BASEBALL
UAM to face Missouri Western in D-II regional
Seven players with previous NCAA Division II regional experience will suit up for Arkansas-Monticello today. Coach John Harvey is hoping the prior appearance helps bring different results.
The Boll Weevils (36-14) are the No. 4 seed in the Division II Central Regional and will play No. 5 Missouri Western State (38-18) at 1:30 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn. It's their second trip to the regionals, a double-elimination, eight-team tournament in which the winner advances to the championships in Cary, N.C. The first trip ended two years ago after losses to Southern Arkansas and Augustana College in Russellville.
"Two years ago that was our first time ever making it so we didn't really know what to expect," Harvey said. "I think once we got there we, really put a lot of pressure on ourselves."
With a catcher, first baseman, shortstop, two relievers and today's starting pitcher all returning from that team, Harvey said he's confident they'll be better equipped to handle the stage today. Harvey can also be confident in the Boll Weevils' offense.
Led by Great American Conference Player of the Year Corey Wood, who hit .355 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI, the Boll Weevils hit .296 and scored 365 runs, which led the GAC. The Boll Weevils have three other regulars who hit .335 or better and two others who drove in 44 runs or more.
"Corey is a special player," Harvey said. "But, it's like another coach in our conference said to me, it's not like he has to hit in order for us to win. We have several different ways we can attack you."
Zach McKnight, a senior from Bentonville, will start for the Boll Weevils today. He's 8-2 this season with a 4.02 ERA and started in a loss against SAU in the regionals two years ago.
"He's been our go-to guy the past two years," Harvey said. "He's faced everybody's No. 1 and that's a hard thing to do and he'll do it again this weekend."
-- Troy Schulte
UAPB wins SWAC opener in rout
Arkansas-Pine Bluff made quick work of Alabama A&M in Wednesday's Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament opener.
The Golden Lions, the No. 1 seed from the West division, scored in five different innings while rallying from an early deficit in a 16-6 victory over the Bulldogs in New Orleans. It was UAPB's first victory in the SWAC Tournament in Coach Carlos James' six seasons and it advanced to a second-round game at 3 p.m. today against Texas Southern.
Alabama A&M (13-43) scored three runs in the top of the first inning off UAPB starter Humberto Medina, but UAPB scored a run in the bottom of the first, six in the second and five in the third to take control. The Golden Lions added three in the sixth and one in the seventh to complete the mercy-rule victory.
Aderly Perez went 4 for 5, including a home run, with 6 RBI and 2 runs scored. He hit an RBI single in the first, a three-run home run in the second and a two-run single in the third.
Jaqueese Moore hit a three-run home run in the sixth for UAPB to finish with 5 RBI and 4 runs scored. Jordan Knox went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored for the Golden Lions (22-23), who totaled 17 hits.
Medina earned the victory after giving up 5 runs on 5 hits with 3 strikeouts over 5 innings. Blake Estep gave up 1 run on 4 hits in 2 innings.
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
BASKETBALL
ASU's Livingston heading to Texas Tech
Former Arkansas State forward Anthony Livingston will finish his career playing for a coach he gave fits last season.
Livingston, who was granted his release last month by ASU Coach Grant McCasland, has committed to play at Texas Tech for former UALR coach Chris Beard next season, according to multiple reports that were confirmed Wednesday by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
ESPN.com and CBSSports.com both reported Livingston's commitment to the Red Raiders. As a graduate transfer, he'll be eligible immediately.
Livingston was twice named second-team All-Sun Belt Conference. This past season he averaged 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds. He scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds in ASU's victory over UALR last season, and scored 18 points and had 22 rebounds in a loss to UALR.
-- Troy Schulte
GOLF
Hogs men advance to NCAA Championship
The Arkansas men's golf team will be one of 10 SEC teams at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., after finishing tied for second place Wednesday at the Kohler Regional in Kohler, Wis.
Starting the final round in fourth place, Arkansas opened the day with 10 birdies and an eagle through the first five holes to take sole possession of second place at 9 under. The Razorbacks posted seven more birdies on the back nine to finish the round at 7-under 281. The Hogs finished the tournament at 7-under 857, tied with Florida, which was four shots behind regional winner Illinois. The second-place finish ties the Razorbacks for their highest NCAA regional finish.
Taylor Moore had his fifth top-five finish of the year, shooting a 2-under-par 70 to finish tied for fifth place with a 213 total. Nicolas Echavarria, who finished tied for 12th place, and Alvaro Ortiz also both shot a 70 in the final round.
SOFTBALL
SAU remains alive in D-II championships
Southern Arkansas rebounded from a shutout to start the NCAA Division II championships with a shutout victory of its own Wednesday night.
Kaylee Garner (26-5) pitched a complete-game shutout while Maddie Dow had three hits and drove in two runs in the Muleriders' 7-0 victory over Charleston (W.Va.) in an elimination game at the Division II championships in Denver. The victory came a day after SAU lost 9-0 to North Alabama and allowed the Muleriders to advance to another elimination game at 3:30 p.m. today against West Texas A&M.
The Muleriders (52-10) took control early Wednesday with four runs in the first. Dow hit an RBI single, another run scored on a fielding error, Tyler Casada had an RBI and Chelsea Jordan hit a sacrifice fly.
SAU added two runs in the third when Summer Ehrig and Liz Hudgins hit consecutive RBI singles to go up 6-0. The Muleriders scored their final run in the fourth on another Dow RBI single.
Garner held Charleston to 6 hits and struck out 6 while issuing 5 walks over 7 innings.
Sports on 05/19/2016