Nick Makris’ 3-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning propelled the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys to an 8-3 win over the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series at Tech Field in Russellville.
Makris’ blast to right field tied the score at 3-3. Landon Sullins kept it going with a single. He advanced to second base on an error and then scored the go-ahead run on a Colt Loehrs’ RBI single.
Arkansas Tech center fielder Matt Johnson made it 5-3 by driving in Josh Riley in the seventh inning. Johnson added another run later in the frame when he came home on a balk.
Loehrs hit a solo home run and Danny Higginbotham recorded an RBI single in the eighth to set the final score.
While the Wonder Boys battered the New Mexico Highlands bullpen, Arkansas Tech’s relief corps came through.
Blake Evans, Nick Wilson and Todd Immell combined to pitch five and two-thirds shutout innings in relief of starter Zach Thomas. Evans (1-0) was credited with the win.
Arkansas Tech opened the series on Saturday with an 11-2 victory over the Cowboys.
Makris was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and Loehrs was 2-for-3 with three RBIs in that victory. Johnson and Madison Beaird had three hits apiece. Riley hit a solo home run.
Arkansas Tech reliever Mark Thompson (1-0) scattered eight hits over four and one-third innings to collect the win on the mound.
New Mexico Highlands took the middle game of the series 5-4 on Saturday afternoon.
The Cowboys (4-3) only hit one ball out of the infield during a three-run rally in the fourth inning that gave them the lead for good.
Four New Mexico Highlands pitchers combined to hold Tech to just four hits.
The Wonder Boys (7-5) will meet Northeastern State University for a neutral site doubleheader in Alva, Okla., at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1.
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