The weather didn’t cooperate with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s upset plans on Wednesday.
The UAPB baseball team’s game with Louisiana Tech, the second of a two-game series at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La. , was canceled midgame due to lightning in the area with the Golden Lions leading 6-4 with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.
NCAA baseball games require a minimum of five innings to be completed for a game to be considered official, so this game will not affect either team’s official record, and no statistics for either team will count.
The delay was called at roughly 6:40 p.m. La Tech announced via its baseball team’s official X account the game had been canceled at 7:44.
Per the ESPN-Plus broadcast, Tech planned to leave Ruston following the game to drive halfway to its weekend road series with Western Kentucky. The Bulldogs’ travel plans may have contributed to the decision not to wait longer for the storms to pass.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB (13-30) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning on an RBI groundout by right fielder Carlos Rodriguez-Velez, then padded its lead with a 3-run top of the fourth.
Shortstop Jesus Riera, the team’s home run leader this season, homered off the third story wall of the student apartments behind left field. Catcher Courtney Allen and second baseman Kentavious Veal drove in runs on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, respectively.
The Golden Lions went on to lead 6-1 entering the bottom of the fifth. Tech first baseman Trey Hawsey got the Bulldogs (27-17) back in the game with a 3-run home run to centerfield.
Left fielder Zeb Ruddell followed with a single and stood at first base with one out when the delay occurred.
UAPB senior Brant Voth made what would have been his eighth start on the mound in his first pitching appearance since April 13. He has largely been unavailable as a pitcher since becoming UAPB’s every game catcher due to an injury to Vinny Saumell on April 9. Allen started the game behind the plate.
Voth was 4 1/3 innings into his outing when the delay occurred. He allowed 4 runs on 8 hits with 3 strikeouts and a walk.
UAPB sophomore Blake Coleman started the game at designated hitter after coming off the bench and hitting a 3-run home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game, an 11-6 Tech win. At the time of the delay, he was hitting 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run. He was the only UAPB player with multiple hits. He had hit 2 for 14 in all appearances prior to this week.
UAPB’s road trip to Louisiana will resume 4 miles away at Grambling State with a three-game series beginning Friday.