Box Score (html)
FORT SMITH, Ark. – Jon Chidester was dominating on the mound and the SWOSU offense pounded out 12 hits for seven runs in a 7-3 victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Friday evening.
SWOSU jumped on the Lions from the beginning, scoring three runs on three hits in the top of the opening inning, including a two-run single from
Bryan Holt that scored
Trent Troxell and
Jacob Spring, who had both gotten hits in the two previous at-bats. Spring's RBI double plated
Zach Barton, who opened up the inning by drawing a walk.
The Bulldogs then manufactured two runs in the fourth with
CJ Faddis reaching with a single and stealing second and third before scoring as the Lions throw to third reached the outfield for a throwing error. The small ball continued with
Tyler Rapp drawing a walk and advancing to third on a
Dalton Daniels single. Daniels then stole second while Rapp scored as the UAFS pitch went wild and SWOSU went on top 5-0.
Spring led off the fifth inning with a single and moved to third via a wild pitch and a single from Holt. With runners on first and third,
Greg Bruno hit into a double play that allowed Spring to score and extend the lead to 6-0. The lead then reached 7-0 as
Haden Houska led off the sixth with his second home run of the season, this one clearing the left center wall at Crowder Field.
The seven runs proved to be plenty for SWOSU's ace pitcher,
Jon Chidester, who struck out the side in the first inning to begin a dominant performance against the Lions. Chidester allowed just three hits and struck out eight UAFS batters in 7.0 innings as he earned the victory to improve to 4-3 on the year.
Seven different batters recorded a hit for SWOSU with Daniels and Holt both finishing 3-for-5 from the dish with Holt tallying a pair of RBI. Spring also had a multi-hit game and one RBI, as did Houska on his solo home run.
Travis Leverett pitched a perfect eighth inning for SWOSU before
Ben Schweifurth and
Brett McNaughton combined to pitch the ninth inning, which saw UAFS tack on three late runs on a pair of home runs.
"I'm really pleased with how our guys played tonight, coming out and taking the competition right to a really good opponent in Fort Smith," SWOSU Coach
Zack Saunders said postgame. "Our batters came in with the right mindset to get good at-bats and
Jon Chidester was lights out on the mound. This was a good win, but we can't rest on it, we need to show up ready to play again tomorrow."
The win improves the Bulldogs to 12-14 on the year and 6-5 in true road games. SWOSU and Arkansas-Fort Smith will conclude the three-game, non-conference series tomorrow with a noon doubleheader from the Lions' Crowder Field.
