Arkansas Tech was not ready to end its Gulf South Conference baseball era on Saturday night.
The Wonder Boys (30-18) defeated Valdosta State 12-2 in an elimination game at the 2011 GSC Baseball Tournament at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn.
With the win, Arkansas Tech advances to face nationally 16th-ranked North Alabama in another elimination contest at noon on Sunday, May 8.
Radio station KCAB 980 AM will broadcast the game in the Arkansas River Valley.
Click here to access an Internet stream of the broadcast.
In addition to keeping the 2011 season alive, Saturday’s win secured the ninth 30-win season in Arkansas Tech baseball history. It was the Wonder Boys’ first GSC Tournament win at USA Stadium in eight tries. Tech is now 6-17 all-time in the GSC Tournament.
Arkansas Tech will move forward to the new NCAA Division II Great American Conference next fall, but 15 base hits on Saturday helped prolong the Wonder Boys’ GSC era for at least one more day.
Matt Johnson (photographed) went 3-for-3 with four runs scored for Arkansas Tech. His first-inning single extended his hitting streak to 31 consecutive games, breaking the school-record, 30-game hitting streak that Jantzen Black had in 2008.
Tech’s Nate Wilder went 4-for-4 with two runs batted in and a run scored. Landon Sullins was 3-for-4, while Josh Riley went 2-for-4. They both drove in two runs. Madison Beaird scored twice.
Mason Reynolds (4-2) pitched his second complete game of the season to earn the win. He held VSU to two runs on five hits in seven innings. The game was stopped after the seventh inning because of the 10-run lead after seven innings mercy rule.
Valdosta State starter Brett Kennedy (5-5) allowed eight runs, seven of which were earned, on 12 hits in five innings.
Cameron Graves drove in both of the Blazers’ runs. Valdosta State ended its season with an overall record of 22-27.
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