After losing on opening day, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff came back to win its opening series Sunday.
The UAPB baseball team swept Sunday’s doubleheader against Alabama A&M 10-6 and 8-0 at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
Head coach Carlos James said his team showed resiliency.
“I was proud of the way the guys always fought,” James said. “The first game [Friday], we fell behind 6-3. They fought back, tied it up 6-6. We ended up losing the game, but again, they did the same thing … the first game today, which was game 2 of the series. They got behind. They fought back.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB (2-1) dropped Friday’s season opener 10-6. Game 2 was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to field conditions after Friday’s rain, so the teams met for a doubleheader Sunday.
Alabama A&M (1-2) started well Sunday, taking a 5-0 lead in the third inning. The Bulldogs seemed poised to clinch the series, but UAPB turned to reliever Jaxson Lucas, who settled things down and allowed the Golden Lions to rally.
James said he trusted Lucas, a senior, in a tough spot because of his experience.
“That gives you a guy that has been there and done that,” James said. “He was a lot more calm, and he filled the strike zone up, and he allowed his defense to play for him and just kind of got us back in rhythm. I was glad to see Jaxson come out and do what he did today.”
Lucas entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning with UAPB trailing 5-0. He struck out his first batter, Alabama A&M leadoff hitter Brycen Hammonds, to end the inning.
He went on to pitch 5.2 innings, only allowing one unearned run. Alabama A&M right fielder Alex Diaz led off the fourth with a triple which was nearly caught in right field. He went on to score on a passed ball, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 6-2. Lucas retired the next three hitters and never allowed more than one runner in an inning.
He exited after the eighth inning with a 10-6 lead after striking out seven hitters and allowing two hits and two walks.
Lucas said he tried not to think too much about the situation when he entered the game.
“I was just trying to keep as much tunnel vision as I could, try and keep my heart rate down,” Lucas said. “I knew if I go in there freaking out, I’m not going to be able to help the team. I was blessed by God to be able to help the team today, and I hope I can do it next week.”
While Lucas was keeping the Bulldogs’ bats in check, the Golden Lions got theirs going. UAPB scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 6. The bottom third of the lineup delivered three-straight singles, and Darrius Brown drew a bases-loaded walk to tie it.
UAPB took the lead one inning later. Brant Voth drew a one-out walk, then moved to third after two balks by Alabama A&M relief pitcher Charlie Lazo. Donovan Noble hit the ball toward second, then beat the throw to first by sliding as Voth scored the go-ahead run.
The Golden Lions added two more runs in the seventh, then Voth hit an RBI single in the eighth to pad the lead. Ben VanMaanen came out of the bullpen and pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close out UAPB’s first win of the season.
Edwin DeLaCruz came off the bench to lead the offense with 2 RBIs and 2 runs on 2-for-2 hitting. Noble scored 2 runs to go with an RBI, hitting 2-for-5.
The series finale remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when De La Cruz and Jalyn Williams led off with back-to-back solo home runs, starting off a 5-run inning. The Golden Lions added 3 runs in the seventh.
Jaedon Willis and Jacob Ehling shared pitching duties for UAPB in the finale, combining for nine strikeouts and two walks.