Merriweather's 2HR's help Eutectics snap 4-game skid

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Eutectics used an offensive explosion to finish out a six-game tour through the state of Arkansas in an 18-10 rout of the Philander Smith Panthers. It was an impressive show of resilience for the Eutectics after dropping a pair the day before in heart-breaking fashion as they lost back-to-back games in walk-off fashion. But there was no threat of that on this day as UHSP brought the lumber with 16 hits, six extra base hits and got the benefit of seven Panther errors.

After trailing 4-3 headed to the third, the Purple and Gold unloaded for five in the top of the third as Malcolm Merriweather drilled a solo homer and both Dustin Aleck and Robert Uhlmeyer each drove in two. Logan Stribling struggled through two-and-two-thirds innings pitched surrendering seven runs, six earned on six hits, fanning three but walking two and yielding a pair of homeruns. Stribling could not get out of the third as PSU scored three more against the Eutectic starter as he was lifted for Jordan Gonzalez who did a nice job of setting things down. Gonzalez also gave some length to a beleaguered UHSP bullpen that had played six games in as many days. Gonzalez went a steady four-and-a-third innings allowing only two runs on three hits, walking three but striking out five.

While the Philander Smith offense was quieted, the road club tacked on two in the sixth, three in the seventh and four in the eighth. Merriweather went deep for the second time in the game with a two-run bomb to left. Nolan Harding got into the homerun party with a three-run job in the seventh. Dustin Aleck drove in two in the eighth while an Uhlmeyer RBI sacrifice added another and Jovonnie Bautista scored on a wild pitch. Jabez King drove in the final UHSP run with an RBI groundout in the ninth.

Bautista had opened the scoring with an RBI double to left in the first while the Eutectics took a 2-0 lead scoring a run as Ruben Ogando reached on an error. Philander Smith tied it in the home half of the first as the Panthers scored their first run on a Stribling balk and Chandler Morrow roped an RBI single to left. Aleck reclaimed the lead for the Eutectics in the second reaching on an error to drive in a run. PSU eventually took a lead scoring two in the bottom of the second as Deshun Underwood hit an RBI groundout and Juan Zorola put one over the wall in left center.

With a two homer day, Malcolm Merriweather went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a stolen base and three RBI's. Jovonnie Bautista was 3-for-4 with a pair of walks, a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Dustin Aleck drove in five going 2-for-6 with a double. Nolan Harding had a pair of hits driving in three, while Holden Campbell and Caden Buxton also each recorded two hits. The 18 runs are the most that UHSP had scored in a single game this year while the 16 hits match the second-most they have had in a contest this season.

Jordan Gonzalez picked up the win in relief for UHSP. Cris Resendez tossed the final two-and-a-third innings to close out the win allowing an unearned run on just two hits, fanning three and walking a pair. Brett Marcel took the loss in relief for Philander Smith as the second of three pitchers the Panthers used.

UHSP (7-12) returns to American Midwest Conference play on Friday when they entertain Central Baptist for a Friday-Saturday three-game series. A Friday doubleheader starts at 12:00p from Stars Park on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University.