PORTALES, N.M. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball and Eastern New Mexico combined to score 52 runs Sunday as the Greyhounds edged the Lions in the series finale, 28-24.
The 52 runs are the sixth most in NCAA II history while the 24 runs are the third most runs in a losing effort.
Three Lions drove in at least five runs, led by outfielder Blayse Quarnstrom with six RBIs as he went 4-for-5 at the plate with a homer and three runs scored.
Infielder Jordon Helm and outfielder Brandon Ulmer hit back-to-back home runs in a six-run second as the Lions took a 6-2 lead. Helm hit a three-run blast to break a 2-2 tie and finished with three runs and five driven in.
Ulmer capped the inning with a solo shot and went 4-for-6 with three runs and five driven in, as well. Catcher Ryan Riggs opened the scoring in the inning with a two-run double which tied the game early. Riggs tallied three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored on the day.
However, the back-and-forth was just getting started as the Greyhounds answered with nine runs in the bottom half of the frame. Each team went a stretch of scoring multiple runs for four straight innings.
Down 15-10 entering the fifth, the Lions scored five times to tie the game, capped by a two-run single by Ulmer. But the Greyhounds then scored four in the bottom half, only to be answered by a Quarnstrom grand slam in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 19-19.
UAFS added two more in the frame on RBI doubles by Ulmer and infielder Noah Davis to take a 21-19 advantage.
Once again, ENMU put up a six spot of its own to go up 25-21. The teams then traded three-run innings over the final three frames.
Infielder Matt Schilling scored four times for the Lions while also adding two hits and two RBIs. All nine starters collected a hit and scored a run, with eight scoring at least twice.
This was the second time this season the Lions have scored at least 24 runs and fourth game with 19 hits.
Up next for the Lions is a series with Cameron at Crowder Field starting April 12 at 1 p.m.
