PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff turned a close ballgame into a dominant statement Friday afternoon at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex, erupting for five runs in both the sixth and eighth innings to roll past Florida A&M 11-4 and improve to 4-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
The Golden Lions appeared in control early despite a slim 1-0 lead, but the sixth inning is when UAPB truly seized command.
Blake Coleman ignited the frame with a single to right center, and back-to-back hits from
Nick Hockemeyer and
Konner Giddley loaded the bases.
Zyon Hamilton then lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Lions a 2-1 advantage before
Vinny Saumell ripped a two-run double to right to push the lead to four. With two outs and runners still on,
Aaron Grant drove a double through the left side, plating two more to cap a five-run outburst and put UAPB firmly in the driver's seat at 6-1.
Florida A&M managed to claw back three runs in the seventh to make it a 6-4 game, but the Golden Lions answered with authority in the bottom of the eighth.
Jose Vasquez opened the inning with a double to third and eventually scored on a
Zach Wieder sacrifice fly. Coleman kept the pressure coming with an RBI single to left center, and Hockemeyer followed with a hit to set the table.
Konner Giddley then delivered the knockout blow, ripping a triple that scored three — including an unearned run on a miscue — to stretch the lead to 11-4 and put the game away for good.
Giddley finished the afternoon as the offensive standout, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, two RBI, three runs scored, and a hit by pitch. Coleman was equally relentless at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Saumell contributed two hits and two RBI out of the nine hole, while Grant added a two-hit, two-RBI effort from the three spot. Vasquez and Hockemeyer each finished with two hits and a run scored, with Hockemeyer contributing a sacrifice bunt alongside his offensive production.
On the mound,
Jalen Porter turned in another quality start, striking out six and allowing just three hits over 5.2 innings before turning it over to the bullpen.
Brendan Hamlin closed things out in style, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to seal the game.
The Golden Lions are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. for Game 2 of the series.
