MONTICELLO, Ark. - The 21st ranked University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team split its series over the weekend with No. 13 Augustana University (S.D.) after taking game one Sunday, 8-3, and falling in game two, 9-4. The UAM offense combined for 14 hits on the day.
In the first game, the Weevils hit a pair of homers and ripped eight hits putting up runs in the first, second, sixth and seventh innings to earn the win, 8-3.
As for game two, the Weevils had an early lead, but Augustana chipped away and eventually held onto their lead late earning the victory, 9-4.
With the split, UAM is now 2-5 on the season while AUG is 2-2.
GAME ONE: AUG 3, UAM 8
The Weevil offense got going early plating runs in the first and second innings. In the first,
Jordan Johnson homered with
David Reyna on to get ahead, 2-0. It was his second homer in as many at-bats and second of the season.
The following frame,
Grant Shepherd got on the homer train stroking one over the right-centerfield wall for a solo shot; his first of the season. Later,
Andrew Piraino ripped an RBI single to make it a 4-0 UAM advantage.
Livan Cordova continued to hold Augustana's offense at bay, not allowing a run until the sixth inning.
With UAM up, 4-1, in the bottom of the sixth, it then struck for four more runs in the following innings. Johnson and Piraino added to their RBI totals for the day with one each in the sixth, and in the seventh, the Weevils manufactured a two more.
The Vikings plated a run in the top of the eighth, but it was not enough as the Weevils went on to win, 8-3.
Cordova (W, 1-1) got the win going 6.0 innings allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while punching out eight.
Ojani Chacon got some work in as well going 3.0 innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four.
GAME TWO: AUG 9, UAM 4
Augustana got out in front in the top of the first, but the Weevils responded in the bottom of the frame. Shepherd ripped an RBI single to score Johnson, and
Audy Clary followed with an RBI single of his own to score a pair and make it 3-1 Weevils.
The Vikings added one in the second to make it a one-run deficit, but in the fourth, they took advantage of two Weevil errors and added four runs, taking the lead, 6-3.
Shepherd later scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth for UAM's final run of the day, but the Vikings added one more in the seventh, going on to win, 9-4.
Hunter Huckabee (L, 0-1) took the loss going 3.0 innings allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while punching out one.
Even Furst (W, 1-0) got the win for AUG going 3.0 innings allowing just a pair of hits and one walk while striking out two.
UP NEXT
UAM will host No. 9 Delta State University for a nine-inning game at Weevils Field in Monticello on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
