WONDER BOYS BASEBALL FALLS IN 10 INNINGS AT DRURY [MO]

         SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Baseball stepped out of Gulf South Conference action here Tuesday and suffered a heartbreaking 11-9 loss in 10 innings to Drury at Meador Park. It was the second meeting this season between the two teams as Tech collected a 10-4 in Russellville on Feb. 8.

With the loss, Tech, who had its seven-game winning streak snapped, dropped its record to 17-11 overall on the season, while Drury improved to 14-8 overall.

Tech, who trailed 9-2 entering the ninth inning, forced extra innings when its offense collected four hits and scored seven runs to tie the game at 9-all. In the ninth, Tech opened the scoring with an RBI single by senior first baseman Brad Green (Cabot, Ark.) and then added its second run on a fielder’s choice by junior shortstop Robbie Hohler (Searcy, Ark.). Tech’s third run was brought in on a wild pitch by Drury reliever Blake Setzer, before junior second baseman Josh Holloway (Booneville, Ark.) drove in two runs on his double to left field, before adding its sixth run on a groundout by junior third baseman Tony Sanchez (Mesquite, Texas) and tied the game on sophomore designated hitter Sammy Hassen’s (Fort Smith, Ark.) run scoring single to right center.

In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore reliever Josh Floriani (Malvern, Ark.) allowed two hits, before ending Drury’s threat by forcing Bret Gallion to groundout to end the inning.

Tech had a scoring chance in the 10th inning when Green walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a stolen base, before Drury reliever Stephen Bloss ended Tech’s threat by forcing Holloway to pop out to second base.

Drury ended the game in the bottom of the 10th as Tyler Goss hit a one-out, two-run walk-off homer off of Floriani to earn the victory after blowing its seven-run lead in the ninth.

Floriani (2-1 on the season), who was the fourth Tech pitcher of the game, took the loss as he pitched 2.2 innings in relief and allowed four hits and two runs, while striking out two and walking one.

Sophomore Chad Knight (Fort Smith, Ark.) started for the Wonder Boys, but tossed just 1.2 innings and allowed six hits and five runs, while walking one and striking out one. Junior Barrett Davis (North Little Rock, Ark.) and senior Blake Bailey (Malvern, Ark.) combined to pitch five innings and allowed seven hits and four runs, while walking four and striking out three.

Drury opened the game’s scoring with four runs in the first inning and then followed with a run in the second inning to push out to a 5-0 lead.

The Wonder Boys finally dented the scoreboard in the third frame thanks to a two-run homer by senior leftfielder Jantzen Black (Greenwood, Ark.), before Drury pushed its lead to 8-2 after scoring three runs in the bottom of the third and then added its ninth run in the seventh on an RBI single by pinch hitter John Tollenaar.

Bloss, who improved to 2-0 on the season, earned the win for the Panthers as he pitched 1.1 innings and allowed no hits and no runs, while walking two and striking out two.

For the game, both teams combined for 20 runs and 25 hits, while Tech committed two errors in the loss.

Tech finished the game with eight hits, with Black going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and 2 RBIs and Green going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Freshman outfielder Tyler Tate (Fort Smith, Ark.) scored two runs from his leadoff spot. Drury’s offense was paced by three hits each from Harrison Waters and R.J. Knese, while Mike Tettamble drove in three runs in the win.

The Wonder Boys return to GSC action this coming weekend when they host Christian Brothers in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m., while the two teams will conclude its weekend series with a single, nine inning game on Sunday, March 30 beginning at 1 p.m.

Drury Box Score            

-- Tech Athletics --