Each time the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff went behind Tuesday afternoon, the Golden Lionsbaseball team answered half an inning later to retake the lead.
The UAPB baseball team opened its two-game midweek series against Eastern Illinois with a 9-6 comeback win, its second of the season, at Bill Jones Field at the Torii Hunter Complex.
UAPB Coach Logan Stout said fighting back is something he preaches to his players, and they followed through Tuesday.
“Great teams answer,” Stout said. “To see our guys do that was huge. On the flip side, look at our pitching staff. When they scored, then our pitching staff put up a 0. So, it’s both. Our offense came back and answered. They had our pitchers’ backs, right? And then our pitchers had our offensive guys’ backs.”
UAPB (2-19) led 3-1 entering the sixth inning when the Panthers scored 4 runs on 3 hits and an error.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The first five hitters for Eastern Illinois (6-11) reached base. Right fielder Eli Hill attempted a bunt after the first two reached to advance the runners, but UAPB third baseman Jason Moss’s throw to first was off target, allowing a run to score.
UAPB reliever Emerson Lott (1-0) entered after the play. EIU shortstop Jake Ferguson bunted. UAPB threw home to prevent the run from scoring, but designated hitter Cade Zalenski beat the tag to tie the game. Second baseman Chris Worcester added a 2-RBI single later in the inning to make it 5-3.
After Lott retired the next two hitters to end the inning, UAPB answered. After the first two hitters reached base, pinch hitter Darius Brown bunted them into scoring position, and shortstop Jesus Riera tied the game with a 2-RBI single.
Two batters later, second baseman Collin McLemore slipped a single through the left side of the infield to score Riera and give UAPB the lead back for good.
McLemore said after falling behind in the top half of the inning, he came to the plate looking to do his part to get the lead back.
“It’s just all about staying in the game and having your focus and energy on each inning,” McLemore said. “Just leaving what you did in the past inning in the past and focusing on the future. That’s really it.”
This rally came after EIU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, which UAPB answered with 2 runs in the bottom half thanks to an RBI triple by left fielder Carlos Rodriguez-Velez and a sacrifice fly from catcher Vinny Saumell.
UAPB added insurance in the next two innings, scoring 1 run in the seventh and 2 in the eighth, the latter coming on a 2-RBI single by designated hitter Gavin Terry.
The next two hitters after Terry walked to load the bases with no outs. Saumell laced a line drive to Worcester at second base, who reached down and snagged it near the dirt. Uncertainty about whether he caught the ball or not allowed the Panthers to turn a triple play by tagging first and second base after the umpires ruled the line drive had been caught.
EIU scored a run in the top of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate, but UAPB reliever Brant Voth got a ground ball to end the game.
UAPB lefthanded pitcher Major Spence, a freshman, made his first career start and allowed 1 run in 3 1/3 innings with 3 hits, 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. UAPB used five pitchers, with none allowing more than 1 earned run.
With this win, UAPB is 2-1 at home despite being 0-18 on the road. Stout said he has already scheduled the first two weekend series next year to be in Pine Bluff.
“I don’t think people understand the grind of being a student-athlete,” Stout said. “Taking care of class, being on a bus, playing, what, (18) games on the road with 31 new guys. I don’t think people understand what these guys are doing and the grind they’re (going) through, and I’m very proud of them. Today was how they’ve been playing. When we needed some stuff, it happened. Finally had some things go our way.”
EIU entered the game with an RPI of 167, making the Panthers the second-highest rated team UAPB has faced behind Oral Roberts.
The Golden Lions and Panthers will conclude the two-game series Wednesday at 2 p.m.