WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Bulldogs went 1-1 in a Great American Conference doubleheader against Arkansas-Monticello at the SWOSU Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon. SWOSU dropped the first game 2-0 before notching a 3-1 victory in the second.
Game 1: UAM 2, SWOSU 0Box Score The first game started off slow, with neither team reaching the scoreboard early. SWOSU had the best chance to take the lead early in the bottom of the first.
Jacob Spring sent a grounder on a narrow line down the left field line for a double that moved
Korbin Polston to third with two outs. However, Brian Holt wasn't able to make a solid connection in the next at-bat and popped out to third, stranding Spring and Polston in scoring position.
Reigning GAC Pitcher of the Week John Chidester started the game off well, fanning four batters through the first three innings without a hit. Unfortunately, the Boll Weevils started to connect with Chidester's pitches and eventually took the lead on an RBI single in the top of the seventh for the 1-0 lead. They would tack on another in the top of the eighth to push the lead to 2-0 after
Taylor Weifenbach came on in relief of Chidester. The Bulldogs were held scoreless in the final half-inning to give UAM the victory.
CJ Faddis enjoyed a good game at the plate, connecting on two of his three at-bats and successfully stole second twice. Chidester was saddled with his third loss of the season despite recording eight strikeouts to move to 2-3 overall.
Game 2: SWOSU 3, UAM 1Box Score Austin Hilton got his second start of the season on the hill for the back end of the doubleheader. The hurler started off well, catching the Weevils' first two batters looking and keeping the opposing team off the scoreboard through the first four innings of the abbreviated seven-inning game.
Hilton's opposite number was Austin Braddock, who had given up just five hits all season and boasted a 1.24 ERA. The Bulldogs went to work on Braddock early, connecting for four hits in the first three innings. The offensive spurt was highlighted by a two-run third inning.
Mason Marshall and
Dalton Daniels found themselves in scoring position on second and third when Polston stepped up to the plate. Polston hit a shallow ball to right field that drove in Marshall and moved Daniels to third. Up next was
Trent Troxell, who flew out to deep centerfield, but his effort was enough to bring Daniels across home for the 2-0 lead.
After UAM pulled one back in the top of the fifth, it was not long before SWOSU restored the two run advantage. In the bottom of the sixth, Spring stepped into the batter's box as the leadoff hitter. Spring liked what he saw on the very first pitch of the at-bat, nailing a solo shot over the left field fence that clanged off the scoreboard.
Brett McNaughton, who had entered the game in relief of Hilton in the top of the sixth, was just three short outs from notching his second save of the season. He fanned the first batter before forcing the second batter into a ground ball. The final out came courtesy of a fly ball to left field.
Hilton picked up his first win of the season, striking out three in 5.0 innings of action while giving up just one run. He is now 1-2 in 2015. Polston went 2-3 at the plate with a run and a RBI.
After today's result, SWOSU moved to 5-6 in conference play and 8-11 overall. The three-game series concludes tomorrow with a final game at the Athletic Complex scheduled for a 12 pm first pitch.
