A team the University of Arkansas at Monticello struggled with this season ensured the Boll Weevils won’t repeat as Great American Conference champions this year.
Henderson State defeated the UAM baseball team 4-3 in the GAC semifinals late Saturday night at David Allen Ballpark in Enid, Okla.
No. 6-seed HSU (31-20) took the lead with a 3-run top of the seventh inning. Left fielder Louis Holt cut the Boll Weevils’ lead to 3-2 with a sacrifice fly, then second baseman Luke Farrar hit a go-ahead 2-run home run to left center field, scoring center fielder Nate Moore to give the Reddies their first lead of the game.
No. 3-seed UAM (32-21) managed one base runner the rest of the game, which came in the bottom of the seventh on a one-out double by left fielder Kirk Woolf. HSU closer Tyler Bates earned his third save of the season by retiring all six batters he faced in the final two innings with two strikeouts.
UAM starter Ruben Macias pitched the first 5.1 innings and held the Reddies to 1 run on five hits with two strikeouts. The Boll Weevils pulled him with a 1-0 lead after allowing a one-out double to first baseman Luke Rice in the sixth. Nathan McManus replaced him and gave up a game-tying RBI single to HSU catcher Jeremy Schork.
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Weevil center fielder Kyle Tolley drove in 2 RBI for UAM with a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk. Woolf scored the other run on a wild pitch. The Reddies outhit the Weevils 11-6, led by Moore’s 3 for 4.
Henderson State gave UAM both its losses in this tournament, with the Boll Weevils going 2-0 against all other opponents in Enid. The Reddies also went 3-1 against UAM in the regular season.
HSU advances to face No. 4-seed Harding in the GAC championship series, which Harding will host next week.
UAM’s postseason fate is left up to the selection committee. The Boll Weevils entered the tournament ranked sixth in the Central Region. HSU and Harding reaching the GAC finals ensures a team outside the top 10 will earn an automatic bid to the Division II Baseball Tournament, leaving at least one fewer at-large bid available.