The Missouri Western baseball team was able to get a split with the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys on opening day Sunday. The Griffons fell 6-5 in the first game before rebounding for a 5-3 victory in game two. The Griffons are 1-1 on the season.
Game 1
ATU 6, MWSU 5
In game one the Griffons fell in a heart breaker giving up two runs in the bottom of the ninth taking the defeat 6-5. The Wonder Boys jumped out to a 3-0 lead after five innings. Arkansas Tech scored one run in the third off two hits and one Griffon error.
In the fifth ATU started a two out rally when Thomas Biocic and Jonathan Finnegan singled and then a Scott Sammons double gave the Wonder Boys the 3-0 lead.
The Griffons responded in the sixth when Bubba Dotson homered leading off the inning then Jimmy Smelcer singled to third base scoring Spencer Shockley cutting the lead to 3-2. The Griffons took the lead in the seventh scoring two more runs on two hits. Shockley double to left field scoring Michael Schulze and then Nate Ramler singled to left scoring Shockley.
MWSU tacked on one in the eighth after David Chew scored giving the Griffons a 5-3 lead. From there ATU started the comeback taking advantage of poor defensive and pitching by the Griffons to get the the victory.
The Griffons had eight hits With Ramler and Chew both collecting two. Ethan Ward started the game going six innings giving up nine hits and two earned runs. Mark Spreckels picked up the loss giving up one hit and one earned runs with two walks.
ATU had 13 hits with five players collecting two hits. Ryan Taylor went 5.1 innings giving up four hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Colt Burns picked up the victory going 2.2 innings giving up just two hits and one run.
Game 2
MWSU 5, ATU 3
Game two belonged to Schulze on the offensive side as he had two hits and three RBI. Schulze led the game off with a home run giving MWSU the 1-0 until the fourth.
In the fourth Bubba Dotson got hit by a pitch and later scored on a Shawn Egge single to left field giving the Griffons a 2-0 lead. The Wonder Boys responded when Sammons scored after a fielding error by Schulze cutting the lead to 2-1 after four.
The Griffons responded scoring two in the fifth and one in the sixth taking a 5-1 lead after five and a half. Kyle Simpson and Payton Scarbrough both reached on singles to open up the fifth then Schulze double to right field giving the Griffons a 4-1 lead. In the sixth Smelcer hit a sacrifice fly scoring Chew helping the Griffons to the 5-1 lead.
The Wonder Boys made thing interesting in the seventh scoring two and leaving one on base but Kyle Kelly closed out the win for the Griffons. Kelly picked up the save going three innings giving up two runs, four hits while striking out three. Brandon Simmons picked up the victory going four innings giving up three hits with one earned run.
The Griffons had seven hits with Schulze and Simpson each getting two.
Mason Reynolds picked up the loss for ATU going five innings. He gave up five hits and four earned runs while striking out just two. He falls to 0-2 with the loss.
The Wonder Boys had seven hits and left eight on base. Josh Johnson had two hits. The Wonder Boys fall to 4-4 with the loss.
The two teams will close out their four game series on Monday, February 11. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm in Russellville, Ark.
— MWSU Sports Information —