TECH BASEBALL DROPS DOUBLEHEADER AT ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE

        HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Baseball team dropped its fourth and fifth straight contests today as they fell, on the road, 3-2 and 4-3 to the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers at Joe Davis Stadium.

          With the losses, Tech’s record moved to 8-8 on the season, while UAH improved to 8-10.

Game 1 – Alabama-Huntsville 3, Arkansas Tech 2

          UAH rallied with two out in the bottom half of the seventh inning as a Kevin Herring single to center scored Jordan Parker for the game’s winning run.

          Cody Taylor (Jacksonville, Texas), who pitched two innings and allowed two hits and an earned run, was saddled with the loss for Tech. With the loss, Taylor’s record moved to 2-2 on the year. Tyler Mattox (Conway, Ark.) got the start for the Wonder Boys, giving a solid effort, going four and two thirds innings and only allowing two runs, one of which was earned.

          Relief pitcher Joe Dunlap picked up the win for the Chargers to improve his record to 3-1 this season.

          Tech, who scattered eight hits in the contest, was led by senior Jantzen Black (Hackett, Ark.) who went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Black’s RBI came in the seventh inning when the Wonder Boys trailed 2-1. Black singled down the left field line which scored Josh Holloway (Booneville, Ark.) who had reached on an infield single.

          Tech’s other run came in the top of the second when designated hitter Jonathan Houston (Conway, Ark.) drove in Black who had singled earlier before being advanced to second after Brad Green (Cabot, Ark.) had been hit by a pitch.

Game 2 – Alabama-Huntsville 4, Arkansas Tech 3

          UAH used another late inning rally in game two of the doubleheader to pick up their eighth win of the season. The Chargers got two runs on two hits and a Tech error in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Tech 4-3.

          Zach Weiss (Barnhart, Mo.) was in line for his second win of the 2008 campaign, but the Chargers of UAH had other ideas. Blake Kastl (Fayetteville, Ark.) came in to try to save the game for Tech, but a Tech error which allowed Joe Sutton to reach with one out ended up being costly for the Wonder Boys. A bunt-single RBI by Luke Putnam and an RBI by Nick Huckaby, who reached on a fielder’s choice was all UAH needed for the come from behind win.

          Tech did all their scoring in the first two frames, scoring two in the first and one in the second. Tyler Tate (Fort Smith, Ark.) provided the excitement for the Wonder Boys in the first inning as he took second and home on failed pick off attempts by Charger pitcher Indjomar Juliana. With those two stolen bases, Tate now has seven on the year.

          Offensively, Black was credited with the only RBI for the Wonder Boys, in that first inning, to run his RBI total to, a team-leading, 13 on the season.

          Juliana, who went the distance for the Chargers, improved his record to 2-0. He allowed five hits, three runs, one earned, while striking out five and walking none.

          Putnam led the way offensively for UAH going 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Blake Butler was 2 for 3 with an RBI in the contest. Huckby, who was credited with the game-winning RBI was 1 for 4 with a run scored to go along with that one RBI.

          Tech will be back in action tomorrow for another double header with UAH. The game’s first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 1 p.m. Tech returns home Friday, March 7 with a nine inning game scheduled for 6 p.m. against North Alabama. 

-- Tech Athletics --