FORT SMITH, Ark. – Infielder Mason Reynolds delivered a walk-off double in the bottom of the 11th inning as University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball defeated Eastern New Mexico, 9-8, in the series finale Saturday at Crowder Field.
Defensive replacement Jordon Helm was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning in his only plate appearance of the game, and one batter later Reynolds laced a double into the left-center field gap with Helm racing all the way home for the winning run.
Devon Chapa pitched the final three innings in relief to earn his first win, allowing just one hit.
Reynolds came up clutch in the ninth, as well, driving in a run on an infield single to pull the Lions within 8-7 after he was down to his final strike. Infielder Noah Davis then drove in the tying run with a single to left center to score pinch runner Will Trollinger.
Eastern New Mexico got on the board with a single tally in the top of the first before the Lions tied the game in the second on a wild pitch.
In the top of the fourth, the Greyhounds struck for four two-out runs for a 5-1 advantage. UAFS chipped away at the lead, scoring single tallies in the fifth and sixth on RBIs by Nico Patrick and Davis.
After the Greyhounds scored three times in the seventh, the Lions responded with three runs of their own to get back within 8-6.
Outfielder Blayse Quarnstrom drove in the first run on a double to left center and later scored on an RBI single by infielder Matt Schilling. Outfielder Brandon Ulmer drove in the third run on a sacrifice fly.
UAFS nearly walked it off in the 10th, when designated hitter Dan Taylor had a long fly ball caught at the wall.
The Lions finishes with a season-high 16 hits, led by Reynolds going 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Patrick had four hits, as well, going 4-for-6 with a run and an RBI. Taylor and Davis each collected two hits each.
Dylan Rollins threw a scoreless frame in relief in his season debut, while Riley Lowry went 3.2 innings with four strikeouts to start the game.
UAFS travels to Cameron next weekend as it heads down the home stretch of its schedule.
