Arkansas Tech completed a three-game sweep of Arkansas-Monticello and assumed sole possession of first place in the Gulf South Conference West Division baseball standings with a 14-10 win over the Boll Weevils in Monticello on Sunday.
The Wonder Boys (18-11 overall, 6-0 GSC) compiled 57 base hits during their sweep of UA-Monticello, including 17 hits in the series finale.
Arkansas Tech’s win and Delta State’s loss at Southern Arkansas allowed the Wonder Boys to take over sole possession of first place in the GSC West.
Nick Makris led the onslaught for Tech on Sunday. He was 3-for-4 with two home runs, five runs batted in and four runs scored.
Arkansas Tech’s Matt Johnson went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Landon Sullins went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Nate Wilder was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and he also homered. In all, the Wonder Boys hit 11 home runs and amassed 28 extra base hits during the three-game set.
Arkansas Tech needed all the offense it could muster on Sunday. UA-Monticello scored five times in the bottom of the first and led 6-2 after two innings.
Wilder’s one-out home run in the top of the fourth started the Wonder Boys’ comeback. Danny Higginbotham took home plate as part of a double steal later in the frame and UAM’s lead was trimmed to 6-4.
A Makris home run and a Wilder RBI single in the top of the fifth tied the score at 6-6.
Chris Reese manufactured a run in the top of the sixth to put Arkansas Tech in front for good. He put down a lead-off bunt single, went to second on a throwing error, stole third and then came home with the go-ahead run on another UAM error.
On a day when the two offenses dominated, Arkansas Tech reliever Tyler Dowse found the combination to slow UAM.
Dowse (1-2) pitched five innings of relief and was credited with the win. He held the Weevils to one run on six hits while striking out four.
Wilder came in to get the final two outs in the bottom of the ninth and strand two UAM base runners as Arkansas Tech completed the sweep. Tech won by scores of 14-1 and 19-7 on Saturday.
The Wonder Boys will entertain Southern Arkansas for a three-game GSC series at Tech Field in Russellville next weekend.
The two sides will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, and a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 3. No admission will be charged.
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