The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) baseball team bounced back from an early non-conference setback against Jackson State to dominate in recent conference games, including two home victories over Alcorn State and a pair of road wins against Southern, improving the standing in the SWAC conference race.
In the match against the Jackson State Tigers at Torii Hunter Stadium, UAPB faced a tough 14-4 defeat. Jackson State (21-10) delivered a powerful offense with Myles White leading the charge, going 4-for-4 and contributing to 14 hits for Jackson State.
Despite an early 3-1 lead in the first inning on Carlos Rodriquez’s single to the right and a wild pitch by the Tiger’s pitcher, UAPB (13-19) couldn’t contain the Tigers offense, which rallied back, scoring twelve runs in the final four innings to secure the victory.
UAPB struggled against Jackson State’s bullpen, which proved pivotal in the game’s outcome.
However, the Golden Lions quickly shifted gears in their subsequent games against Alcorn State, demonstrating their offensive prowess.
In the first game of the series, UAPB overwhelmed Alcorn State with a staggering 29-3 victory, thanks to Darrius Brown and Gavin Terry, who each contributed four hits. Jacob Ehling’s pitching and 23 hits from the team set the tone for UAPB’s dominant performance.
The momentum continued into the second game against Alcorn State, where UAPB secured a 16-4 win. Contributions from the entire lineup were evident, as every starter reached base safely, with standout performances by freshmen Darrius Brown and Carlos Rodriguez.
UAPB carried this winning streak into their series against Southern on the road, overcoming a two-run deficit from the first game to clinch the series.
In the second game, UAPB defeated Southern 17-8, with a significant eight-run inning breaking the tie and propelling them to victory.
The series concluded with an 11-6 win, highlighted by a grand slam from Ben VanMaanen in the seventh inning, demonstrating UAPB’s strong offensive plays throughout the game.
Reflecting on these performances, UAPB’s baseball team demonstrated their capability to rebound from early season challenges, leveraging their batting strength and strategic plays to mark a successful series of conference games.
These victories signal a positive direction for the team and highlight the depth of talent and teamwork within the Golden Lions’ roster, setting a promising outlook for the remainder of the season.
The team returns home to host a pair of non-conference games against Williams Baptist on April 9 at Torii Hunter Stadium.