FORT SMITH, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Baseball split its doubleheader with Cameron Saturday at Crowder Field, with each team scoring double figures in their wins.
Cameron took game one, 13-4, before the Lions roared back in game two, winning, 14-6. The teams will wrap up the series Sunday with a first pitch at 1 p.m.
Cameron 13, UAFS 4
The Lions scored first in the opening frame on an RBI single by outfielder Michael Brinton, but a pair of big innings allowed the Aggies to take the opener.
Cameron took the lead with four runs in the second and then added seven insurance runs in the top of the seventh to break open what was then a 6-3 game.
Trailing 6-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth, Nico Patrick hit a two-run homer to right to bring the Lions within three before the Aggies' big inning. Outfielder Brandon Ulmer then homered in the final frame for the final tally.
Brinton and infielder Matt Schilling each had two hits in the game to lead the Lions.
Starter Grant Shankle allowed six runs on nine hits over 4.2 innings with four strikeouts.
UAFS 14, Cameron 6
The Lions did in game two what Cameron did in game one by closing out the game with a big inning, scoring six times in the bottom of the sixth to seal the win.
UAFS led 8-4 entering the top of the sixth, with the Aggies scoring twice to pull within striking distance. But designated hitter Dan Taylor led off the bottom half of the inning with a double, leading to pinch runner Sammy Seeger later scoring on an RBI single by Ulmer.
That started the rally for the Lions, as Brinton later singled in a pair followed by back-to-back doubles by infielder Dakota Peters and Patrick to complete the scoring.
Cameron took the lead first in game two, scoring three runs in the second on a pair of home runs. UAFS got two back in the bottom half on an RBI groundout and sacrifice fly.
The Lions then took the lead in the third on RBIs from Taylor, outfielder Blayse Quarnstrom and Ulmer.
Cameron added another home run in the top of the fourth, only for the Lions to answer right back with a two-run triple by Brinton.
Six Lions recorded multi-hit games and five tallied multiple RBIs. Brinton led the way with three hits and three RBIs while Peters scored three times.
Brayden Ross earned the win on the mound after tossing six innings, allowing six runs on seven hits while recording a career-high nine punchouts. Logan Grant tossed a scoreless seventh to close out the game.
