Blake Doty, a shortstop from Springdale, Ark., signed with the NCAA Division I University of New Orleans. Doty, who also received interest from the University of Tennessee, Oral Roberts University and the University of North Carolina - Charlotte, batted .386 with five home runs, 15 doubles, four triples and 53 RBIs.

Cobey Guy, a right-handed pitcher from Harrah, Okla., signed with NCAA Division I Wichita State University during the fall signing period. Guy, who also received interest from Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech, was 6-1 with a 2.53 ERA and 108 strikeouts over team-high 74 2/3 innings.

Jake Waddle, a left-handed relief pitcher from Waldron, Ark., signed with NCAA Division I Nicholls State University. Waddle, who also received interest from Louisiana Tech University, Southern Arkansas University and Central Arkansas University, was 3-2 with a team high six saves and a 1.19 ERA over 35 1/3 innings.

Brandon Solberg, a left-handed relief pitcher from Conway, Ark., signed with NCAA Division I Central Arkansas University. Solberg, who also received interest from West Alabama and Delta State University, was 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA over 25 1/3 innings.

Jared Richmond, an outfielder from Van Buren, Ark., signed with NAIA Tusculum College. Richmond, who also received interest from Delta State University and the University of Evansville, batted .377 with eight home runs, 19 doubles, nine triples and 60 RBIs.

Kyle Decker, a catcher from Stilwell, Okla., signed with NCAA Division II Northeastern State University. Decker batted .303 with five home runs, seven doubles, one triple and 26 RBIs.

Eric McKinney, an outfielder from Spiro, Okla., signed with NCAA Division II Northeastern State University. McKinney batted .364 with eight home runs, four doubles, four triples and 25 RBIs.

Matt Whiting, a second baseman from Monticello, Ark., signed with the NCAA Division II University of Arkansas - Monticello. Whiting batted .321 with one triple, 16 RBIs and two stolen bases.

Aaron Davidson, a right-handed pitcher from Bryant, Ark., was drafted in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft this past June by the San Francisco Giants and recently signed a pro contract. Davidson was 10-4 with 2.01 ERA and a team-high 117 strikeouts over 73 innings.

The departing sophomores helped UA Fort Smith post a 43-18 finish this past spring, including an 11-9 mark in Bi-State Conference play. The Lions advanced to the NJCAA Region II tournament championship game, where they lost to Connors State College.

And while some of the UA Fort Smith recruits could draw some interest from Major League teams during this week’s first-year player draft, Harpenau doesn’t expect the Lions’ roster to be affected much.

The first-year player draft will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the Milk House, which is part of Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The first day of the two-day event will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 and MLB.com.

“We think we’re going to come away unscathed,” said Harpenau, who was a scout for the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers earlier in his coaching career.

BaseballAmerica.com’s scouting report on Arkansas describes the state’s potential draft class as “not up to par.” The Web site rates current Arkansas Razorback third baseman Logan Forsythe as the top pro prospect in the state and the 76th-best prospect in the nation.

Harpenau agrees with BaseballAmerica.com’s assessment of the state’s draft pool for the most part, citing the recent change in the draft that eliminated the draft-and-follow rule.

The draft-and-follow rule allowed pro teams to keep exclusive rights to a drafted player up until one week prior to the following year’s draft if that player attended a junior college. The team lost its rights to the player if he was a high school player that decided to attend a four-year college.

The rule was eliminated prior to last year’s draft.

“In the past, they were drafting guys who had unrealized talent,” Harpenau said. “Now because they don’t have the draft-and-follow (rule) anymore, if you are drafted they feel like or at least hope they can sign you.

“Once (the player) goes back to college, they are not the property of that organization anymore. When that changed, it kind of changed the whole complexion of the draft. Are there any guys in the state of Arkansas that are sure-fire Top 10- or Top 20-round guys? If there are, there is only a handful.”

Former UA Fort Smith pitcher Cobey Guy could receive some interest at some point during the two-day draft.

