FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball will play a day earlier this week due to the Easter holiday, welcoming UT Permian Basin to Crowder Field for a three-game series Thursday and Friday.
Thursday will feature a single game with a first pitch of 2 p.m., while Friday will be a standard doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. with game two to follow. All three games will be broadcast on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network with live stats available at uafortsmithlions.com.
Additionally, players will be wearing teal wristbands to help bring awareness to Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The first 50 attendees will receive a free teal UAFS t-shirt, along with a Numa Nation "Live at the Diamond" tailgate starting at 1:30 at the Stubblefield Back Patio.
NOTES:
LAST WEEK: UAFS took two of three games at Cameron last weekend, dropping game one, 8-7, before winning both games of the doubleheader, 5-2 in each game.
IN RELIEF: The Lion bullpen gave up just two earned runs in 16.1 innings for a 1.10 ERA. The unit combined for 15 strikeouts, as well.
EXTRA, EXTRA!: The first game of last Saturday's doubleheader at Cameron was the first extra inning game of the season for the Lions. The last extra inning contest prior to last Saturday was March 1, 2020 against Eastern New Mexico.
AT THE PLATE: Outfielder Hunter Church finds himself leading the Lions in batting with a .313 average after playing his way into the starting lineup. Catcher Dylan Hurt is batting .303 with 14 RBIs, while first baseman Nolan Riley leads the team with 18 RBIs. Third baseman Brooks Sunny has hit three homers this season.
ON THE MOUND: Freshman Lukas Petross leads the Lions with a 1.71 ERA in 21.0 innings pitched while twin brother Jakob Petross is right behind with a 2.25 ERA. Coby Greiner has posted two saves and a 2.45 ERA to go with a team-high 20 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.
SCOUTING UTPB: The Falcons enter the series 9-11, 6-9 LSC after having lost two out of three at home against UT Tyler. Junior infielder Nick Hernandez leads the Falcons at the plate with a .409 average, seven homers and 24 RBIs on the year, while Trever Berg has been the top starter for the Falcons, posting a 5.25 ERA and 3-3 record in 36.0 innings with 32 strikeouts.
THE SERIES: UAFS leads the all-time series, 20-7, and won three of four games last season at Crowder Field.
