WARRENSBURG, Mo. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball battled against No. 8 Central Missouri in an MIAA series this weekend, but the Mules swept the Lions with scores of 12-2, 3-2 and 19-12.
UAFS will visit Rogers State at 2 p.m. Wednesday before returning to Crowder Field against Missouri Southern on Friday.
UCM 12, UAFS 2
The Mules led 6-0 after the first four innings before infielder Layne Sweat put the Lions on the board with an RBI single in the fifth. UAFS scored again on a sacrifice fly by outfielder CJ Snowden in the sixth but the Mules answered with five runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Jett Frazier started on the mound and tossed three innings while Carter Phillips tossed a scoreless frame in relief.
Sweat finished with two of the four hits for the Lions.
UCM 3, UAFS 2
Pitchers Eli Gilreath and Phillips allowed just two hits over 6.2 innings out of the bullpen but the Lions couldn't upset the Mules. Gilreath threw 5.0 innings before allowing a double before giving way to Phillips, striking out four. Phillips tossed the final 1.2 innings.
UAFS scored first on a double steal by infielder Quinton Borders and Snowden in the opening inning before the Mules scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the second.
Gilreath kept the Mules off the board until the Lions pushed across a run in the eighth on doubles by Snowden and infielder Caleb Eisenhower. The Lions put the tying run on base with one out in the ninth but were unable to tie the game.
Designated hitter JJ Young went 2-for-4 at the plate while Snowden scored both runs for the Lions.
UCM 19, UAFS 12
Young homered three times and drove in six runs in the series finale to pace the Lions at the plate.
Young started the scoring with a two-run blast in the second followed by the first career homer by designated hitter Dylan Herriage. However, the Mules chased starter Aden Almeida in the second as they scored seven times in the bottom half.
UAFS then pulled within 7-6 in the third as Young hit his second homer of the day, a three-run shot to center. The Mules then scored nine times in the fifth through seventh innings to take a 16-8 lead.
Young hit a solo homer in the seventh while catcher Cade Heckendorn hit his first homer of the season with a two-run homer in the ninth. Heckendorn went 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored. Sweat tallied two hits and scored a run for the Lions.