PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State scored eight runs in the third inning as University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball dropped the series opener to the Gorillas, 14-4, Thursday.
Starter Austin Mitchell kept the Gorillas off the board in the first two frames, but the Gorillas struck the second time through the order.
UAFS scored three times in the top of the fifth, starting with three straight doubles by outfielder Cooper White, catcher Ryan Riggs and outfielder CJ Snowden. Snowden scored the third run of the inning on an RBI groundout by outfielder Sammy Seeger.
However, the Gorillas answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Designated hitter Jackson Down homered in the sixth for the Lions' final run while also tallying a double. Snowden also had two hits for the Lions.
Pitt State then scored four times in the seventh and eighth to close the game.
Game two of the series is set for 3 p.m. Friday.
