After finishing a three-game sweep of Alabama A&M on Saturday, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has clinched a top four finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
UAPB beat Alabama A&M 7-4 in the regular season finale at Bulldog Baseball Field in Huntsville, Ala.
The bottom of the lineup delivered for UAPB (19-32, 17-9 SWAC). Each of the final four hitters drove in a run, with second baseman Collin McLemore hitting 2 for 4 with a team-leading 2 RBIs. Third baseman Jason Moss, in just his seventh start of the season, hit 3 for 5 with an RBI and 2 runs.
Shortstop Jesus Riera scored a team-high 3 runs after hitting 2 for 3 with an RBI, and right fielder Dane Small hit 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Moss hit an RBI double, then scored on an RBI single by McLemore in the top of the second inning to give UAPB a 2-0 lead. Alabama A&M (10-40, 2-27) got a run back in the bottom half, but UAPB held its lead the rest of the game, adding a run each in the fourth, sixth and ninth innings with a 2-run eighth.
Senior right-handed pitcher Ashton Davis made his second start for UAPB. He allowed 1 run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in two innings before handing the ball to Nate Monceaux (1-0). The junior right-hander pitched the next five innings, allowing 1 run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Cole Kenyon pitched the final two innings.
Alabama A&M used four pitchers, including starter Avery Seaton (0-7), who lasted two innings. Each gave up 1 or 2 runs apiece.
This was the fourth three-game sweep of the season for UAPB and sends the Golden Lions into the SWAC tournament on a five-game winning streak. UAPB also swept both games of a weather-shortened series against Jackson State last weekend.
UAPB entered the final series in fifth place in the SWAC, but the sweep allowed the Golden Lions to jump Grambling State after the Tigers won twice but lost once to Mississippi Valley State in their final regular season series. UAPB will be the No. 4 seed next week when it makes its first SWAC tournament appearance since 2019.