UAPB Baseball Double-Down To Win Series Over Alabama A&M To Open 2024 Season

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas — The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions came out with two wins over on Sunday to win the series over Alabama A&M and notch their best start since the 2018 season.

GAME 1 | UAPB 10, Alabama A&M 6
UAPB broke through after a 6-6 tie in the sixth inning to beat the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 10-6 Sunday.

Jaxon Lucas (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for UAPB. The right-hander went 5.1 innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing two walks and striking out seven. Ben Van Maanen also pitched well, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit.

Offensively, the Golden Lions were paced by Edwin De La Cruz, who went 2-for-2 on the day with two RBI. Brant Voth put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI. Brandon Simon also contributed for UAPB, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a double.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 5-0, the Golden Lions first put runs on the board in the third inning. JaKobi Jackson’s run-scoring single highlighted a two-run inning for UAPB.

The Golden Lions deficit expanded to 6-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, tying the score in the sixth inning. The UAPB offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a one-run single off the bat of DeLaCruz, which brought the score level at 6-6.

That 6-6 tie turned into a 9-6 UAPB lead in the seventh.

UAPB held the Bulldogs scoreless before their offense got things moving the next inning. The Golden Lions scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Voth, bringing the UAPB advantage to 10-6. The score remained 10-6 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Lions coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Lucas struck out seven Bulldogs hitters.
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Golden Lions had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Golden Lions out-hit the Bulldogs at an 11-8 clip.
» UAPB went 7-for-12 (.583) with runners in scoring position.
» UAPB pitchers faced 41 Alabama A&M hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Golden Lions drew eight walks from Alabama A&M pitching.
» DeLaCruz led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI.

GAME 2 | UAPB 8, Alabama A&M 0
Jaedon Willis and Jacob Ehling combined to toss a shutout on Sunday as the Golden Lions blanked the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 8-0.

Willis started for UAPB, going four shutout innings while giving up three hits, walking one, and striking out four. Ehling was dealing out of the bullpen and got the win, going five shutout innings, allowing five hits, walking one and striking out five.

Offensively, the Golden Lions were paced by Edwin De La Cruz, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double, a home run, a walk and an RBI. Jalyn Williams put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Jaylon Nauden also contributed for UAPB, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double and two walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Golden Lions took the lead for good in the fourth, scoring for the first time in the inning. UAPB hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring five runs.

The Golden Lions also added runs in the seventh inning when they scored five times.

GAME NOTES
» Willis and Ehling combined to shut out Alabama A&M.
» Ehling struck out five Bulldogs hitters.
» The Golden Lions power output was led by De La Cruz, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Every UAPB starter reached base safely in the win.
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Four Golden Lions had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Golden Lions out-hit the Bulldogs at a 12-8 clip.
» UAPB pitchers limited Alabama A&M to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» UAPB pitchers faced 35 Alabama A&M hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Golden Lions drew seven walks from Alabama A&M pitching.
» DeLaCruz led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI.