UAFS treats fans to a free can of Coca-Cola for every home run the Lions hit during a game. Saturday, no one left Crowder Field thirsty.

The Lions hit a school-record seven home runs as UAFS run-ruled the Texas A&M International Dustdevils 19-4 in seven innings to complete their first Heartland Conference series sweep of the season.

UAFS (24-16, 11-7) had already secured its fifth consecutive conference series win on Friday by sweeping the series-opening doubleheader with 3-0 and 9-6 wins against the Texas A&M International (16-28, 7-11), which was coming off a 2-1 series win against conference leader Lubbock Christian.

The Lions moved up to third place in the conference with one conference series remaining – a three-game series against the last-place Newman Jets at McCarthy Field in Wichita, Kan., on Friday and Saturday.

UAFS trails conference leader Lubbock Christian by three games and second-place Rogers State by one game. UAFS was swept by Lubbock Christian but won its series 2-1 against Rogers State.

Almost half of the Lions' 16 hits were home runs more than half (nine) were extra-base hits. The Lions' seven home runs surpassed their previous NCAA Division II era single-game school record of five, which came during a 13-5 win against Southeastern Oklahoma State at The Ballpark in Durant (Okla.) on March 13, 2018.

UAFS actually hit eight home runs during Saturday's game. Third baseman Brooks Sunny crushed what should have been the Lions' first home run of the game – a two-run shot to left field in the second inning – but passed teammate and designated hitter Trent Powell after rounding first base. Sunny was called out and credited with a two-run single.

The Lions hit at least one home run in each of the final four innings and hit back-to-back-to-back home runs for the first time in school history during a four-run third inning that turned a tie game into a 6-2 UAFS lead.

Two Lions had multiple home runs.. Freshman second baseman Logan Easley was 4 for 6 with three consecutive home runs – one each in the third, fourth and fifth innings – and six RBIs, which is tied for sixth-most in a game for a Lions player during the NCAA Division II era. Junior right-fielder Logan Allen was 3 for 4 with two home runs and three RBIs, and it was second multi-home run game of his career.

Along with Easley and Allen, three other Lions had multi-hit games. First baseman Kyle Love was 2 for 2 with a home run and one RBI, center fielder Travis Young was 3 for 4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs and Sunny was 2 for 5 with five RBIs.

Dustdevils starter Ruben Solis (1-9), who was the first of four pitchers for Texas A&M International, suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs – seven earned – on eight hits with three walks over 3 1/3 innings.

Texas A&M International (16-28, 7-11) collected six hits off a pair of UAFS pitchers, including three extra-base hits. Right fielder Daniel Espinoza was 1 for 2 with a home run and one RBI, second baseman Andrew Holsey was 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI and designated hitter Obi Obinwa was 1 for 3 with a double and one RBI.

Lions starter Cooper Van Kooten (4-2) earned the win, allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts over six complete innings. Reliever Zach Burch allowed no runs on one hit with two strikeouts in one inning of relief.
 
HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
UAFS 19, TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL 4
Texas A&M International       002      011      0          --          4          6          4
UAFS                                      024      454      X         --          19        16        1
Solis, Pena (4), Coronado (5), Montemayor (6) and Rosales; Van Kooten, Burch (7) and Hurt. W – Van Kooten, 4-2. L – Solis, 1-9. HRs – Texas A&M International, Espinoza (4); UAFS, Allen (3,4), Easley (4,5,6), Love (6), Young (6).