TECH DROPS ROAD DOUBLEHEADER AT NO. 12 WEST ALABAMA

        LIVINGSTON, Alabama – The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys opened the road portion of their schedule with a doubleheader loss to No. 12 West Alabama. With the losses, the Wonder Boys fell to 8-5 on the season.  

Game One – #12 West Alabama 8, Arkansas Tech 4

          The Wonder Boys dropped their first road game of their 2008 campaign Saturday afternoon at Tartt Field in Livingston, Ala. 8-4.

          Tech’s bats were cooled by Tiger pitcher Mike Schmitt who threw six innings, allowing only two earned runs and recording 10 strikeouts while improving his own record to 3-0 on the year. Tyler Mattox (Conway, Ark.) got the start for the Wonder Boys, going 4.2 innings allowing five runs, all of which were earned, striking out five and walking five. Mattox is now 1-1 on the year.

          Tech, who recorded only six hits, was led by first baseman Brad Green (Cabot, Ark.) who was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Second baseman Jantzen Black (Hackett, Ark.) belted a solo homerun, his first of the season, to lead off the top of the second inning. Black finished the game 1 for 3.

          Freshman outfielder Tyler Tate (Fort Smith, Ark.) extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his leadoff single in the fifth inning.

          The Tigers were led by a 4 for 4 performance at the dish by Tres Avans who hit a three-run homerun in the fifth inning and finished the game with four runs scored and four RBIs. Designated hitter Rob Dahlberg was also pesky at this dish going 3 for 4 with a run scored.  

Game Two – West Alabama 8, Arkansas Tech 4

          The Wonder Boys were able to scramble four more hits in game two for a total of 10 for the ballgame, but once again fell short, 8-4, in the nightcap of the twin bill to the Tigers.

          West Alabama rolled up eight runs on nine hits, including a four run fourth to improve their record to 11-3 on the season.

          Matt Hill picked up to win for the Tigers to improve his record to 2-0 on the year. He allowed six hits and a run in five innings of work while striking out six.

          Zach Weiss was tagged with the loss for Tech after throwing four innings and allowing six runs, three of which were earned.

          Tech jumped to a 1-0 lead after Tate reached on a strikeout and a passed ball and then stole second. Josh Holloway (Booneville, Ark.) then grounded out to second advancing Tate to third. Tony Sanchez (Mesquite, Texas) then singled up the middle, driving in Tate.

          The good start would not be a sign of things to come, however. West Alabama picked up a run in the bottom of the second inning and then gave Hill some breathing room with four in the third.

          Tech trailed 8-1 heading into the seventh and final frame when they did most of their damage off of UWA pitcher Kasey Nafzger. Tech took advantage of two walks and an error in the inning to score three runs.

          The Wonder Boys were led offensively by Tate, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games, as he went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Sanchez was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs and Holloway was 1 for 4 with one RBI.

          Dahlberg continued to swing the hot bat for the Tigers, going 2 for 2 with a run scored and two RBIs. Second baseman Todd Rea homered, his second of the season, in the sixth inning. He was 1 for 3 with two runs and an RBI in the game.

          Tech will be back in action tomorrow with one nine inning game scheduled against the same UWA Tigers from Tartt Field in Livingston, Ala. The action is scheduled to get underway at 2 p.m.

-- Tech Athletics --