WONDER BOYS DROP BOTH ENDS OF HOME DOUBLEHEADER
TO 17TH-RANKED DELTA STATE

         RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Baseball continued its struggles in the month of the April here Sunday as they dropped both ends of a Gulf South Conference doubleheader to 17th-ranked Delta State at Tech Field.

With the two losses, Tech falls to 0-9 in the fourth month of the year and drops its overall record to 19-29 and 7-11 in the GSC. Tech hasn’t won since sweeping a doubleheader on March 29 at Christian Brothers. DSU improves to 32-13 overall and 16-2 in the league.

Tech opened the doubleheader with a 7-6 loss (Box Score) to the Statesmen and then dropped the nightcap, 12-7 (Box Score).

In the first game, Tech entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 7-4 but plated two runs and had the tying run on second base with two outs, before DSU escaped with the victory. In the inning, junior centerfielder Chad Wynn (Bono, Ark.) scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the inning and senior second baseman Josh Holloway (Booneville, Ark.) scored on a throwing error by DSU closer Levi Bishop, before Bishop forced redshirt freshman catcher Landon Sullins (Harrison, Ark.) to fly out to right to end the game.

Much like yesterday’s game against the Statesmen, Tech opened the scoring in the first inning on a double by senior third baseman Tony Sanchez (Mesquite, Texas) and an RBI single by senior rightfielder Clint Stroud (Bonham, Texas).

DSU tied the game in the top of the second inning on an solo homer by Cade Hoggard off of sophomore left hander Blaine Sims (Scott, Ark.) and then tacked on three more runs in the third inning to push in front 4-1.

Tech, though, pulled within 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wynn. Wynn reached base on the play as DSU centerfielder Michael Niemann dropped the ball.

In the fifth inning, Josh Gordon hit a three-run homer to give the Statesmen a 7-2 lead. Those would be the final runs DSU would score the rest of the game as senior hurler Tyler Mattox (Conway, Ark.) retired 10 of DSU’s final 11 batters.

          Sanchez hit a solo a blast in the fifth to bring Tech within 7-3 and in the seventh inning, Sanchez doubled home Wynn, who scored from first after being hit by a pitch to pull within 7-4.

          Sims, who fell to 1-6 on the season, took the loss as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits, while walking two and fanning four in 5.2 innings of work. Mattox didn’t allow a hit over the final 3.1 innings, while walking one and striking out one.

          Trey Griffin (6-0) tossed eight innings to earn the win for the Statesmen and Bishop worked the ninth to earn his fifth save of the season and become DSU’s all-time leader in saves in the process.

          Sanchez led the Tech offense going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Hoggard paced DSU’s offense as he was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.

          In the nightcap, Tech opened the game with five consecutive singles in the bottom of the first off DSU starter Joey Haston. Stroud and Sullins produced run-scoring hits and junior first baseman Nick Shoptaw (Benton, Ark.) added a sacrifice fly to give to Tech the early 3-0 lead. The Wonder Boys extended their lead to 4-0 on a RBI fielder’s choice from Sanchez in the second frame.

          Tech right hander Caleb Powers (Dover, Ark.) kept the Statesmen off the scoreboard in the first two frames before surrendering a three-run homer by Niemann in the third inning. The Statesmen would score five more times in the inning to take an 8-4 lead.

          Each team would plate three runs in the sixth. The Statesmen scored three unearned runs due to two Tech errors, while Tech scored on a double by Wynn and RBI singles from Stroud and Sullins to draw within 11-7. DSU would add another run in the seventh and final inning to set the final margin at 12-7.

          Freshman Cody Hatman (Roland, Okla.), the second Tech pitcher, was handed the loss (2-1 on the season) as he allowed five runs (one earned run), on two hits with no walks or strikeouts.

          Haston (6-2) got the win, allowing seven runs on 14 hits in 5.2 innings, with a walk and three strikeouts. Brandon Hall didn’t allow a hit over the final 1.1 innings of relief.

          Wynn and Sullins each had three hits to lead the way for Tech. Gordon sparked DSU with three hits, including his second homer of the day, and 2 RBIs.

          Tech will return to action on Tuesday night when they host the University of the Ozarks in its final non-conference contest of the season. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Tech Field.

-- Tech Athletics --