BASKETBALL
Southwest Christian forward commits to Hogs
Southwest Christian Academy of Little Rock forward Gabe Osabuohien orally committed to Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson for the 2017 recruiting class Wednesday.
His pledge comes two days after Anderson announced freshman forward Brachen Hazen was transferring. The departure opened up a scholarship for Osabuohien.
Osabuohien, 6-8, 219 pounds, of Toronto had scholarship offers from Murray State, East Tennessee State, the University of Chicago, North Carolina-Charlotte and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock while drawing interest from Missouri, Iowa State, Tennessee-Martin and others.
"Gabe is a very active, instinctive player," Southwest Christian Academy Coach Charles Baker said. "He defends as well as any high school player I've been around. He handles the ball real well for someone his size. He's very athletic. He can seriously impact a game without taking a bunch of shots. That's his best attribute."
The Hogs started recruiting Osabuohien in September, but it appeared he was going elsewhere until Hazen left the program. The Razorbacks and Baker started communicating Tuesday, and Anderson and associate head coach Melvin Watkins extended the scholarship offer Wednesday.
He averaged about 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for a Lions team that had three other Division I signees. Southwest Christian Academy defeated Mount Mission of Virginia 54-44 to win the National Association of Christian Athletes championship Feb. 24.
Osabuohien said he was thrilled about being a Hog.
"I'm real happy to be a Razorback," Osabuohien said. "I feel comfortable in the system, and Coach Anderson and Watkins have spent a whole year recruiting me. I love the style of play, and I feel like I can really fit in."
Anderson likes the upside of Osabuohien, who has a 7-1 wingspan.
"He said he really liked my versatility at my height and ... how I haven't scratched the surface," he said. "He said he's going to help me do that."
-- Richard Davenport
BASEBALL
Sun Belt Tournament postponed again
Poor field conditions and the threat of inclement weather postponed the start of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Statesboro, Ga., for a second consecutive day Wednesday.
Because of the postponements, the tournament has switched to a single-elimination format, beginning with today's opening-round games. Arkansas State University will play Georgia State University at 2 p.m. Central, followed by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock facing Texas State University at 5:30 p.m.
Four games will be played Friday in what will serve as the tournament's quarterfinal round, followed by two semifinal games Saturday and Sunday's championship game. If both Arkansas State and UALR win today, the Trojans would face No. 2 seed Texas-Arlington at 11:30 a.m. Friday, while the Red Wolves would face top-seeded Coastal Carolina at 3 p.m.
UCA clobbers Houston Baptist
The University of Central Arkansas scored 11 runs in the first three innings Wednesday as the Bears defeated the Houston Baptist Huskies 15-4 in 7 innings at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas, in the Southland Conference Tournament.
Rigo Aguilar drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning for UCA’s first run, and Keaton Presley added a three-run home run to left-center field in the second inning for a 4-0 lead. Presley and Michael Haun both drew bases-loaded walks in the third inning to push the lead to 6-0, then Jansen McCurdy singled and advanced to second on a fielding error. Haun and Eddie Sanchez, who also walked earlier in the inning, scored to give the Bears an 8-0 lead. Hunter Strong’s two-run double and an RBI single from Aguilar took the lead to 11-0. Brooks Balisterri finished 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored for the Bears, while Sanchez was 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. UCA advances to face top-seeded McNeese State, which beat Lamar 7-5, today at 7 p.m. in the double-elimination tournament.
GOLF
Arkansas Tech men rally at NCAAs
Austin Smith's birdie on the final hole Wednesday completed a 13-stroke rally for the Arkansas Tech University men's team, and the Wonder Boys finished in eighth place to advance to match play at the NCAA Division II Championships in Kissimmee, Fla.
Arkansas Tech started Wednesday in a tie for 15th place but shot a 9-over 289, which was the lowest team score of the day. Smith's birdie put the Wonder Boys one stroke ahead of the University of North Alabama to advance to match play for the first time at the national championships.
Ryan Sprulock shot a 1-over 71 Wednesday to lead Arkansas Tech individually, while Jonathan Echberg and Luke Cornett each shot a 2-over 72. Smith finished with a 4-over 74.
Arkansas Tech will face top-seeded Barry University in the quarterfinal round of match play this morning. If the Wonder Boys advance, they would face either Lynn University or Florida Tech University in the semifinals this afternoon.
TENNIS
Redlicki advances; Salazar looks to doubles
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville senior Mike Redlicki defeated Baylor University's Johannes Schretter on Wednesday in the first round of the NCAA Men's Singles Championships in Athens, Ga., while senior Jose Salazar lost to Wake Forest University's Skander Mansouri.
Redlicki's 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Schretter marked the first by a Razorback in the NCAA singles championships since Blake Stroud advanced to the semifinals in 2009. Mansouri survived three weather-related delays in the first set to drop Salazar 6-4, 6-4.
Salazar will turn to doubles play, where he and Redlicki will face Herkko Pollanen and Mikael Torpegaard of Ohio State University today in the first round.
SOFTBALL
Harding's Humes named national freshman of the year
Harding University pitcher Autumn Humes was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's NCAA Division II freshman of the year Wednesday at a banquet in Roanoke, Va.
Humes posted a 33-3 record with a 1.19 ERA and 7 saves this season, leading the Great American Conference in those categories. She was tied for first in NCAA Division II with 16 shutouts, while her 33 victories ranked third and her 292 strikeouts ranked seventh. Offensively, she hit .346 with 10 doubles, 7 home runs and 53 RBI while leading the Lady Bisons (58-9, 40-4 GAC) to school records for overall and conference victories on their way to the super regionals of the NCAA Tournament.
Sports on 05/25/2017