Weevils Drop Pair to Crichton

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   MEMPHIS, TENN. (Feb. 28) - The University of Arkansas at Monticello's Boll Weevils (2-13) dropped a pair of heartbreaking one-run games to Crichton College Wednesday, falling 12-11 in the opener and then dropping the finale 4-3.

   In the opening game, the Weevils opened scoring in the top of the first inning as Nate Black (Sr., Rocky River, Ohio) hit an RBI triple to center, but Crichton tied the contest in the bottom of the first after a Joe Melton RBI single. Crichton broke the 1-1 tie, scoring runs in the bottom of the second and the third to push their lead to 3-1 before the Weevils responded in the top of the fourth, pulling to within 3-2 on an RBI grounder by Craig Caldwell (Fr., West Monroe, La.).

   UAM tied the game one inning later on an RBI single by Josh Franks (Sr., Lafayette, La.) and then pulled ahead 7-3 on a grand slam by Chris Whatley (Jr., Sachse, Texas). UAM added another run on a sacrifice fly by Jon Michael Kidd (Fr., West Monroe, La.), pushing their lead to 8-3 going into the bottom of the fifth.

   Crichton added a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to narrow the UAM lead to 8-5, and exploded for a seven-run sixth inning to take a 12-8 lead going into the top of the seventh. The Boll Weevils would not go quietly, as they pulled to within 12-10 after a two-run double by Matt Whatley (Jr., Sachse, Texas).

   The Weevils tacked on another run as Black hit a two-out RBI single, but the Weevils were unable to score the tying run to seal the Crichton victory.

   Black went 4-for-5 in the loss, while Franks was a perfect 3-for-3 and Matt Whatley was 3-for-5. Tyler Cox (So., Camden) suffered the loss in relief, allowing two hits and two runs, both earned.

   In the nightcap, Crichton scored all their runs in a four-run second inning, extending their 1-0 lead to 4-0 after Tony Gonzalez hit a three-run triple with two outs. The Weevils got on the board in the top of the sixth inning as Haley Hougen (Sr., Wylie, Texas) hit an RBI single, and pulled to within 4-3 after a two-run double by Black.

   The Weevils were poised to tie the contest with runners on second and third with none out, but Crichton turned to reliever Jacob Barker, who promptly got three outs to earn the save and seal the win for Crichton.

   David Nix (Fr., Camden) suffered the loss after scattering 11 hits over six innings, allowing four runs and fanning four.

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