Hougen Powers Weevils Past ATU

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   RUSSELLVILLE (March 25) - Haley Hougen (Sr., Wylie, Texas) blasted a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to power the University of Arkansas at Monticello's Boll Weevils (4-25, 2-4 GSC) to a 13-11 victory in their series finale with the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys Sunday at Tech Field.

   The Wonder Boys scored first on an infield single by Jantzen Black in the first inning, but the Boll Weevils responded immediately in the top of the second as Gus Villegas (Jr., Cangues, Puerto Rico) led off with a homer to knot the contest at 1-1. Villegas gave UAM the lead one inning later, driving home a run on a sacrifice fly before Hougen hit a two-run double to push the Weevils’ lead to 4-1.

   ATU pulled to within 4-2 as Black scored on an error in the bottom of the third, but the Weevils continued their offensive onslaught in the top of the fourth as Nate Black (Sr., Rocky River, Ohio) hit a three-run double to extend the Boll Weevil lead to 7-2.

   Villegas hit an RBI single later in the inning to give the Boll Weevils an 8-2 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.

   The Wonder Boys then rallied, as Josh Holloway laced a three-run double to pull the Wonder Boys to within 8-5 in the fourth, followed by an RBI double by Tony Sanchez to pull ATU to within 8-6.

   The Weevils responded with an RBI single by Matt Whatley (Jr., Garland, Texas) in the top of the fifth inning, giving UAM a 9-6 lead, but the Wonder Boys responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to pull to within 9-8.

   UAM extended their lead to 10-8 in the sixth as Chris Whatley (Jr., Garland, Texas) hit an RBI single, but Arkansas Tech would take the lead with a three-run sixth inning.

   Both teams went scoreless through the seventh, setting the stage for Hougen’s three-run blast in the eighth that gave UAM the 13-11 victory.

   David Nix (Fr., Camden) threw two innings of one-hit relief to pick up his first save of the season, as Colter Zoch (Jr., La Grange, Texas) picked up the win after allowing three runs in two and two-thirds innings of relief.

   Hougen, Villegas and Black all had three hits in the win, while both Matt and Chris Whatley had two hits.

   The Weevils return to action Saturday, March 31 as they faced Southern Arkansas in a Gulf South Conference doubleheader at Weevil Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

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