RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech won its first Great American Conference Baseball Championship title as the Wonder Boys defeated East Central, 13-6, in game two of the Championship series on Friday from Baswell Field. Tommy Kaya drove in three runs to cap a Tournament MVP performance.
The Wonder Boys (35-20) scored twice in the second and five in the third to build a 7-0 lead. Tyler Sardelli hit a two-run home run in the first. In the third, Kaya drove in two with a single and Brendyn Bard added a two-run double.
The early offense provided more than enough support for starter Daniel Hutchison. He won his 10th game, and second of the GAC Championships, by holding the Tigers (23-27) to three runs in 6.0 innings of work. He struck out three.
Kirby Jenkins hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Cole Dawson scored on a wild pitch in the eighth. He set a tournament single-game record with five runs scored.
Kaya hit .333 with seven RBI over his five GAC Championship games. Hutchison, Dawson, Ashton Greenle and Drew Vega joined Kaya on the All-Tournament Team. Greenlee went 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA and nine strikeouts over three appearances. Vega hit .333 for the tournament.
Tyler Akers, Donovan Noble and Ryan Strickland represented the Tigers on the All-Tournament Team. Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Logan Sandoval and Kyle Holzer plus Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Carter Olsen and JJ Bush rounded out the 12-player team.
The Wonder Boys will now await to see their seed, opponent and destination for the upcoming Central Region Tournament. The NCAA DII Baseball Selection Show, scheduled for 9 p.m. on Sunday streams on NCAA.com.