FORT SMITH – UAFS nearly doubled its season total for home runs on Tuesday afternoon, crushing a school-record five home runs in its 13-5 nonconference win against the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm at The Ballpark in Durant.
It was the Lions’ third game against a Great American Conference opponent this season, and UAFS (11-5) improved to 3-0 against the GAC. It also was the Lions’ fourth win in a row overall.
The Lions had hit only three home runs in their first 15 games of the season. Senior center fielder Jace Pitchford continued his red-hot hitting performance with his team-leading fourth home run. His solo home run with one out in the second inning was his third home run in as many games.
He gained some company in the home run chase, too.
Pitchford’s home run was the last of three by the Lions during their five-run outburst in the second inning that broke open a tie game. Sophomore second baseman Brennan Dooly led off the inning with a solo home run – his first of the season – and sophomore right fielder Logan Allen crushed a one-out, three-run home run to give UAFS a 5-0 lead.
Allen hit his second home run – a leadoff shot in the fifth inning – to give the Lions a 6-3 lead. After the Savage Storm pulled within four runs (9-5) after eight complete innings, shortstop Drew Duncan hit his first home run of the season – a two-out, two-run shot to left field – to cap a four-run outburst that all but sealed the game for the Lions.
One game after setting the school single-game record with 20 hits in their win against Rogers State in Friday’s four-game series finale, the Lions collected 15 hits off five Southeastern Oklahoma State pitchers.
Seven of the nine UAFS starters had at least two hits. Allen was 2 for 5 with five RBIs, Pitchford was 2 for 5 with one RBI, first baseman Kyle Love was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, left fielder Dion Williams was 2 for 5, Dooly was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, catcher Dylan Hurt was 3 for 4 with one RBI and Duncan was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
Savage Storm starter Collin Jameson (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing four runs – all earned – on four hits with one walk and one strikeout over two innings.
The Savage Storm (10-12) collected 11 hits off five of the six Lions pitchers. UAFS reliever Brent Holcombe (1-0), who relieved starter Ken Williams with one out in the fourth inning, earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit in 2/3 innings of relief.
Southeastern Oklahoma State had four extra-base hits, including two home runs. Second baseman Joseph Cerda was 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs, right fielder Easton Elliott was 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, left fielder Bryce Deatherage was 3 for 4 with a double, first baseman Austin Ferguson was 1 for 4 with a double and third baseman Brett Akins was 1 for 3 with a triple.
UAFS 13, SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 5
UAFS 005 013 004 — 13 15 0
SEOSU 001 200 020 — 5 11 3
Williams, Holcombe (4), Welch (5), Burch (6), Floyd (7), Stallings (8) and Hurt; Jameson, Fletcher (3), Brinkley (6), Guerrero (7), Dauenhauer (9) and Whitworth. W – Holcombe, 1-0. L – Jameson 0-3. HRs – UAFS, Pitchford (4), Allen (1,2), Dooly (1), Duncan (1); SEOSU, Cerda (3), Elliott (7)
