Arkansas Tech University handed nationally second-ranked Southern Arkansas University its first Great American Conference series loss of the season on Sunday by defeating the Muleriders twice at Tech Field in Russellville.
With the wins, the Wonder Boys (29-16 overall, 22-7 GAC) moved into sole possession of second place in the GAC standings and pulled within three games of first-place Southern Arkansas (33-10, 25-4) with four regular season conference games remaining.
Arkansas Tech and SAU will conclude their series with a 1 p.m. GAC contest at Tech Field on Monday, April 24. Admission will be free and open to the public.
Radio station KARV 101.3 FM/610 AM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
Game One: Tech 4, SAU 0
Kyle Wilson and Quentin Bowling combined to pitch a shutout and lead Arkansas Tech to a 4-0 victory over Southern Arkansas in game one on Sunday.
Wilson (7-0) started on the mound and limited the Muleriders to four hits over seven innings. Bowling provided the Wonder Boys with two scoreless innings of relief for his fourth save of 2017.
Tech’s Jake Harvey broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when he drew a bases-loaded walk. Seth Wheeler followed with a run-scoring single, and an SAU error on the play allowed an additional run to score.
The Wonder Boys led 3-0 after six innings and tacked on an additional insurance run with Marcus Wilson’s run batted in on an eighth-inning double.
Game Two: Tech 2, SAU 1
A double play turned by the Arkansas Tech defense in the top of the sixth inning propelled the Wonder Boys to a 2-1 victory over Southern Arkansas in Sunday’s nightcap.
Trailing by the eventual final score, the Muleriders advanced the tying run to third base with one out in the top of the sixth.
ATU relief pitcher Isaac Hale was able to induce a popped up bunt by Josey Langston. Hale caught the pop up for the second out and threw to third base to double up David LaFleur and end the inning.
Jesse Harbin retired SAU without incident in the top of the seventh. It was Harbin’s eighth save of the season.
Korey Thompson gave the Wonder Boys the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single. A second ATU run scored on the play courtesy of a Muleriders’ error.
Mark Fontenot drove in SAU’s only run of the doubleheader with a fifth-inning home run.
Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Trent Armstrong (5-3) limited the Muleriders to one run on five hits over five and one-third innings.
