Weevils Eliminated From GAC Tournament

UAM - Baseball 2022 GAC Tourney

photo courtesy of uamsports.com

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Arkansas-Monticello baseball team dropped their first two GAC Tournament match-ups falling in the tourney opener to Henderson State University 2-1 and dropping the elimination game to Harding University 4-2 in 11 innings.

GAME 1 vs Henderson State

In the tournament opener, the Weevils and Reddies would go 5.5 scoreless innings before Henderson struck first, scoring a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Monticello would answer in the top of the ninth inning, as Trevor Rugg would produce a pinch hit single to lead off the inning. Grant Jeffers would come in to pinch run for Rugg, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and moving to third on a wild pitch. Chase Cripps would score Jeffers on a bunt to tie the game at 1-1. The Reddies wasted no time responding, as they loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, before scoring the winning run off of a deep hit into right field.

Senior pitcher Spencer Johnston got the loss in an outstanding performance, striking out six batters, allowing only three hits and one run in the 8 innings of work.

GAME 2 vs Harding 

The Bison would strike first in the elimination match-up, scoring on a two out single in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Harding would keep UAM at bay until the top of the ninth, when Reece Reading’s two out double scored two and gave the Weevils their first lead of the night. The Bison would answer the following half inning, tying the game at 2-2. After midnight and 11 innings later, Harding would seal the victory with a walk off 2 run homerun for the 4-2 victory.

Junior Derek Potts got the start on the mound, going 8 innings, striking out a career high 14 batters, allowing 4 hits and only 1 run.

The loss effectively ended the Weevils 2022 season, finishing with 23-24 record.