Baseball Splits Saturday DH at ATU

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Southeastern exploded for five runs in the seventh inning of the series finale to salvage a Saturday split with Arkansas Tech, taking that game 8-3 after dropping the opener 6-3 in Russellville, Ark.
 
The split moves the Savage Storm to 10-21-1 overall and 9-13 in Great American Conference play.
 
Travis Spinney posted a pair of hits in the opener, while Luke Thomas had a home run and three RBI.
 
Mike Wade got the start and was touched up for four runs on four hits over 1.2 innings pitched as he was saddled with the loss.
 
Cody Nitson came on in long relief to toss 6.1 innings and allow two runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
 
Thomas would strike in the top of the second with a three-run home run to open up a 3-0 lead, but it was short lived as ATU answered with four in the bottom half for a 4-3 advantage.
 
The Wonder Boys would tack on a run in the third and another in the fifth to make it 6-3.
 
The Storm would load the bases with one out in the eighth, but was unable to bring home a run which left the final at 6-3.
 
In the series finale, SE would again strike first with Roberts connecting on a two-run double in the top of the second to plate Micah Simmer and Jett Swigart for a 2-0 lead.
 
But just like in game one it would last just a half inning as ATU put up three runs thanks in large part to three Storm errors to take a 3-2 lead.
 
SE would take advantage of a Wonder Boys error in the fourth inning with Ty Hanson scoring after a Spinney single to knot the game at 3-3.
 
Cade Clay would open the top of the seventh inning by reaching on an error and was followed by a Hunter Harrison walk and a Brett Akins bunt single to load the bases.
 
That allowed Thomas to drive in the go-ahead runs with a two-run double, plating Clay and Harrison.
 
After a pitching change, Thomas and Akins would come home on a Swigart two-run single to open up a 7-3 lead.
 
Later in the inning Roberts would stretch it to 8-3 with an RBI single to bring in Swigart.
 
Swigart posted a pair of hits in the contest as did Roberts, with five others turning in a hit each.
 
Roberts would drive in three runs in the game, with Thomas and Swigart added two RBI apiece.
 
Hayden Grimes got the start and tossed 1.0 innings before allowing three runs, two earned, onm four hits with two strikeouts.
 
Michael Brinska would come on to toss 3.1 innings in relief and did not allow a run on two hits with a K.
 
Brandon Wolski would finish out the game and collect the win after throwing 2.2 perfect innings and striking out two.