MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team recorded its fourth straight Great American Conference series victory on Saturday by winning both ends of a double-header against Henderson State by final scores of 6-3 and 10-3.
The Weevils (15-7, 8-3 GAC) go for the sweep on Sunday in the series finale. First pitch is noon at Weevils Field.
In the first game, UAM built a 6-0 lead behind the pitching performance of senior Zach McKnight (3-0), who did not allow a hit through seven innings. He was pulled after allowing his first hit to the leadoff batter in the eighth.
McKnight finished with only one run allowed, two strikeouts and five walks.
Offensively, senior left fielder Kevin Fitzpatrick led UAM with three bunt singles, while sophomore Brian Ray provided the big blow with a two-run homerun in the fifth. Ray finished 2-for-3.
Senior right fielder Corey Wood also had two hits in the win, including an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring.
UAM's final three runs came in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single by senior first baseman Mitchell Dornblut, a sacrifice fly from senior catcher Travis Steinke and an RBI double from senior third baseman Nick Cerda.
The Reddies (11-15, 8-6 GAC) got on the board with three runs in the top of the eighth inning off three hits and two walks.
Senior Chad Bradford came out of the bullpen in the eighth and retired the final four HSU batters consecutively to earn his third save of the season.
In the second game, the Reddies struck first with three runs in the top of the third inning, but the Weevils answered with four in the bottom half of the frame to begin its come-from-behind win.
That four-run third inning was highlighted by a two-out, three-run homerun from Steinke. Wood also had an RBI double earlier in the inning.
UAM went to the long ball for its final four runs of the game, getting a two-run shot from Wood in the fourth and a two-run shot from Ray in the sixth.
Steinke led UAM with three hits, while Fitzpatrick and Wood had two hits each.
Junior Grant Black (2-3) earned the win after allowing three runs off five hits with four strikeouts and four walks in the first five innings. Senior Ben Aldridge earned a two-inning save after being called in with a three-run lead and holding the Reddies scoreless in the sixth and seventh.