FORT SMITH, Ark. – Outfielder Zach Slunder hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday at Crowder Field against No. 3 West Texas A&M, giving University of Arkansas – Fort Smith a split on the afternoon.
The Buffaloes took the first game, 6-2, before the Lions won, 11-10, in the nightcap. The series concludes Monday at noon.
West Texas A&M 6, UAFS 2
The Buffs opened up a 3-0 lead after the first two innings and held the Lions offense in check to earn the game one win. They then added two more runs in the sixth for a 5-0 lead.
Second baseman Mac Moody put the Lions in the board in the bottom half of the sixth with a two-run homer for their only runs of the game.
Third baseman Brooks Sunny went 2-for-3 at the plate, while starter Logan Grant pitched 3.2 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
UAFS 11, West Texas A&M 10 (10 Inn.)
Slunder singled up the middle with the bases loaded as the Lions earned the walk-off win in the 10th. Sunny led off the inning with a walk before scoring the tying run on a single by outfielder Cash Balentine two batters later.
After a base hit by first baseman Nolan Riley and a walk by pinch hitter Blayse Quarnstrom to load the bases, Slunder delivered the two-out game winner.
West Texas had initially taken the lead in the top of the 10th on a wild pitch.
The Lions broke a 3-3 tie when Sunny doubled in a pair down the line, with the Lions taking a 5-3 lead into the seventh.
However, the Buffs led off the inning with a solo homer and would bat around, scoring six times to take a 9-5 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, the first two Lion batters were retired before the rally began. Catcher Nico Patrick singled to right to start a stretch of five consecutive hits, scoring on an RBI double to center by Slunder. Slunder then scored on an RBI single by outfielder Hunter Church to make it a 9-7 game.
With the game on the line, freshman shortstop Noah Davis delivered the biggest hit of his young career, blasting a game-tying two-run homer over the scoreboard in left center.
The Buffs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first before starter Brayden Johnson settled in with three straight scoreless innings, He struck out the side in the third and finished with six punchouts over 5.1 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits over 5.1 innings.
UAFS was able to scratch across two runs over the first four innings without recording a hit before Sunny tallied the first hit for the Lions in the fifth, a solo home run to tie the game at 3-3.
Sunny led the Lions at the plate by going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Slunder and Church each went 2-for-4. Church scored three runs while Slunder drove in three.
Reliever Dylan Rollins was solid out of the bullpen, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
