MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Arkansas-Monticello baseball team took down #6 ranked Henderson State in a 12 inning, comeback showdown. The Weevils came back to win Game 1 of their Great American Conference series in walk-off style after a 4 hour and 15 minute match as the sun began to set over Weevils Field, 9-8.
After two scoreless innings from both UAM and HSU, the Weevils were the first to put up a run in the bottom of the third.
Grant Shepherd absolutely crushed a ball oppo-taco style over the right center wall.
The Reddies showed why they went into they were a nationally ranked team. HSU put up two runs of their own in the top of the fourth, followed by six more in the top of the fifth to make it an 8-2 ball game.
UAM wasn't finished though, putting up two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to shorten the Reddie lead.
Hudson Hopkins struck out to lead off the inning, but was able to reach first on a wild pitch.
Clay Lockett ripped a single to center field, advancing Hopkins to second. Hopkins would eventually score off a SAC fly from
David Reyna, and Lockett scored off a Shepherd line drive to left field.
The bottom of the eighth came and Monticello went on a tear, putting up five runs to tie the score at 8.
Nick Fakouri led off the inning with a single to center, followed by a double down the left field line from
Grant Shepherd to put two runners in scoring position. A
Chase Cripps single and a handful of walks would eventually score him,
Grant Shepherd,
Nick Fakouri, and
Jordan Johnson.
David Reyna would drive in Hopkins for the final run of the inning on a single down the right field line.
The game would continue into extra innings as both teams continued their conference battle. The Weevils would eventually come out on top after
Jordan Johnson would score off of an
Orlando Arevalo single to right center. The Weevils would take game 1, defeating the #6 ranked Henderson State Reddies.
Pitching Performances
The UAM pitching staff had its work cut out for them, totaling four different pitchers in the game.
Derek Potts started on the mound, totaling 4.0 inning pitched with seven runs allowed on seven hits. The right-hander stuck out six batters and had four walks.
Trent Bunting would enter the game in the top of the fifth, tallying 3.0 inning pitched with one run allowed on two hits. The right-hander also struck out four batters and had one walk.
Jack Barna took his turn on the mound in the top of the eighth, throwing 3.2 inning with 0 runs allowed on only two hits, striking out four.
Rigell Robinson (W,1-1) would close out the last 1.1 innings of the game for the Weevils, entering in the top of the eleventh. He would put up two strike outs and no walks with no hits.
The victory pushes Arkansas-Monticello to 4-9 on the season and gives the Weevils a chip on their shoulder as they prepare to wrap up games 2 and 3 on Saturday.
Up Next
Arkansas-Monticello is back at Weevils Field on Saturday, Mar. 5 for games 2 and 3 of their GAC series with Henderson State. The Weevils start the doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.
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