WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Baseball got a great pitching performance from Chris Goldston, used timely hitting to produce enough offense, and earned a 5-2 victory over Arkansas-Monticello in Friday's series opener.
The Bulldogs move to 21-23 on the season and 12-16 in the GAC in their battle to qualify for the postseason.
It was Goldston's best start of the season. The senior, pitching in his final game in Weatherford, threw a season long 8.0 innings and scattered five hits while keeping the Boll Weevil offense on their heels. UAM did not score a crooked number in the contest, with single runs in the first and eighth innings off Goldston.
Meanwhile, on offense, SWOSU did what they had to do to get Goldston run support. After falling behind 1-0 early, the Bulldogs tied things up in the third inning and took the lead for good in the fourth with another run.
RBIs for the first two runs came from Cade Hamilton and Alex Rice. Hamilton nearly had two RBIs with his hit but the second run was thrown out at the plate in a close play.
Now 2-1, SWOSU extended the lead with three more runs in the fifth. UAM committed two errors in the inning and the Dawgs took advantage. Geoff Marlow got things going with a leadoff double and SWOSU eventually scored runs thanks to a sacrifice fly, heads up first and third baserunning, and finally a fielding blunder.
Monticello got a run back in the eighth, but Zane Leonard came on in the ninth to shut the door and earn the save in three-up and three-down fashion.
Reece Burke finishes 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Caleb Clines, 2-4, also had a multi-hit game. Brooks Red doubled alongside Marlow.
Saturday's doubleheader action is set to begin at noon in Weatherford where seven seniors will be honored prior to the day's start. SWOSU, who currently sits in ninth place in the league standings, will look to keep winning in pursuit of the eighth and final postseason spot.
