The Arkansas-Monticello baseball team split the day with Southern Arkansas University in Games 1 & 2 of their three game, GAC series. The Weevils won the first game in run-rule fashion, taking down the Muleriders, 10-0 in seven innings, followed by a 7-3 loss in the second game.
Game 1
The Weevils were the first team on the board as Jordan Johnson touched home in the bottom of the first inning as Grant Shepherd ripped a single up the middle to center field.
Hudson Hopkins absolutely tattooed a ball over the wall in left center to start the Monticello rally in the second. Cade Thompson grounded out to first base, but Nick Fakouri was able to score on the play to give UAM a 3-0 lead over the Muleriders, as the inning would eventually come to an end.
The Weevils scored another 4 runs in the fifth inning. David Reyna roped a one-out double down the left field line as both Reece Reading and Grant Shepherd scored on the play. Nick Fakouri hit a ball through the left side to score David Reyna and Chase Cripps flew out to center field, scoring Hudson Hopkins. The inning finally came to an end with an increased UAM lead of 7-0 over Southern Arkansas.
Nick Fakouri smashed a ball over the left field wall, scoring Hudson Hopkins, to give UAM a 9-0 lead to start off the seventh. Cade Thompson ended the game with a dive to deep right field as DeShaun Cordova scored from second base to give the Weevils a 10-0, run-rule win over SAU.
Game 2
Southern Arkansas was the first to touch home in the second game as they were able to score a run in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead heading into UAM’s first plate appearances of the game.
The hometown team responded in the bottom half of the inning with a handful of runs of their own. Jordan Johnson got the rally going with an RBI double off the left center wall to score Chase Cripps, followed by an RBI ground out from Reece Reading to bring home Cade Thompson, and finally an RBI ground out from Grant Shepherd to score Jordan Johnson. The Weevils would leave the inning with a 3-1 lead over the Muleriders.
SAU wasn’t finished as they would score 2 runs in the sixth off a home run over the right field wall.
The Muleriders took their first lead of the day in the top of the seventh with an RBI single through the left side, followed by a two-run triple to right field and a run scored on an error in left field. The Weevils were unable to respond in the bottom of the inning and eventually fall in game 2, 7-3.
Pitching Performances
Derek Potts started on the mound in Game 1, throwing a complete game, 7.0 scoreless inning game with only 2 hits allowed. He stuck out 8 batters and had 3 walks.
Mason Philley took the mound to start Game 2 for the Weevils, pitching 5.2 innings with 3 runs allowed on 5 hits. He struck out 7 batters.
Trent Bunting threw a total of 0.2 inning with 4 runs allowed on 3 hits.
Jacob McDaniel tossed the last 0.2 innings with 0 hits allowed and 0 runs earned. He struck out 2 batters.
Arkansas-Monticello increasing their record to 22-22, with a GAC record of 16-16.
Up Next
Arkansas-Monticello will be back at Weevils Field on Saturday for game 3 of their SAU series in their final 2022 regular season. Saturday afternoon’s game will be Senior day for the Weevils as we celebrate the UAM Baseball class of 2022. The senior day ceremony will be held at 11:45, 15 minutes before the start of the 12:00game 3.
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