Arkansas Tech University and Southern Nazarene University split a Great American Conference baseball doubleheader at Tech Field in Russellville on Saturday.
The Wonder Boys (9-11 overall, 4-5 GAC) won Saturday’s first game 8-6 to clinch a series victory in the three-game set. Arkansas Tech defeated the Crimson Storm 9-3 on Friday night.
SNU bounced back to win the series finale 10-3 on Saturday afternoon.
Arkansas Tech will host Harding University for a 6 p.m. non-conference game at Tech Field on Tuesday, March 8.
Game One: Arkansas Tech 8, SNU 6
Arkansas Tech overcame a fast start by Southern Nazarene to defeat the Crimson Storm 8-6 in Saturday’s first game.
SNU struck for four runs in the top of the first inning. The Wonder Boys started chipping away behind a two-run single by Connor Brady in the bottom of the second inning and a solo home run by Mark Vaughn in the last of the third.
Blake King’s RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning tied the score 4-4. Two batters later, Marcus Wilson came through with a two-run single that put Arkansas Tech in front 6-4.
The Wonder Boys’ bullpen took it from there. Geoffrey Birkemeier (2-0) limited the Crimson Storm to two runs on five hits in six innings. Lane Norwood, Brandon Bohuslav and Jesse Harbin combined to get the final nine outs. Harbin earned his fifth save of the season.
SNU starting pitcher Jacob Spruill (0-4) surrendered seven runs on nine hits over three innings.
Game Two: SNU 10, Arkansas Tech 3
Southern Nazarene stopped a seven-game losing streak with a 10-3 win over Arkansas Tech on Saturday afternoon.
SNU’s Anthony Wiggins was 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Connor Gaughan (1-0) was credited as the winning pitcher for the Crimson Storm. He allowed one run on five hits in three and two-thirds innings.
Arkansas Tech starter Trent Armstrong (1-4) was charged with seven runs on six hits in five innings.
