A Sunday run-rule victory wrapped up a SWAC baseball sweep for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
UAPB defeated Mississippi Valley State 13-1 in seven innings to conclude the three-game series between the teams at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex. UAPB improved to 8-12 and 3-0 in the conference with the win.
Two UAPB pitchers held the Delta Devils to one run on two hits. Ryland Morin (1-1) pitched the first six innings with three strikeouts and a walk before Reagan James earned his first save of the season. James retired all three hitters he faced in the seventh inning with two strikeouts.
Morin did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning when designated hitter Ty Burns led off with a single for Mississippi Valley (4-14, 0-3). He was retired on a fielder’s choice, but center fielder Gabe Huelsing hit an RBI triple later in the inning to give the Delta Devils their lone run, cutting the deficit to 8-1.
All nine UAPB starting hitters tallied a hit, and eight drove in a run. Designated hitter Lazaro Alvarado hit 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs, while shortstop Aaron Grant hit 1 for 2 with two RBI and two runs. Grant also walked twice.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Golden Lions led 3-0 after the first two innings before breaking the game open with a five-run fourth. UAPB later added another five runs in the sixth to push the game into run-rule territory.
Valley cycled through six pitchers, with none recording more than four outs. Starter Jace Jones (0-3) pitched only the first inning. He did not allow a hit but walked two batters and gave up two unearned runs. Reliever James Snipes later allowed four earned runs on five hits. UAPB hitters struck out twice.
Sunday’s win came after UAPB had already clinched the series on Saturday, when pinch hitter Joe Adams hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning in UAPB’s 7-5 victory.
Brendan Hamlin (2-2) earned the win in relief Saturday after holding Valley to one hit and no runs over the final two innings. Starter Kenney Fabian allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in five innings.