TYLER, Texas – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball split a high-scoring doubleheader with UT Tyler Saturday, taking game one, 12-8, before dropping the nightcap, 17-10.
The Lions are scheduled to conclude the regular season against the Patriots Sunday at 1 p.m.
UAFS 12, UT Tyler 8
The Lions scored six runs in the third inning as they took the opener of the doubleheader.
UAFS started the scoring in the top of the first when infielder Noah Davis delivered a two-out, two-run single up the middle. UT Tyler quickly answered in the bottom half, hitting back-to-back homers for a 3-2 advantage.
After the Patriots tacked on another run in the second, Davis started the six-run third with an RBI double to score catcher Nico Patrick. Outfielder Brandon Ulmer walked in a run two batters later to tie the game, and designated hitter Dan Taylor gave the Lions lead with another bases loaded walk.
An error allowed the Lions to score two more runs before infielder Dakota Peters capped the scoring with the third bases loaded walk of the inning.
Starter Brayden Johnson settled in on the mound after the first two innings, putting up zeros in the third through fifth innings.
The Lions continued to tack on insurance runs during those frames, scoring twice in the fourth on RBIs by Ulmer and Taylor. Outfielders Michael Brinton and Blayse Quarnstrom then added solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.
UT Tyler connected on a two-out grand slam off Johnson in the sixth, but Devon Chapa threw a scoreless seventh to shut the door. Johnson struck out five over six innings of work.
Davis led the charge at the plate by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored while Brinton and Quarnstrom each had two hits. Taylor walked four times, scoring twice and driving in two runs.
UT Tyler 17, UAFS 10
UAFS was unable to recover after the Patriots scored nine times in the first inning to take the nightcap, 17-10, of the doubleheader.
The Lions got on the board in the second when catcher Kade Brewer homered in his fourth straight game with a three-run blast to left. The Lions got a fourth run when Davis hit a sac fly to score Quarnstrom.
However, the Patriots had another big inning in the bottom of the third when they batted around again, scoring six runs.
Patrick drove in a run with a bases loaded walk in the fourth before the Lions tallied three runs in the fifth to make it 15-8. Brewer drove in Brinton with a double down the line and then scored on an RBI single by Quarnstrom. Yet another run scored on a walk when Davis walked to drive in the final run of the inning.
Tyler then added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth before Quarnstrom homered for the second time on the day for the final two runs of the game in the sixth.
Quarnstrom finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs and three RBIs while Brewer went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. Brinton went 3-for-4, as well, with infielder Matt Schilling going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
