Arkansas Tech University and Missouri Western State University split a four-game, non-conference baseball series at Tech Field in Russellville on Thursday and Friday.
The Wonder Boys (5-3) will open Great American Conference play by hosting Southwestern Oklahoma State University for a three-game series at Tech Field on Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Live coverage will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.
Game One: Tech 10, MWSU 9
A six-run third inning and effective work by the bullpen were the keys to a 10-9 Arkansas Tech victory over Missouri Western on Thursday.
A two-run single by Dylan McDearmon, RBI singles from Connor Brady, Britt Stroth and Mark Vaughn and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Riley Hickerson helped comprise the Wonder Boys’ third-inning rally.
Tech led 9-2 after three innings and 10-4 after five innings. The Golden Griffons struck for five runs in the top of the sixth, but two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief by Jared Droll and one and one-third innings of scoreless relief by Nolan Withrow allowed the Wonder Boys to hang on for a one-run victory.
Withrow was credited with the save.
Game Two: MWSU 5, Tech 1
Missouri Western’s Nick Schrank went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Golden Griffons to a 5-1 win over Arkansas Tech in Thursday’s nightcap.
The Wonder Boys were guilty of five errors. Vaughn drove in their lone run.
Game Three: Tech 7, MWSU 6
Riley Hickerson scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Arkansas Tech bullpen closed the door on a 7-6 Wonder Boys’ victory against Missouri Western on Friday.
Hickerson scored on a wild pitch to give Tech a 7-6 edge.
Anthony Race (1-0) completed three innings of scoreless relief by retiring the Golden Griffons without incident in the top of the eighth inning, and Nolan Withrow pitched around two Missouri Western hits in the top of the ninth inning to garner his second save of 2018.
Game Four: MWSU 2, Tech 1
Missouri Western starting pitcher Carson Dwyre limited Arkansas Tech to one run on six hits over six and one-third innings to fuel a 2-1 Golden Griffons victory in the series finale on Friday.
Preston Bailey notched the final two outs for his second save of the year.
Cody Wescott drove in the Wonder Boys’ lone run on a second-inning single.