RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Baseball split Sunday's opening day of conference play with Arkansas Tech, cruising to a decisive win in game one before dropping game two to set up a rubber match Monday afternoon. The series finale is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Game One
SWOSU 11, ATU 2
The Bulldog bats stayed hot and were backed by a strong outing from
Drew Fifer, as SWOSU opened the series with an 11-2 win. The Dawgs produced four crooked-number innings to account for all 11 runs.
SWOSU struck immediately in its first at-bat, scoring three runs to give Fifer an early cushion. With the bases loaded and no outs, a fielder's choice brought home the first run, followed by a sacrifice fly and an RBI double from
Nolan McCrossin.
Leading 3-0,
Landon Meyer delivered again in the fourth inning with a two-out, two-RBI single. Meyer added to the damage in the sixth, launching a three-run home run to push the lead to 8-0. McCrossin matched him an inning later with a three-run blast of his own.
Fifer worked six innings in the win, striking out seven while walking just one and allowing only three hits.
Conner Watson handled the seventh, and
Garrett Folmar tossed two scoreless innings to close it out.
SWOSU outhit the Wonder Boys 11-6 and finished with six two-out RBI. Meyer went 3-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored, while McCrossin finished 2-for-5 with four RBI.
Game Two
ATU 5, SWOSU 2
The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on scoring chances in the nightcap, stranding 10 runners on base in the seven-inning contest. SWOSU finished 0-for-5 with a runner on third base and fewer than two outs.
SWOSU scored first with a run in the second inning, but Arkansas Tech answered in the third and gradually built its lead as the game progressed. The Wonder Boys tied the game in the third, led 2-1 in the fourth, and extended the margin to 3-1 in the fifth. SWOSU plated a run in the sixth to pull within one, but Tech responded with two insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win.
Will David pitched into the fifth inning before
Sebastian Diaz came on in relief and worked the remainder of the game.
Arkansas Tech held a 9-6 advantage in hits.
Eric Foufoulas led SWOSU offensively, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk and both Bulldog RBIs.