FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball kept its postseason hopes alive with a 7-1 win in game two of Friday's doubleheader against St. Mary's, after the Rattlers had rallied for an 11-7 win in game one of the day.
The series continues Saturday at Crowder Field at 4 p.m.
St. Mary's 11, UAFS 7
The Rattlers rallied with a nine-run fourth inning to erase a 7-1 Lion lead in game one of the doubleheader.
St. Mary's scored one run in the top of the first, but the Lion bats struck quickly, tying the game on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the inning. Infielder Mac Moody then gave the Lions the lead with an RBI triple and scored on an RBI groundout by outfielder Kinner Brasher.
The Lions kept the bats hot in the second, scoring four times, capped by a two-run homer by Moody. Infielder Brooks Sunny started the scoring with a sacrifice fly and outfielder Hunter Church extended the lead by scoring on an error. Moody the sent a blast to left for a 7-1 lead.
The St. Mary's bullpen then held the Lions to just three hits the rest of the way.
After scoring once in the third, the Rattlers tallied their nine-run fourth inning to take an 11-7 lead.
Sunny, Moody and infielder Noah Davis all had two hits in the contest with Church and Moody each scoring twice. Moody finished with three RBIs.
Starter Dylan Rollins was chased in the fourth inning after allowing six runs on five hits and five walks. He struck out two. Reliever Jakob Petross took the loss, while Brayden Ross pitched the final 3.1 frames, allowing just one runs while striking out three.
UAFS 7, St. Mary's 1
Right-hander Brayden Johnson pitched six strong innings to earn his third win of the year in the nightcap. He allowed just two hits while striking out nine.
The Rattlers tagged Johnson for a run in the first with their only two hits by the first two batters of the game before Johnson settled down for five straight scoreless frames. He retired the side in order in the third and fourth and had multiple punchouts in four of his six innings.
UAFS tied the game with a run in the first and Sunny provided all the offense the Lions would need in the third with a two-run homer to left.
The Lions then added four insurance runs in the sixth for good measure. Moody started the frame with a leadoff double down the left field line, then designated hitter Kaleb Shaffer drove him in and traded places with a double to right.
Pinch runner Will Trollinger then scored on an error followed by an RBI single by catcher Trevor Brown. Church concluded the scoring in the inning with an RBI sac bunt.
Trevor Johnson closed the game with a scoreless seventh inning on the mound.
