to within 4-3 in the top of the fifth inning after an RBI double by J.D. Pruitt.

UAM extended their lead to 5-3 in the sixth after a Josh Franks (Jr., Lafayette, La.) RBI double, and the Weevils would not look back, adding a pair of runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth.

Merrill was a perfect 3-for-3 in the win. Josh Mace (Jr., Nelson, B.C.) picked up three hits in the winning effort while Franks, Ellis, Kathrein, and Nick Tillsley (So., Fort Macleod, Alta.) picked up two hits apiece.

Tex Webster (Jr., Hobbs, N.M.) improved to 6-3 on the season after allowing two runs in two innings.

In Tuesday’s loss, the Falcons started quickly, scoring five runs in the first and adding four runs in the third to take an early 9-2 lead, from which UAM could never recover. Tillsley, Kathrein, and Cody Tornberg (Sr., Houston, Texas) all picked up two hits in the loss, while three of Tillsley’s four hits in the two-game set were doubles.

Tyler Price (Fr., Maurice, La.) suffered the loss in the opening game of the series after allowing nine earned runs in 2 1/3 innings.

The Weevils return to action this weekend as they host Central Arkansas in a Gulf South Conference series on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is scheduled for noon, while Sunday’s single game begins at 1 p.m.
 

MEMPHIS, TN --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (21-10, 4-7 GSC) were swept by the Christian Brothers University Buccaneers, losing Saturday's opening game 9-7 and nightcap 5-2, and Sunday's game 8-6.

In the first inning of the opener, Cody Ellis (Sr., Bullard, Texas) swatted a two-run homer to give the Weevils an early 2-0 lead, but the Buccaneers responded with a three-run first inning to take a 3-2 lead after one full inning.

CBU added runs in the second and third inning to extend their lead to 5-2.

The Weevils chipped away in the fourth inning, when Ellis hit yet another two-run bomb to cut the CBU lead to 5-4, and the Weevils were able to tie the game in the seventh inning on an RBI double by Ryan Pilcher (So., West Monroe, La.).

With two outs in the seventh, the Weevils took their first lead of the ballgame on an RBI single by Cody Tornberg (Sr., Houston, Texas), but the Bucs responded in the bottom of the frame with a two-run homer by Blake Christian to retake the lead.

The Bucs added two insurance runs in the eighth on another two-run homer to seal the win.

Ellis paced the Weevil offense with a 2-for-3 day with four RBI, and Pilcher also added two hits.

Aaron Cotter (Sr., South Slocan, B.C.) suffered the loss after allowing 12 hits and seven runs, six earned, in seven innings.

In Saturday’s nightcap, the Buccaneers scored four runs on two hits in the third inning, and the Weevil offense was unable to respond until the seventh, when Ken Merrill (Sr., North Little Rock, Ark.) broke the shutout with an RBI double and Ryland Kathrein (So., Chilliwack, B.C.) added another RBI double to pull the Weevils to within 5-2.

Kathrein picked up two of UAM’s five hits in the loss.

Tex Webster (Jr., Hobbs, N.M.) took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits.

In the series finale, the Weevils seemed set to avoid the sweep, when CBU’s Charlie Soukup hit a two-out, three-run walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Bucs the victory.

Josh Mace (Jr., Nelson, B.C.) was a perfect 3-for-3 in the loss. Nick Yarbrough (Jr., Star City, Ark.) picked up the loss in relief.

The Weevils return to action on Tuesday and Wednesday, hosting Montevallo in a mid-week series. First pitch on both days is set for 1 p.m.
 

In the opener, the Weevils rallied from a 6-0 deficit, tying the game and taking the lead in the eighth inning on a two-run single by Nate Black (Jr., Rocky River, Oh.).

Aaron Cotter (Sr., South Slocan, B.C.) went the distance in the win, fanning nine and allowing six runs on eight hits.

Cody Tornberg (Sr., Houston, Texas) picked up three hits in the win. Black drove in three runs

In the day's finale, Henderson State scored five first-inning runs and the Weevils never recovered. Cody Ellis (Sr., Bullard, Texas) and Teppei Nobata (Jr., Fukoka, Japan) picked up two hits in the loss.

The Weevils return to action on Wednesday, March 22, hosting North Alabama in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 

Tex Webster (Jr., Hobbs, N.M.) picked up the win in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader, tossing a complete game and scattering nine hits, allowing five runs (four earned) and fanning seven.

The Weevils fell behind after a two-run first inning by the Wonder Boys, but tied the game on an error in the bottom of the frame.

In the top of the second, Arkansas Tech went ahead 3-2 on a Tony Sanchez RBI single, but the Weevils would tie the game in the bottom of the inning on a Cody Tornberg (Sr., Houston, Texas) RBI single and take a 4-3 lead on another RBI single by Nick Tillsley (So., Fort MacLeod, Alta.).

Arkansas Tech would once again tie the game in the top of the third inning, but the Weevils once again answered in the bottom of the third, taking the lead on an RBI grounder by Enrique Odreman (Jr., Caracas, Venezuela). UAM would never look back as Webster shut down the Wonder Boys offense the rest of the way, and the Weevils added a three-run fourth inning for good measure to help ensure the victory.

Tillsley and Tornberg both picked up three hits in the win.

In the day’s second game, Aaron Cotter (Sr., South Slocan, B.C.) picked up his sixth win of the season after scattering five hits in seven innings, fanning seven.

