PINE BLUFF, Arkansas – Sophomore JaKobi Jackson and sophomore Dante Leach each racked up two extra base hits, but the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff fell to the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils 16-9 in game two of the three-game series and tied 8-8 in game three on Saturday at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
Sophomore Damon Elarton (0-1) got the ball to start for UAPB (0-7) and took the loss. Freshman Wesley Guy was a bright spot for the Golden Lions, coming out of the bullpen and throwing two scoreless innings, allowing two hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
Leach’s two extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-4 day, and included two doubles and an RBI. Jackson made his contribution with a double, a home run and two RBIs, part of a 3-for-5 performance at the plate. Sophomore Lawrence Noble also contributed for the Golden Lions, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Lions got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. UAPB managed to push across two runs in the inning.
The Golden Lions lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the third trailing 12-2. UAPB scored three times, including once on Jackson’s RBI double, which tightened the Delta Devils lead to 12-5.
UAPB held the Delta Devils off the scoreboard before narrowing the gap to 12-6 in the fourth.
The Delta Devils expanded their lead to 13-6 before the UAPB offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the seventh. The Golden Lions sent in a run on Jackson’s one-out solo dinger off sophomore Abraham Ortiz, bringing the score to 13-7 in favor of Mississippi Valley State.
Mississippi Valley State built on their lead to 16-7 before the Golden Lions offense got moving, narrowing that lead to 16-9 in the eighth. UAPB brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Leach’s single. The Golden Lions were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» The Golden Lions got three-hit games from three different hitters.
» UAPB got multiple extra-base hits from both Jackson and Leach.
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed three runs across.
» Four UAPB hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Jackson led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.
GAME 2 | UAPB 8 Mississippi Valley State 8
Offensively, the Golden Lions were paced by sophomore, Dante Leach who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double, a walk and three RBIs. Sophomore Andre Green together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Sophomore Declaudio Irvin also helped out for UAPB, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a walk and two RBIs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Lions put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. UAPB’s offense started clicking and put up six runs, including a three-run double off the bat of Leach and a two-run single from Irvin.
The Delta Devils then rallied to score seven runs and take a 7-6 lead before the Golden Lions got back on the board in the sixth. UAPB scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Greene, which evened the score at 7-7.
GAME NOTES
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed six runs across.
» Senior Kacy Higgins stole two bases in Saturday’s game.
» The Golden Lions stole five bases as a team.
» UAPB went 5-for-7 (.714) with runners in scoring position.
» Leach led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
The Golden Lions will be back in action Tuesday, March 8, against Arkansas Baptist College at 2 p.m. at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
