PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions and Stephen F. Austin traded wins in Saturday's doubleheader, with UAPB claiming Game 2 by a 4-3 margin before dropping Game 3, 2-1, in a tightly contested afternoon affair. Combined with Friday's Game 1 victory, the Golden Lions hold a 2-1 series advantage heading into Sunday's finale.

UAPB wasted absolutely no time in the morning game, getting on the board in the very first inning without the benefit of a hit. Konner Giddley led off with a walk, and Zach Wieder reached on an SFA error that sent Giddley racing all the way to third. Although Blake Coleman hit into a double play, Giddley crossed the plate on the play to give the Golden Lions an early 1-0 lead — a sign of things to come for a club that finds ways to manufacture runs.
The Lumberjacks answered with a run of their own in the third to pull even at 1-1, and the game settled into a back-and-forth affair. UAPB reclaimed the lead with a run in the bottom of the third, punctuated by Blake Coleman's RBI single through the right-center gap that scored two runners and gave the Golden Lions a 3-1 cushion. SFA continued to chip away, however, and pulled to within one run by the seventh inning, making the 8th inning decisive.
With the Golden Lions clinging to a 2-1 lead, UAPB's offense erupted for two critical runs in the eighth that proved to be the difference. Zach Hamilton drew a leadoff walk, and Dane Small followed to put two runners on. Lazaro Alvarado moved them over with a sacrifice bunt, and Jose Vasquez reached on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Nick Hockemeyer stepped in and reached on a fielder's choice that held the bases full, before Konner Giddley reached on a SFA error at second base — and chaos ensued. Both Vasquez and Small came home on the miscue, pushing the UAPB lead to 4-1 and effectively sealing the game. SFA added a pair of meaningless runs in the ninth, but Emerson Lott came on and slammed the door, earning the win to improve to 1-0.
Starter Joe King worked 4.2 innings in his outing, battling through traffic throughout but limiting the damage enough to keep UAPB in the game. Brendan Hamlin bridged the gap in relief before Lott finished the job. On offense, Konner Giddley had a standout day with a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Dane Small continued his strong series, reaching base three times. The Golden Lions finished with six hits but drew six walks, consistently wearing down SFA pitching across the entire game.

The afternoon game was a pitchers' duel from the start, and UAPB's Kenney Fabian was brilliant across most of his outing — held in check only by a pair of unearned runs that proved to be the deciding factor in a 2-1 SFA victory.
The Golden Lions drew first blood in the third inning in gritty fashion. Nick Hockemeyer drew a walk and wasted no time making his presence felt, swiping second base and then stealing third to put himself in prime scoring position. With one out, catcher Owen Gietzen delivered the go-ahead single to second base, plating Hockemeyer to give UAPB a 1-0 lead. Konner Giddley added a single to extend the threat, but the Golden Lions were unable to push any more across as they left two runners stranded.
Fabian and the UAPB defense held firm through the fourth inning, but the fifth inning proved to be the turning point of the ballgame — and not for any fault of Fabian's arm. With two outs and SFA threatening, an error at extended the Lumberjacks' half inning and kept the door open. SFA capitalized lashing a two-run double down the left field line that scored both runners and handed the Lumberjacks' a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish. Both of RBI's came on unearned runs — a gut-punch for a UAPB squad that pitched and defended well for the majority of the contest.
The Golden Lions pushed runners in the later innings, but was unable to put another run on the board. Fabian's final line was respectable given the circumstances: he held SFA to just two runs (both unearned) on four hits, with nine Golden Lions strikeouts to his credit from the SFA side. Jack Hasten came on in relief to close out the game.
UAPB left 10 runners on base in the loss, finishing with four hits and six walks. Lazaro Alvarado singled, and Gietzen's third-inning RBI hit was the only one of the day for UAPB. The Golden Lions had their opportunities but could not break through, falling in a tight game that could have easily gone the other way.
Despite the afternoon loss, the Golden Lions remain in control of the series at 2-1. UAPB has shown the ability to manufacture runs, compete late, and pitch effectively when it matters most.

Game 4 is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in Pine Bluff. First pitch is set for 1 PM.