After an early lead vanished on Saturday, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff responded in extra innings.
The UAPB baseball team defeated Texas Southern 11-8 in 10 innings to clinch the weekend series at MacGregor Park in Houston.
UAPB (7-26, 5-6 SWAC) scored 3 runs in the top of the 10th inning. After the Golden Lions got their first two hitters on base and into scoring position, third baseman Trinidad De La Garza hit a ground ball which TSU shortstop Bryce Hughes threw away, allowing UAPB shortstop Jesus Riera to score and give the Golden Lions the lead.
Texas Southern (16-19, 10-4) got the first out of the inning at home plate on a fielder’s choice hit by second baseman Collin McLemore, but UAPB left fielder Gavin Terry hit an RBI single to right field to score De La Garza. Two batters later, designated hitter Carlos Rodriguez-Velez hit an RBI double to extend the lead to 11-8.
TSU centerfielder Kelton Phillips led off the bottom half of the 10th with a single, but UAPB pitcher Cole Kenyon (1-2) retired the next three hitters to end the game and secure UAPB’s second series win of the season.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Earlier in the game, it didn’t seem as though UAPB would need extra-inning heroics. The Golden Lions took a 6-0 lead in the second inning as seven straight hitters reached with one out. They went on to add 2 runs in the top of the fourth to lead 8-0.
The Tigers scored 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth, then added 2 in the seventh. In the eighth, Hughes hit a 2-RBI double before second baseman Jaden Jones hit a 2-run home run to tie the game at 8. TSU had the winning run on second in the ninth, but Kenyon struck out back-to-back hitters to send the game to extras.
Kenyon pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to close the game, holding TSU to two hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
UAPB scored 8 runs, 4 earned, against TSU starter Kewan Braziel. He allowed six hits and two walks in four innings before Justin Mayes relieved him. Mayes threw four scoreless innings before Sidney Moore (1-1) took over for the final two frames.
UAPB catcher Brant Voth led the Golden Lion offense, hitting 3 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs. De La Garza hit 1 for 5 with 3 RBI and 3 runs.
The series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday.