Arkansas Tech posted two runaway baseball wins over Christian Brothers at Tech Field in Russellville on Saturday, and Tech’s Danny Parker very nearly capped it all with some history.
The Wonder Boys (22-13 overall, 9-2 Gulf South Conference) cruised to a mercy-rule shortened 15-4 win in the opener, and Parker (photographed) pitched six and two-third no-hit innings to lead Arkansas Tech to a 10-3 victory in the nightcap.
Parker (6-2), a left-handed freshman from Pottsville, fell one out short of pitching what would have been just the sixth no-hitter in Tech baseball history. His no-hit bid was broken up by a single to center field by Tyler Dunn with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. It was just Dunn’s seventh hit of the season.
Caleb Burrow followed with a three-run home run for the Buccaneers (14-17-1, 0-10-1). Ethan Crocker then emerged from the Arkansas Tech bullpen to replace Parker and get the final out of the game.
Parker struck out eight, just one shy of matching his season high.
Brad Payton remains the last Wonder Boy to pitch a no-hitter. He accomplished the feat against the University of the Ozarks on Feb. 15, 1994.
Bob Mullen (1957 vs. Ouachita Baptist), Nick Nicholas (1965 vs. Harding), David Barber (1976 vs. Henderson State), Jimmy Mullen (1985 vs. Central Arkansas) and Payton are the only Arkansas Tech pitchers to ever toss a no-hitter.
Arkansas Tech’s offense made it easy for Parker to relax and pitch by scoring early and often. The Wonder Boys scored four runs in the first inning ant three more in the third to open a 7-0 lead.
Matt Johnson and Nick Makris both hit home runs for the Wonder Boys in their game two win. Johnson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Makris was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the 10-3 win. Colt Loehrs and Madison Beaird added two hits apiece. Nate Wilder and Danny Higginbotham both had two RBIs.
The losing pitcher in game two was CBU’s Jake Garbuzinski (1-5). He was touched for 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits in five innings.
Game one saw every Arkansas Tech starter record at least one base hit.
The lone holdout going to the seventh inning was Josh Riley, and he joined the party by hitting a three-run home run to left center field that ended the game early on the mercy rule.
Beaird had three hits and Wilder drove in three in the opener. Chris Reese was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Loehrs had two hits and Higginbotham drove in two.
Cody Hatman (2-0) went the distance on the mound for Arkansas Tech in game one. He allowed four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits in seven innings. Hatman struck out a season-high seven batters and walked just two.
Alex Sikes (3-3) took the loss for CBU. He gave up eight runs (seven earned) on four hits in one and one-third innings.
Arkansas Tech’s sweep of CBU combined with Ouachita Baptist’s doubleheader sweep of Delta State on Saturday means that the Wonder Boys are in sole possession of first place in the GSC West Division.
The Wonder Boys and the Buccaneers will conclude their series with a single 9-inning game at 1 p.m. Sunday. Admission to Tech Field will be free.
The game will be broadcast by KCAB 980 AM.
Click here to access an Internet stream of the broadcast.
Click here to learn more about Tech Athletics.
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