UAFS scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning and reliever
Ryan Horn retired the University of Arkansas-Monticello side in order to end the game as the Lions rallied to beat the Boll Weevils 11-9 on Tuesday at Weevil Field in Monticello.
It was the Lions' third win in a row and their first midweek win in as many opportunities this season. It also was the Lions' second win in three opportunities against an in-state opponent. UAFS (8-3) lost to then-No. 13 Southern Arkansas but beat Ouachita Baptist in the Henderson State Invitational earlier this season.
Trailing 9-7 going into their final at-bats, the Lions rattled Boll Weevils closer Scott Gillespie quickly as third baseman
Spencer Sackett drew a leadoff walk and second baseman
Brandan Warner followed with another walk.
Right fielder
Logan Allen then singled to right field to load the bases for catcher
Dylan Hurt, who singled to left field to drive in Sackett and Warner and tie the game at nine runs apiece.
Gillespie got center fielder
Travis Young to fly out to right field, but Allen tagged from second and went to third. Then, on a double steal, Hurt took second and Allen scored to give UAFS a 10-9 lead.
Gillespie got first baseman
Kyle Love to pop up to first base for the second out but gave up a single to center field to shortstop
Logan Easley that drove in Hurt for an 11-9 lead. Gillespie finally got out of the inning, striking out left fielder
Tremarcus Koontz.
Two runs was more than enough of a cushion for Horn, who retired shortstop Audy Clary and right fielder Grant Shepherd on grounders to second and got second baseman Cade Thompson to fly out to center to end the game.
Horn (2-0), who was the fifth Lions pitcher, earned the win, retiring all four batters he faced over 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Arkansas-Monticello collected seven hits off four of the Lions' pitchers but left nine runners on base. Catcher Brodie Threet was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, third baseman Jordan Johnson was 2 for 4 with a double and first baseman Kaleb Warden was 1 for 2 with a double.
Gillespie (2-1), who was the last of five Boll Weevils pitchers, suffered the blown save and the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits with one walk and one strikeout over one inning of relief.
UAFS collected 16 hits off the five Arkansas-Monticello pitchers, including four for extra bases. The Lions' Nos. 1-7 batters were a combined 15 for 36 with eight RBIs, two home runs and two doubles.
Easley was 4 for 6 with a home run and three RBIs, Young was 1 for 6 with a home run and two RBIs, Love was 1 for 4 with one RBI, Hurt was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, Allen was 3 for 6 with a double, third baseman
Brooks Sunny was 1 for 3 with one RBI and designated hitter
Brady Wilcox was 1 for 2 with a double.
UAFS will return to action this weekend when it hosts Heartland Conference foe Newman in a three-game, nonconference series at Crowder Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday and will play one game at noon on Saturday.
UAFS 11, ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 9
UAFS 003 022 004 -- 11 16 1
Arkansas-Monticello 000 105 120 -- 9 7 1
Goshen, Pace (3), Lindley (6), Ross (7), Horn (8) and Hurt; Wilkerson, Roberts (4), Philley (6), Keily (7), Gillespie (9) and Piraino. W – Horn, 2-0. L – Gillespie, 3-1. HRs – Young (1), Easley (2).
