Southern evens series with UAPB

One day after coming from behind to win, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff couldn’t hold an early lead.

Southern defeated UAPB 13-10 to even the weekend baseball series at the Torii Hunter Complex in Pine Bluff.

UAPB (15-32, 6-18 SWAC) led 5-2 after three innings, but Southern scored 10 runs across the fourth and fifth.

Southern first baseman Dylan Jones and catcher Rashard Grace led off the fourth with singles. Shortstop Marcus Sanders bunted to UAPB pitcher Calvin McClendon (1-9). McClendon thought about trying to throw to third before ultimately throwing to first, but the ball went out of play, allowing a run to score.

During the next at bat, coaches and trainers came out of the UAPB dugout to check on McClendon. They sent right-hander Jordan Jones to the bullpen but kept McClendon on the mound the rest of the inning.

UAPB coach Carlos James said McClendon was cramping in his left calf, his landing foot.

“That’s difficult to throw strikes when you can’t really land,” James said. “That’s why everything started being up, but that’s what happens during this time of the year. Our weather, yesterday, we had a great day. It was like 75 [degrees], not a lot of humidity. Today, it was hot and kind of muggy, and it took a toll on him, but it happens.”

McClendon got a pop up for the first out, but the top of the Southern (21-26, 14-11) lineup gave the Jaguars a 7-5 lead. Grace scored on a wild pitch, and Sanders scored later as part of a 2-RBI triple from designated hitter Logan Sanders. Centerfielder Tyeler Hawkins, who had walked, also scored on the play. Sanders then scored on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Khyle Radcliffe.

Jones relieved McClendon in the fifth but gave up another 5 runs on five hits, giving Southern a 12-5 lead. Relievers Peyton Niemann, Chris Bedgood and Jaxson Lucas held Southern to 1 unearned run across the final four innings, but the damage was done.

UAPB had taken the early lead after scoring 3 runs in the first and 2 in the second. Right fielder Carlos Rodriguez-Velez hit an RBI single, and first baseman Ben VanMaanen hit a 2-RBI double in the first.

Southern cut it to 3-2 in the top of the second, but UAPB got the runs back in the bottom half. Designated hitter Brad Mican drove in a run while grounding into a bases loaded double play, then third baseman Edwin De La Cruz followed with an RBI single.

VanMaanen, who led the UAPB offense with 4 RBIs on 3 of 4 hitting, said the Golden Lions carried the momentum from Friday’s 7-6 walk-off victory into Saturday.

“The momentum was there, for sure,” VanMaanen said. “Sadly, we lost it a little bit and regained it, but that’s baseball. It happens all the time in this game.”

The Golden Lions did their best to fight back, scoring 2 runs in the sixth and 1 in the seventh.

In the ninth, Rodriguez-Velez drew a leadoff walk, then scored on a triple from left fielder Jalyn Williams. VanMaanen drove Williams home with a single to cut the deficit to 13-10.

Southern turned to reliever Peyton Huff, who got a double play and a strikeout to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.

James said he liked how his players kept playing until the end for a second straight day.

“I thought we had a chance there at the end,” James said. “That double play, that’ll suck the wind out of you, especially on a day like today. It’s already been a rough season, but then it’s hot, too. You’re battling back, and then all of a sudden, you get that double play ball, and it’s like, ‘Oh my goodness.’”

Southern starting pitcher Drew Lasseigne (5-3) earned the win after a 5 1/3-inning start. He allowed 7 runs, 4 earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

The teams will conclude the series at 1 p.m. Sunday in what will be UAPB’s final home game of the season. VanMaanen, a senior, said it would mean a lot for the Golden Lions to win their last home game.

“It will be huge for all the fans here,” VanMaanen said. “We want to send them home happy, and to be honest, we want to end our season here winning a series.”