EDMOND, Okla. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Baseball scored in the first inning of all three games at Central Oklahoma but came up short as the Bronchos swept the series.
UCO won game one 18-3, game two 17-7 and game three, 6-4.
UAFS is at Rogers State on Wednesday at 2 p.m. as the Lions enter the final week of the regular season.
UCO 18, UAFS 3
The Bronchos scored six runs in the bottom of the first to answer the Lions' fast start and tallied 15 runs over the first four frames.
UAFS added single tallies in the third and sixth, as well, on RBI singles by outfielder CJ Snowden and infielder Logan Lundquist, respectively. Snowden and Lundquist each had two hits on the afternoon for the Lions.
Colby Morrow added to his NCAA leading appearances with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.
UCO 17, UAFS 7
UAFS held a 7-3 lead after four innings but the Bronchos scored 14 times in the fifth and sixth frames in the game two win.
The Lions scored in the top of the first on a two-run double by infielder Caleb Eisenhower but the Bronchos took the lead with three runs in the bottom half.
After two scoreless frames, the Lions struck for five runs in the top of the fourth. Catcher Cody Walkingstick tied the game with an RBI single to left before Snowden cleared the bases with a three-run double for a 6-3 lead. Snowden then scored on an RBI double by outfielder JJ Young.
Starter Aden Almeida kept the Bronchos in check for the first four innings but was chased in the fifth after allowing six runs on seven hits with a pair of strikeouts. The Bronchos scored nine in the fifth and then five in the bottom of the sixth.
UAFS batters walked nine times in the game with Snowden scoring twice and Young collecting a pair of hits.
UCO 6, UAFS 4
The Lions outhit the Bronchos, 9-5, in the finale but was unable to come up with the win.
Young gave the Lions the first inning lead with an RBI single but the Bronchos tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. UCO then took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the bottom of the second.
Lundquist collected an RBI single in the fourth to pull the Lions within a run, but UCO then added two runs in the sixth for a 5-2 advantage.
In the seventh, UAFS once again pulled back within a run on an RBI single by utility Connor Earleywine and infielder Quinton Borders. The Bronchos then added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.
Earleywine and Lundquist each led the Lions with two hits while Lane Stringer started on the mound and tossed 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Tommy Kelsey threw the final 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just one run on two hits.