UAPB Baseball Splits Doubleheader Against Alcorn St.

GAME 1 | UAPB 23, Alcorn State 2

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas —The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team received contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Golden Lions put 23 runs on the board and take down the Alcorn State Braves 23-2 Friday.

Senior Trenton Ferguson (2-4) started on the mound and picked up the win for UAPB. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out three.

Senior Kacy Higgins led the way offensively for the Golden Lions, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk and three RBI. Sophomore Conner James furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBI. Junior Karsten Vasquez also helped out, going 1-for-1 for UAPB with a double, three walks and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 2-0, the Golden Lions first put runs on the board in the first inning. UAPB scored twice, with one run coming across on sophomore Edwin De La Cruz’s single.

The score stayed at 2-2 until the very next inning, when the Golden Lions put runs on the scoreboard once again. The Golden Lions offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of sophomore Lawrence Noble, which brought the Golden Lions lead to 6-2.

UAPB held Alcorn State scoreless before building their lead to 13-2 the following inning. The Golden Lions bats heated up in the inning, scoring seven runs, including a one-run walk off the bat of James.

UAPB kept the Braves without a run before their offense got back in action the next inning. The Golden Lions scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Higgins, bringing the UAPB advantage to 18-2.

The Golden Lions kept Alcorn State off the board before expanding their lead to 23-2 in the sixth inning. The UAPB offense piled up five runs, highlighted by a one-run double off the bat of freshman Davion White. The score remained 23-2 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Lions coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Three different Golden Lions drove in three runs. » Every UAPB starter reached base safely in the win.
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed seven runs across.
» The Golden Lions had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Braves 6-2 in the bottom of the second.
» Ferguson put together seven innings of two-run ball for the Golden Lions.
» Five Golden Lions had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Golden Lions out-hit the Braves at a 17-7 clip.
» Higgins led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI.

GAME 2 | Alcorn State 13, UAPB 10

Four UAPB players collected multiple hits, but the Golden Lions fell to the Alcorn State Braves 13-10 Friday.

Freshman Wesley Guy (0-1) came out of the bullpen for UAPB (8-22-1, ) and took the loss.

Junior Brandon Simon led the hit barrage for the Golden Lions, going 3-for-4 in the ballgame with a double and two RBI. Junior Timothy Martin put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Golden Lions were trailing 9-0 in the fourth inning when they first put runs on the board. UAPB got an RBI single from Simon, scoring senior Kacy Higgins from third base.

The Braves expanded their lead to 10-1 before the Golden Lions offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the fifth. The UAPB offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a one-run double off the bat of Simon, which tightened the Braves lead to 10-5.

Alcorn State built their lead to 13-5 before the UAPB offense got back to work, reducing that lead to 13-8 in the sixth.

UAPB held the Braves off the board before narrowing the gap further in the seventh. The Golden Lions picked up two runs off of Alcorn State pitching, punctuated by a run-scoring double off the bat of sophomore Dante Leach, tightening the Braves lead to 13-10. The Golden Lions were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.

GAME NOTES
» Simon led the Golden Lions, compiling three base knocks in the ballgame.
» UAPB’s power output was led by Martin, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Four UAPB hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» The Golden Lions out-hit the Braves at an 11-8 clip.
» Simon led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

The Golden Lions will be back in action Saturday, April 16, for the rubber match.  First pitch is set for 3 p.m.