ENID, Okla. - The first day of 2014 Great American Conference Baseball Championship opened with Ouachita Baptist rallying off the Arkansas Tech; Arkansas-Monticello matching the school record for wins and Harding beating Southern Arkansas on a ninth-inning home run.
#4 HARDING 2, #3 SOUTHERN ARKANSAS 1 || BOX SCORE ||
Noah Chandler hit a solo home run, his first of the season, off the top of the left field wall in the top of the ninth inning to give the Bisons the decisive run in a 2-1 victory against third-seeded Southern Arkansas.
Logan Holthaus started for Harding (27-22) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He departed after lasting 6.2 innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Cameron Walker, in his first relief appearance of the season, allowed an inherited run to score, but improved to 4-6 after 2.1 innings of relief. He struck out three in the outing.
Dylan Lynn took the hard-luck loss for the Muleriders (34-17). The First-Team All-GAC selection suffered just his second loss in 11 decisions. He pitched 8.1 innings allowing both runs on six hits. He recorded six strikeouts.
Chandler recorded the only multi-hit game for the Bisons. Since March 28, he has hit .417 with 11 multi-hit games in his last 20 games.
The Bisons will face Arkansas-Monticello in Sunday's winner's bracket game at 7:30 p.m. Southern Arkansas will try and avoid elimination when it faces Ouachita Baptist at 4 p.m.
#2 ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO 3, #5 SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 2 || BOX SCORE ||
Arkansas-Monticello matched the program's record for wins in a season as the Boll Weevils rallied from an early deficit to defeat Southwestern Oklahoma State, 3-2, in Saturday's middle game of three from David Allen Ballpark.
Arkansas-Monticello (34-13) tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth when Corey Wood slugged his fourth home run of the season, a two-run over the wall in left field.
SWOSU (25-22) missed on a golden opportunity in the eighth inning. A single, an error and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. However, UAM called on Kregg Snook to relieve Kade Garlington. He induced a weak fly out and a force out to get out of the jam. For the game, the Bulldogs left 11 on base.
The Boll Weevils came back and took the lead in their half of the eighth. Consecutive singles by a pair of First-Team All-GAC members - Ben Agredano and Ray Johnson - set up the frame. Clean up Bronson Gillam laid down a successful sacrifice bunt and Chad Miller produced the run-scoring sacrifice fly.
Jeff Harvill pitched himself into some trouble in the ninth, but got Kale Thaxton to hit into a game-ending double play to lock down his 10th save of 2014. UAM starter Kade Garlington pitched into the eighth but did not factor in the decision. He allowed two runs in 7.1 innings of work. He struck out three. Agredano finished 2-for-4, one of three Boll Weevils with a multi-hit game,
The Boll Weevils will face the winner of Southern Arkansas and Harding in Sunday's nightcap, set for 7 p.m. Sunday. The Bulldogs must face top-seeded Arkansas Tech in the first elimination game of the tournament. SWOSU and Tech will play at 12:30 p.m.
#6 OAUCHITA BAPTIST 6, #1 ARKANSAS TECH 3 || BOX SCORE ||
The Tigers touched up Arkansas Tech reliever Jake Bell for three runs in the top of the ninth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Matt Sinclair for a 6-3 win against the top-seeded Wonder Boys.
After grabbing a 3-1 lead, Arkansas Tech (41-9) rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The tying run came across on a two-out throwing error.
Davis Ward, the two-time GAC Pitcher of the Year, pitched into the ninth inning before giving way to Keegan Ghidotti. Ward threw 131 pitches in allowing two earned runs. He earned a league-leading 10th victory and improved to 5-1 against nationally-ranked opponents by avenging a loss he suffered on April 11 in Russellville, Ark. Ghidotti earned his eighth save on the season.
Chris Tavares, Jace Melby and Landon Moore all recorded a pair of hits for the Tigers.
With the win, Ouachita Baptist (25-26) ended the 22-game win streak of Arkansas Tech and also became the first No. 6 seed to beat the No. 1 seed in GAC Baseball Championship play.
OBU will face the loser of the Southern Arkansas-Harding game at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Arkansas Tech falls down the loser's bracket. The Wonder Boys will face loser of the Arkansas-Monticello and Southwestern Oklahoma State game in Sunday's opener, set for 12:30 p.m.