An errant throw from third base with bases loaded and two out in the 11th inning allowed Cade Cancilla to drive in Roc Hawthorne for the winning run Monday in the University of Arkansas at Monticello’s 8-7 win over Oklahoma Baptist University in Arkadelphia.
The game sealed the 3-game series victory for the Boll Weevils (29-21) in the first round of the Great American Conference baseball tournament. Top-seeded UAM will take on No. 5-seed Southern Arkansas University at 1 p.m. Thursday to open up double-elimination play at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
UAM opened with a 14-1 win in Monticello on Saturday and had to weather an in-game delay in Game 2 thanks to heavy rain through Monday, when the teams agreed to move the series to Henderson State University.
Oklahoma Baptist (32-20) won the second game 11-6 to force the third, which UAM had led 7-6 before the tying run scored in the top of the ninth inning.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Bison left two runners on base in the top of the 10th, then stranded Cancilla after Cameron Pool tossed three straight strikeouts.
Hawthorne led off the 11th with a walk. Dylan Vail tossed a perfect top of the 11th, and Hawthorne led off the Weevils’ half with a walk, advancing to second and third on wild pitches.
William Ellis took over for Pool with one out, and Kirk Woolf, who walked, stole second. Ellis intentionally walked Chaz Poppy before Cole Cripps struck out swinging, setting up Cancilla’s winning at bat.
UAM scored 3 in the second on Cripps’ RBI single, DeShawn Cordova’s walk and Hawthorne’s fielder’s choice RBI. Alex Schroeder tied it in the third on a 3-run home run over left center, and then gave the Bison a 5-3 lead with a 2-run lick over left field in the fifth.
Poppy and Grant hit singles in the bottom of the fifth to tie it, and Camron Grant put the Bison back in front with a solo homer to left. Camden Tanner returned the favor with a two-run homer over right, and UAM was an out away from winning when Jayden Shafer hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring in the tying run.
Woolf went 3 for 5, with Poppy and Cripps each getting 2 hits for UAM. Hawthorne scored 3 runs.
Maxim Mrakovcic struck out 3 and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in 4 innings of his start. Nick Mercado fanned 5 Bison and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in the next 4, and Kyle Roop struck out 2 and walked 3 while allowing 2 hits in the next 2 innings.
Gabe Irwin and Schroeder each had 5 hits to lead Oklahoma Baptist. Four Bison took the mound.
In Game 2, which resumed in the sixth inning with Oklahoma Baptist ahead 11-4, Isiah Lissade, Will Joseph and Irwin each launched home runs. Hawthorne hit a 2-run homer in the second that gave UAM a 2-0 lead.
Great American Conference double-elimination baseball finals
At Dickey-Stephens Park, North Little Rock
Thursday
1 p.m.: No. 1 UA-Monticello vs. No. 5 Southern Arkansas
5 p.m.: No. 3 Harding vs winner of No. 2 Arkansas Tech vs. No. 7 Ouachita Baptist
Friday
11 a.m.: UAM-SAU winner vs. Game 2 winner
3 p.m.: UAM-SAU loser vs. Game 2 loser
7 p.m.: Game 4 winner vs. Game 3 loser
Saturday
Noon: Championship, Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner
(If necessary, second championship game will follow)