UAM opened scoring in the bottom of the third inning on a Tornberg RBI single, and Cotter held the Wonder Boys scoreless until the top of the fifth, when ATU tied the ballgame at 1-1.

Tornberg once again gave the Weevils the lead, this time with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth and the Weevils added an insurance run in the sixth on a throwing error as Cotter held the Wonder Boys through the sixth and seventh innings.

The Weevils were unable to sustain the momentum into Sunday, as Arkansas Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the second inning; and after a two-run third inning the Weevils were unable to respond until the bottom of the ninth, when trailing 6-2, the Weevils were able to plate two runs. UAM brought the potential winning run to the plate with two outs, but the Weevils were unable to close the gap and the Wonder Boys avoided the series sweep.

Tillsley and Ken Merrill (Sr., North Little Rock, Ark.) picked up two hits apiece in the loss. Dillon Reynolds (Jr., Langley, B.C.) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs in five innings.

The Weevils return to action on Saturday, March 18, facing Henderson State University in a three-game set in Arkadelphia. First pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is set for noon.
 

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils have debuted at #23 in the season’s first National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association national Top-25 poll and at fourth in the NCBWA South Central Region poll.

UAM joins West Alabama as the only two Gulf South Conference teams ranked in the national poll.

NCBWA National Poll

NCBWA South Central Region Poll

MONTICELLO --- Solid pitching ruled the day as the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (18-5) picked up a doubleheader sweep of Crichton College on Tuesday at Weevil Field, winning the opening game 4-0 and the finale 4-1.

Tyler Price (Fr., Maurice, La.) picked up the win in the opener to improve to 1-1 after tossing a four-hit shutout, fanning four and walking two.

The two teams were scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Weevils finally got onto the scoreboard when Ken Merrill (Sr., North Little Rock, Ark.) hit into a fielders choice, scoring Ryan Pilcher (So., West Monroe, La.).  With a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Pilcher put the Weevils ahead 2-0 with a sacrifice fly, and Nick Tillsley (So., Fort MacLeod, Alta.) hit a two-run double to give the Weevils their final margin of victory.

In the finale, The Weevils struck early, as Cody Ellis (Sr., Bullard, Texas) hit a two-run single in the bottom of the first to give the Weevils their only runs of the game.

Dillon Reynolds (Jr., Langley, B.C.) picked up the win after scattering three hits in five innings, allowing just one run. Jarrett Chasse (Jr., Invermere, B.C.) picked up his third save of the season after hurling two scoreless innings.

The Weevils return to action this weekend, hosting Arkansas Tech University in a three-game series. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at noon, with Sunday’s single game starting at 1 p.m.
 

MAGNOLIA --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils baseball team (16-5, 1-2 GSC) dropped two games of a three-game set to the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders this past weekend at Mulerider Field.

The Muleriders won the opener 8-0, SAU starter Cody Jones fired a three-hit shutout to improve to 4-0 on the season. Tex Webster (Jr., Hobbs, N.M.) fell to 4-1 after allowing seven earned runs in four innings.

The Weevils fired back in the day’s second game with an 8-4 win, opening scoring in the first inning with an RBI single by Ken Merrill (Sr., North Little Rock, Ark.). The Muleriders knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame, but the Weevils took the lead for good in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Nick Tillsley (So., Fort MacLeod, Alta.). UAM added two more runs in the inning, and three more in the third to go ahead 7-1.

The Muleriders pulled to within 7-3 going into the seventh inning, but the Weevils added an insurance run as Tillsley doubled home Cody Tornberg (Sr., Houston, Texas) to put UAM ahead 8-3. The Muleriders added a run in the final inning to set the final score at 8-4.

Aaron Cotter (Sr., South Slocan, B.C.) picked up the win after allowing two runs in five innings, fanning six. Nick Yarbrough (Jr., Star City, Ark.) pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the victory.

Tillsley posted a 3-for-5 game at the plate with three RBI, while Tornberg, Merrill, and Josh Mace (Jr., Nelson, B.C.) both added two hits apiece.

The Muleriders took control early in the series finale, scoring four runs in the first inning en route to a 14-1 victory. The Weevils scored their only run on a solo shot by Tillsley in the top of the third inning.

Daniel Howard (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) suffered the loss after allowing six runs in 2.2 innings.

The Weevils return to action on Tuesday, March 7, hosting Crichton College in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
 

MONTICELLO --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils baseball team earned a doubleheader split with #5 West Alabama, winning the opener 1-0 and falling in the finale 5-0.

In the opener, Daniel Howard (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) picked up the win after allowing just one hit in four innings. Nick Yarbrough (Jr., Star City, Ark.) and John Carroll (Fr., El Dorado, Ark.) combined for three innings of one-hit relief.

The Weevils only allowed three baserunners in the game.

UAM scored their only run in the fifth inning as Josh Mace (Jr., Nelson, B.C.) led off with a double and was singled home by Ryan Pilcher (So., West Monroe, La.). Cody Tornberg (Sr., Houston, Texas) had two hits in the victory.

In the finale, the Weevils could only manage four hits, and the Tigers picked up the victory after scoring one second-inning run, and two runs in both the fifth and seventh innings.

Tyler Price (Fr., Maurice, La.) suffered the loss despite allowing just three hits and one run in four innings.

The Weevils return to action on Saturday, opening Gulf South Conference play at Southern Arkansas.