RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello baseball team suffered a pair of losses in the first Gulf South Conference series of the season to Arkansas Tech by final scores of 4-1 and 10-8.

 

With the losses, UAM drops to 6-21-1 overall and 0-2 in GSC play this season, while ATU improves to 14-18 overall and 3-2 in GSC play.

 

In the first game, UAM scored its lone run in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI-single through the right side of the infield by junior Blaine Ivey, scoring junior Brian Johnson, who tripled to left center one batter earlier.

 

ATU responded in the second inning with three earned runs, highlighted by a two-run homerun by Jeremy Houchin, his eighth of the season.

 

Junior Tyler Maness (2-2) was saddled with the loss after pitching the first seven innings, allowing all four runs off nine hits. Maness did not give up a single walk through 28 batters faced.

 

ATU’s Karl Whitley (3-4) earned the win after tossing Tech’s first complete-game of the season. Through those nine innings, Whitley only allowed the one run off eight hits, while also recording five strikeouts.

 

In the nightcap, UAM jumped on top 3-0 in the first inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single by junior Drew Harper, playing junior Richard Atwood and Ivey, who both recorded base hits earlier in the inning.

 

ATU also scored three runs in the first, the majority of which coming from a two-RBI double by Landon Sullins.

 

The Weevils tied the game at 5-5 in the top of fourth, started with a solo homerun to left center by junior Tyler Henry. Later in the inning, junior Matt Gardner smashed an RBI-single through the middle to score Harper, who reached on an infield hit.

 

ATU scored its final five runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a two-run homerun by Robbie Hohler. The Weevils committed one error and threw three wild pitches in the inning.

 

Freshman Craig Pellegrin (2-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs off two hits in the sixth inning. For ATU, Barrett Davis (2-1) recorded the win after throwing three no-hit innings. Jordan Gomez picked up his first save of the season after UAM threatned in the top of the seventh inning. Gomez recorded all three-outs in the inning, the last one coming with the bases loaded.

 

The two squads conclude the series tomorrow with a single nine-inning game scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tech Field in Russellville.