MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team split a doubleheader with Harding University on Sunday from Weevils Field in Monticello, Arkansas. With the split, the Weevils earned a 2-1 home series win in their first Great American Conference matchups of the season.
 
UAM got some solid pitching out of Livan Cordova in game one, while Jordan Johnson, Hudson Hopkins and Aaron Gaela drove in five runs to snag a 5-1 victory.
 
In game two, UAM mustered only four hits, while Harding scattered runs in the second, third and fifth innings to earn a 5-0 shutout victory.
 
With the split, the Weevils are now 4-6 overall and 2-1 in GAC play, while Harding is 5-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
 
GAME ONE: HU 1, UAM 5
To start the day, Cordova and Harding hurler Logan McCall were cruising along. It was not until the third inning that scoring began.
 
Cade Thompson got on in the bottom of the third with a one-out walk. Eventually he would move to third base after a stolen base and a wild pitch. Hopkins then drove him in with a base hit. A little later, Johnson was on via a walk and he came around to score after a throwing error by the shortstop. The Weevils went out in front, 2-0.
 
Later in the contest, after the Bisons drove in a run to make it, 2-1, the Weevils responded with a run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Gaela scoring Grant Shepherd.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Johnson made it 4-1 when he smoked a 1-1 pitch over the right-centerfield wall for a solo shot. It was his fourth home run of 2020 and his second in two games.
 
The Weevils tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth when Hopkins walked in a run.
 
From there, Cordova and reliever Jared Roberts cruised along, helping UAM snag the 5-1 win.
 
Cordova (W, 2-1) got the win going 7.0 innings allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out three.
 
McCall (L, 2-1) took the loss going 5.2 innings surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks while punching out six.
 
Roberts pitched solid out of the UAM bullpen going 2.0 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two batters.
 
GAME TWO: HU 5, UAM 0
Game two featured some solid pitching on the other side of the field from Harding's Ty Hoecker and their closer Ryder Yakel.
 
In the contest, hits were at a premium as Thompson, Johnson, Clary and Shepherd tallied UAM's only four.
 
Harding used its solid pitching and manufactured runs in the second, third and fifth innings thanks to RBI from Cody Smith, Chris Witzke and Zak Whitis.
 
Hoecker (W, 1-1) got the win going 5.1 shutout innings striking out five batters and surrendering just four hits.
 
Yakel (S, 3) got the five-out save going 1.2 innings surrendering no hits and striking out one batter.
 
Mason Philley (L, 0-1) took the loss for the Weevils going 2.0 innings allowing four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two.
 
UP NEXT
UAM will play a nine-inning game during the week when it hosts Mississippi College on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. from Weevils Field in Monticello.