FORT SMITH, Ark. – UA Fort Smith scored eight late runs to pull away from the Newman baseball team, 12-8, in the series finale on Saturday (April 11) at Crowder Field. With the win, the Lions got the 2-1 series win. The Jets dropped to 15-20 on the season, and 6-12 in the Heartland Conference.
With the bases loaded, UAFS hit into a double play, but one run scored for an early 1-0 edge in the second inning.
The Jets loaded the bases in the fourth inning, and they tied the score at 1-1 when
Aaron Mack got an RBI after getting hit.
UAFS regained the edge with a single through the infield to make it 2-1 in the fourth inning.
Andrew Standish crushed a three-run home run to left field to put the Jets in front, 4-2, in the fifth inning.
Tyler Evans,
Brian Canfield and Standish all scored on the homer.
In the fifth inning, UAFS knotted the score at 4-4 with two runs. A double down the line started the scoring and then a sac fly tied the score.
NU responded with two runs in the sixth inning.
Jarrod Flax singled up the middle to score Mack for a 5-4 advantage, and then
Tyler Bugner singled to bring in Flax for a 6-4 edge.
The Lions put up five runs in the sixth inning to gain a 9-6 lead. UAFS loaded the bases and got the first run after a hit by pitch. The score tied at 6-6 with a sac fly to right field. Two runs scored on a fielder's choice and an error to put the Lions up 8-6. One more run scored on a single to center field for the 9-6 edge.
In the seventh inning, UAFS added three more runs. A double down the line made it 10-6, and then a two-run home run to left field put the Lions up 12-6.
The Jets plated two runs in the eighth inning to get to within four at 12-8. Bugner singled up the middle to plate
Daniel Jahnke. The final NU run scored on a
Tyler Evans single to allow Flax to score.
NU totaled 11 hits. The top four of the lineup all had two hits. Bugner, Evans and Thomas were all 2-for-4, and Standish went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The Jets travel to Fort Hays State on Wednesday (April 15) for one game at 5 p.m. in Hays, Kan.