RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Baseball could not snag a win against Arkansas Tech in two tries on Saturday, falling 4-2 and 9-3 to the Wonder Boys to conclude the series.
The losses push the Dawg's record to 15-15 overall and 7-11 in the GAC. SWOSU travels to face Cameron on Tuesday in midweek action before returning home next weekend to host Southern Nazarene.
Game One – ATU 4, SWOSU 2
Tech's RBI single in the second and solo home run in the fifth had them leading 2-0 into the seventh. Jackson Syring cut into that lead with a top of the seventh solo shot of his own, followed by an RBI single from Marco Barrera which tied the game an inning later.
In the home half of the eighth, in response to the Dawgs tying things up, ATU plated the go-ahead runs to win it. With two outs, a two-run double spoiled the comeback.
Josh Fluet got the start and threw 6.0 innings before Grant Ewy relieved him. Both allowed two runs in their appearance. Fluet struck out three and scattered six hits in his no decision. Ewy was handed the loss.
Reece Burke finished 2-4 to lead the lineup. SWOSU finished with five hits – four singles and Syring's bomb. Tech had eight hits, four of which went for extra bases.
Game Two – ATU 9, SWOSU 3
A nine-hit, eight run sixth by the Wonder Boys ruined SWOSU's chance to salvage the series. The Bulldogs entered the inning leading 3-1 and in need of six outs to earn a much-needed win.
Instead, Tech scored a run on three-straight hits to make it 3-2 and chased starter Jackson Phillips from the game. Now 3-2, the Wonder Boys struck out after a pitching change before unleashing six more hits with two outs including three more doubles to break the game open.
SWOSU had built a 3-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and another in the third. Geoff Marlow hit a solo home run, his eighth of the year, followed by a Connor Jeffers sac fly that same inning. The Bulldog scoring was capped off in the third thanks to an RBI single from Ty Eastwood.
The lineup finished with six hits in the game. Tech had six hits until adding nine more in the sixth inning and finished with 15.