PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Arkansas-Pine Bluff put on an offensive showcase at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Alcorn State 18-2 in seven innings to take a 2-0 lead in the SWAC series. The Golden Lions improved to 12-17 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
UAPB wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Jose Vasquez drew a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position, and came home on an RBI single to right field by Aaron Grant to put the Golden Lions up early. The offense kept rolling in the second as Zyon Hamilton and Konner Giddley each scored on RBI groundouts from Vinny Saumell and Jose Vasquez respectively, pushing the lead to 3-0.
The third inning was where the game truly got out of hand. UAPB batted around and sent ten men to the plate, scoring six times without recording a hit in the frame. Four hit batters and three walks chased Alcorn's starter before Blake Coleman delivered the big blow of the inning, singling to center to drive in two. Ian Smith added a sacrifice fly and Zach Wieder drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the six-spot and put the Golden Lions ahead 9-0.
UAPB added three more in the fourth to keep the pressure on. Lazaro Alvarado singled and Konner Giddley doubled down the left-field line to set the table. Ian Smith followed with an RBI single through the left side, Jose Vasquez walked to force in another run, and Zach Wieder grounded out to bring home a third as the lead swelled to 12-0.
The sixth inning was a back-breaker. Zach Wieder laced a two-run triple to left-center and Blake Coleman plated another on a groundout. With two outs, Nick Hockemeyer singled up the middle to extend the inning before Ian Smith delivered a two-RBI single to right-center and Vinny Saumell followed with another RBI single up the middle to cap a six-run frame.
Kenney Fabian was dominant on the mound, going the distance in six innings and allowing just one hit and one earned run while striking out six to earn his first victory on the season. Emerson Lott closed it out in the seventh.
Ian Smith led the way offensively with four RBI on two hits while adding a sacrifice fly and stolen base. Blake Coleman also knocked in four runs and reached base three times, and Konner Giddley reached base all four plate appearances, scoring four times. Vinny Saumell went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Aaron Grant went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Game 3 of the series is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
