Two big home runs weren’t enough for the University of Arkansas at Monticello in the opening round of the Great American Conference Baseball Tournament.
UAM lost 8-7 to Henderson State late Thursday night at David Allen Ballpark in Enid, Oklahoma.
No. 6-seed Henderson State (29-20) never trailed after scoring the game’s first 2 runs in the top of the second inning.
With the game tied at 7 entering the ninth, the Reddies loaded the bases with one out for the top of their batting order. HSU second baseman Luke Farrar hit a ball to right field, caught by Boll Weevil right fielder Roc Hawthorne. His throw to home plate was close, but not in time as center fielder Nate Moore scored the game-winning run.
Relief pitcher Payton Byrd (3-1) then retired the Weevils in order in the bottom of the ninth to seal Henderson’s fourth win in five meetings with the Weevils this season.
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No. 3-seed UAM (30-20) trailed most of the game until third baseman Justin Santoyo hit a game-tying grand slam with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hawthorne had singled, left fielder Kirk Woolf had reached on an error, and catcher Chaz Poppy had singled to set up Santoyo, who homered just after Byrd had taken over at pitcher for the Reddies.
Santoyo’s grand slam was UAM’s second home run of the game. Second baseman Elijah Nichols hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, cutting HSU’s lead at the time to 4-3. HSU shortstop Cal Jones answered in the top of the seventh with a 3-run home run to make it 7-3.
UAM started Maxim Mrakovcic on the mound. He went 6.0 innings, allowing 4 runs on seven hits with five walks and three strikeouts. He settled in after the first few innings and finished his outing with three straight scoreless frames.
The Weevils used two relievers. Nelson Mercado (3-3) pitched the final two innings, allowing 1 run on three hits.
UAM was the only higher seed to lose in the opening round. The Boll Weevils will face No. 7-seed Northwestern Oklahoma State in an elimination game at 1 p.m. Friday.