Tweet #theGAC  ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Guy Halbert’s ninth-inning grand slam capped a rally for Arkansas-Monticello that resulted on a 7-3 victory against Arkansas Tech at the 2017 Great American Conference Baseball Championships on Thursday from Ouachita’s Rab Rodgers Field.
 
UAM (30-19) entered the final inning down 3-2, but Lathan McFadden drew a four-pitch walk and Nick Pairino reached via a hit by pitch. After a Brian Ray strikeout and a walk to Brady Weiss, the Weevils evened the game on a fielder’s choice by Andres Rios. On the play, Weiss collided with Tech shortstop Dylan McDearmon, which allowed all base runners to advance.
 
Halbert drove the first pitch her saw from Cody Wescott over the wall in Ieft center for his sixth home run of the season. In the bottom half of the ninth inning, Dylan Moser, who quelled an Arkansas Tech threat in the eighth, retired the Wonder Boys (34-20) in order for second win of the GAC Championships.
 
UAM held a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning thanks to single-run tallies in the first and third innings. The Weevils had multiple chances to extend their advantage, but left multiple runners on base in the second and third innings and later in the sixth and seventh frames.
 
Arkansas Tech put together a three-run home half of the fifth inning. Grant Black, who entered the inning having had retired eight straight Wonder Boys, allow five straight to reach, starting with a leadoff single from Mark Vaughn. A walk to Kyle Gibbs and a single by Korey Thompson preceded run-scoring hits from Jake Harvey and Seth Wheeler. Tech took the lead on a sacrifice fly from McDearmon.
 
Neither starting pitcher factored in the decision. UAM’s Grant Black allowed all three runs in 7.0 innings of work. Arkansas Tech’s Kyle Wilson surrendered a pair of runs, one earned in 6.0 innings. He struck out eight. Jesse Harbin took the loss as he faced the first two UAM hitters in the ninth and did not record an out.
 
UAM will face fourth-seeded Henderson State at 4:30 p.m. on Friday with a spot in the title game stake. One year ago, the Weevils defeated the Reddies in the GAC Championship final. Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas will play an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Both games air on GACSportsNetwork.com