Tweet #theGAC  ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Arkansas Tech overcame an early three-run deficit and got stellar relief work from Mason Griffin to defeat Arkansas-Monticello, 4-3, in Monday’s Great American Conference Baseball Championship opening semifinal from Clyde Berry Field.
 
Griffin entered the game in the second inning after starter Hayes Cox lasted just 1.2 innings for the Wonder Boys (28-14). He proceeded to throw 6.1 inning of scoreless relief, his longest outing of the season. He struck out six and did not walk a batter.
 
Garrett Crews’ eighth-inning home run completed the Wonder Boy comeback. Nick Kovar worked around a leadoff single to record the save, his sixth of the season, to send Arkansas Tech to the GAC title game for the first time in program history. They also became the first No. 1 seed to make the final since Southern Arkansas in 2015.
 
After Weevils (22-18) plated three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Dylan Borman, the Wonder Boys began to chip away in their half of the frame when Crews scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Weevil lead remained 3-1 until the fourth when Josh Detweiler slugged his ninth home run of the season. Two innings later, Evan Hafley crossed the plate courtesy of a Weevil fielding error to tie the game.
 
Griffin earned his third win of the season; Weevil reliever Ojani Chacon suffered the loss. UAM’s Andrew Piraino collected four hits, including a double.
 
The Wonder Boys advance to Tuesday’s final, slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch. They will face either Henderson State or Oklahoma Baptist. Tech swept the conference series with the Reddies but lost two of three to the Bison.