FORT SMITH, Ark. – The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Diamond Lions had been waiting awhile to settle the score with the Northeastern State University Riverhawks, and they got their chance Tuesday night at Crowder Field.
UA Fort Smith pounded out nine hits off four of the six NSU hurlers on its way to a 12-7 win in the second game of the home-and-home nonconference series. The Riverhawks (14-21) beat the Diamond Lions (8-16) 13-3 via run-rule on March 2 in Tahlequah, Okla.
Five Lions accounted for all of UA Fort Smith’s hits. Sophomore third baseman Cameron Young was 3 for 5 with two RBI, sophomore shortstop Matt Brown was 2 for 4 with three RBI, freshman first baseman Gordon Miller was 2 for 3 with two RBI, freshman designated hitter Christian Allen was 1 for 4 with one RBI and senior right fieder Justin Cowgur, who started the game at catcher, was 1 for 3 with one RBI.
UA Fort Smith trailed 2-0 after the top half of the first inning but rallied to take the lead for good with a solo run in the first, three runs in the second inning and two in the third inning. The Lions led 12-3 after seven innings.
Riverhawks starter Brandon Compton (1-1) suffered the loss in just two innings of work. Compton allowed six earned runs on five hits, walked three and struck out one and only faced 14 batters.
NSU collected 12 hits off three UA Fort Smith pitchers, including a home run by catcher Demetrius Torronez. Terronez was 1 for 1 with three RBI. Right fielder Noah Ringenberger was 1 for 5 with two RBI, left fielder Angel Hernandez was 2 for 5 with two RBI, third baseman Chris Gallegos was 3 for 5 and starting catcher Chris Sprick was 2 for 3.
Junior Jake Waddle (2-1) earned the win for the Lions after six strong innings of work. Waddle allowed three runs – two earned – on eight hits, walked three and struck out five. He left with an 8-2 lead, giving way to reliever Hunter Benton, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings, and closer Zared Gay, who pitched the ninth inning.
UA Fort Smith will resume action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Heartland Conference foe Newman University for one nine-inning game at Crowder Field. It will be the first encounter between the two teams this spring.
