Two more thrillers, but Eutectics drop both ends of DH to Eagles

WALNUT RIDGE, AR – The Eagles swept the Eutectics in a doubleheader on Saturday in the final two games of their American Midwest Conference three-game weekend series. Williams Baptist plated two in the seventh of game one for a 3-2 walk-off win, while they scored six late in the backend of the twin bill and then hung on for an 11-10 win.

An RBI single in the bottom of the first by Nicholas Jones got WBU on the board to start the day against UHSP hurler Tristan Calmes. But that was only run that the Eagles could manage off the Eutectic starter for most of the contest as the Purple and Gold took the lead in the sixth. Jordan Gonzalez led off the frame with a homerun to left to make it a 1-1 game. Friday's hero Caden Buxton reached on an error and went to second on an infield groundout. Nolan Harding punched a single through the right side to put UHSP ahead 2-1. The Eutectics had two-on with one-out in the seventh, but could not add any insurance for Calmes. In the bottom of the seventh, the leadoff hitter reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. WBU's Cody Jones singled to center to tie the game and then provided the game winning run on a walk-off RBI double to left from Gavin Mink.

Noah Willingham went the distance for Williams Baptist scattering six hits with only one of the two runs being earned with a pair of walks and four strikeouts. Calmes took the loss allowing three unearned runs on just five hits over six-and-a-third innings. Calmes fanned six and walked three.

The backend of the double dip was a wild back-and-forth affair just like UHSP's 11-10 ten-inning win on Friday to open the series. The Eagles grabbed the lead with a first inning run, but Jordan Gonzalez tied it in the second with an RBI double that scored Malcom Merriweather who led off the frame with a single. Jovonnie Bautista hit a two-run homerun to put UHSP up 3-1 in the third, put after a run in the bottom of the third the Eagles put together a three-run fifth to lead 5-3. Gonzalez answered for the Eutectics in the sixth with a two-run double to left to re-tie the game at 5-5. WBU starter Parker Jeffries left after the sixth allowing five runs, four earned with a walk, seven strikeouts and eight hits. Cooper Thomas came on and his offense gave him a late cushion as Williams Baptist put three on the board in both the seventh and eighth to take an 11-5 lead. UHSP starter Braden Thomas was long gone by that point having lasted four-and-two-thirds allowing only three hits, but got touched for five runs, four earned, striking out eight but walking four. Cris Resendez came on for an inning-and-a-third and Maguire Wakelyn followed as he labored through both those late WBU three-run innings. Wakelyn had allowed six runs, five earned on five hits as he walked and fanned one. But the UHSP offense mounted a rally in the ninth that finished up just a run short. Nolan Harding and Robert Uhlmeyer both reached to open the inning. Thomas was lifted for Jacob Eubanks who promptly walked Bautista. Merriweather singled to drive in a pair and Logan Stribling cleaned the off with a three-run homer to left. That was the end of the day for Eubanks who did not retire a hitter. Skylar Morrison came on to try and close it out and struck out the next three hitters to pick up the save in a one-run WBU win.

Thomas picked up the win in relief for the Eagles tossing two innings of two-run, three-hit baseball walking two and fanning three. Wakelyn took the loss for UHSP.

The Eutectics were in both game despite committing seven errors on the day. Malcom Merriweather went 5-for-7 on the day with three runs and two RBI's. Robert Uhlmeyer went 3-for-5 in game two while Jovonnie Bautista, Logan Stribling, Jordan Gonzalez and Ruben Ogando all had two hits on the day.

The Eutectics (6-10, 1-2 AMC) are right back in Arkansas early next week as they play a doubleheader at Arkansas Baptist on Tuesday before a single game on Wednesday at Philander Smith.