The offense never got going as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team suffered its first weekend series loss of the season.
Arkansas State defeated UAPB 10-0 in seven innings Saturday at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro to clinch the three-game set. The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
UAPB (4-8) hitters went a combined 5 for 27 at the plate with seven strikeouts and two walks. First baseman Konner Giddley went 2 for 4 as the only Golden Lion with multiple hits. Red Wolf starter Jack Nelson (2-0) went six innings and struck out six hitters.
A-State (8-3) didn’t score in the first two innings but plated three runs each in the third, fourth and fifth innings before adding one in the sixth to reach run-rule territory. Second baseman Lane Walton hit 3 for 4 with three RBI and two runs. Two other Red Wolves, left fielder Joey McLaughlin III and catcher Cole Manuel, drove in two runs apiece.
UAPB started Jalen Porter (0-2) on the mound. Porter had started the opening games of the first two series this season but waited until Saturday to pitch in Jonesboro after pitching 1 2/3 innings in relief on Wednesday at Missouri.
Porter went 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He also saw two unearned runs score.
This is UAPB’s first three-game series of the season after playing four games against Lindenwood and Stephen F. Austin the first two weekends. Ryland Morin, who had been the fourth starter in those series, relieved Porter on Saturday to pitch 1 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on three hits.