HOUSTON – Sophomore outfielder Nick Anderson hit a two-run single to left to cap off a four-run sixth inning, as University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball upset No. 5 Central Missouri, 10-4, in its opening game of the Houston Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park Friday night.
Tied 3-3 with the bases loaded and two outs, Anderson lined a single to left to score sophomore third baseman Brooks Sunny and junior outfielder Tristan Kalina. Kalina had singled in a run earlier in the inning, before the Lions (1-0) tied it on a wild pitch.
UAFS continued the late inning offensive explosion in the eighth, as Sunny lined a double down the left field line to drive in pinch runner Baxter Mays. Later in the inning, with runners on second and third, senior catcher Dylan Hurt drove in two more on an infield single to third.
For insurance runs, the Lions tacked on two more on wild pitches in the ninth.
Freshman Nico Sharp picked up the win in relief, striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth after the Lions took the lead. Sharp tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits.
Junior first baseman Nolan Riley put the Lions on the board in the top of the first, slapping an RBI single up the middle. Riley finished 3-for-3 at the plate, driving in one and scoring twice. He was also hit once.
UCM took the lead in the third, scoring twice, including the go-ahead run on an inning ending rundown. The Mules (1-1) made it a 3-1 game in the fifth on an RBI groundout.
Kalina and Sunny each scored twice, while Hurt and Anderson each drove in a pair.
Right-hander Logan Grant got the opening day start on the mound, pitching four solid innings. He exited after five hits, three earned runs, three strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Freshmen Coby Greiner and Jakob Petross combined to throw the final three innings in relief. Greiner went two innings, allowing a run on four hits with three strikeouts, while Petross shut the door in the ninth after entering with the bases loaded, allowing just a sac fly.
UAFS is back at it at Minute Maid Park at 10 a.m. Saturday, as the Lions will take on Lubbock Christian. The Chaps lost to the Mules, 7-5, earlier in the day.
