FORT SMITH, Ark. – UA Fort Smith right fielder Justin Cowgur ended his long collegiate baseball career with a bang on Wednesday night against the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies.
The senior crushed a two-run home run during his final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning to help propel the Lions to a convincing 14-7 win against the Aggies in the season finale at Crowder Field.
Oklahoma Panhandle State (11-39) won the Heartland Conference three-game series, however, after winning the first two games 1-0 and 3-2 in Goodwell, Okla., on April 5. UA Fort Smith (13-21) ended the season on a two-game winning streak. The Lions are provisional members of NCAA Division II this season and are ineligible to participate in postseason play.
Cowgur, who is from Bentonville, Ark., played one season at Labette Community College and played his sophomore season at UA Fort Smith, helping the Lions win the 2007 NJCAA Region II tournament and advance to the South Central District tournament.
With his junior college eligibility complete, Cowgur had opportunities to go play at some four-year programs, but he instead decided to stay at UA Fort Smith to complete his degree. After sitting out two seasons, he returned this season – his last season of eligibility – to be a part of the Lions’ first D-II team.
Cowgur, who also played catcher for the Lions this season, was 1 for 2 with three RBI before being taken out after the seventh inning. After Cowgur belted his two-run home run – his fourth round-tripper of the season – first baseman Gordon Miller followed with a solo blast – his eighth home run – to extend the Lions’ lead to 14-6.
UA Fort Smith, which trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the third inning, pounded out 13 hits, including four for extra bases, and capitalized on six wild pitches by the Aggies pitching staff.
Nine Lions had at least one hit. Miller was 2 for 4 with one RBI, center fielder Marty Pick was 3 for 4, left fielder Dax Dupire was 2 for 5 with two RBI and designated hitter Christian Allen was 1 for 3 with two RBI.
Aggies starter Josh Duran (0-1), the first of five OPSU pitchers, suffered the loss after only 2 1/3 innings. He allowed four earned runs on four hits, walked six and uncorked five wild pitches.
OPSU collected 10 hits off four UA Fort Smith hurlers. Reliever Hunter Benton (2-3) earned the win after working four innings in relief of starter Kyle Thompson, who lasted only three innings. Benton allowed three earned runs on three hits, walked two and struck out two.
Aggies shortstop Jeff Steen was 3 for 4 with two RBI, third baseman Josh Avery was 2 for 5 with two RBI and first baseman Mike Senter was 1 for 3 with a solo home run.