Guy, who was a two-year starter for the Lions, is rated as the seventh-best prospect in Arkansas by BaseballAmerica.com, albeit he is from Harrah, Okla. He boasts a hard breaking ball with a fastball that tops out in the low 90 mile-an-hour range.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander was 6-1 in 16 appearances this spring, including 12 starts. He compiled a 2.53 ERA with 108 strikeouts and 51 walks while logging a team-high 74 2/3 innings of work.

As a freshman, Guy, who signed with Wichita State last fall, was 7-4 in 14 starts with a 1.92 ERA.

“He struggled at the beginning of the year, and then he came on late and found his velocity and his breaking ball was much better the latter half of the season,” Harpenau said. “He’s a young man who is going to Wichita State. At times, he threw the ball like he would be a guy who could throw at the level.”

Some of the current Lions could also receive some interest in the late rounds of the draft, like Chase Huchingson and Joey Winiecki.

Huchingson is rated as the eighth-best prospect in Arkansas by BaseballAmerica.com. Huchingson, who originally signed with Arizona State, is a 6-5, 185-pound left-hander with a fastball that’s been clocked in the low 90s.

The Fayetteville, Ark., product struggled at times this past spring as a part-time starter and middle reliever. The freshman was 4-5 in 16 appearances, including eight starts, with one save in as many opportunities.

Huchingson had 68 strikeouts and issued 28 walks during 49 innings of work.

“He’s got unrealized potential,” Harpenau said. “He’s a left-hander who at times has big-league stuff. Right now, it’s just a matter of consistency with him. He’s throwing this summer, which should help him. He just needs more work.”

Winiecki, a 6-0, 170-pound center fielder from Bryant, Ark., led the Lions with .444 batting average and 100 hits, including seven doubles, two triples and five home runs with 57 RBIs. Winiecki, who runs a 6.4 60-yard dash, stole a team-high 30 bases in 36 attempts.

“Joey has a tool (speed) that never slumps. He runs extremely well from the left side, and that makes him intriguing for the pro guys,” Harpenau said. “He had a hundred hits for us this year as a freshman in college, and that’s hard to do. His short game has gotten better, and it needs to continue to get better.

“There are things he needs to polish in his game. He doesn’t throw the ball very well, but he makes up for that in some other areas.”

He got his revenge … and then some.

Cameron allowed only one run to lead the No. 2 seed Cowboys to a 6-1 win against the No. 5 seed Lions on Sunday night in the what-if championship game of the NJCAA Region II baseball tournament at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

UA Fort Smith (43-18), which won the tournament a year ago, forced the second championship game by beating Connors State (44-17) 5-4 in 10 innings in the first game on Sunday.

Connors State will host the three-team NJCAA South Central District tournament, which begins on Friday at Warner, Okla.

It was Cameron’s second win against the Lions in three tries this season. Cameron allowed four runs on nine hits and struck out seven in leading Connors State to a 14-4 win via run-rule in the tournament opener on Thursday afternoon.

The sophomore scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out eight in eight innings in the title game before giving way to Carter Lance in the ninth inning.

Connors State broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out solo home run by Justin Worby. Worby’s long ball topped off a lengthy 10-pitch at-bat by the designated hitter.

The Cowboys roughed up Lions starter Chase Huchingson (4-5) of Fayetteville, Ark., in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs on three hits and two walks. Brock Feldman walked and scored on a wild pitch, Kyle DeGrace had a RBI single and Michael Zurmehly belted a two-run single.

Lions reliever Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark., extinguished the Cowboys’ offensive outburst by getting Brandon Smith to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Connors State extended its lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out, solo home run by Brandon Smith off Solberg.

UA Fort Smith broke up Cameron’s shutout bid in the top of the seventh inning when sophomore Kyle Decker’s one-out groundout drove in freshman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., who reached on a leadoff walk.

UA Fort Smith 5, Connors State 4 (10 innings)

GAME ONE – A late-game replacement at second base, Matt Whiting made the most of his opportunity.

Whiting’s one-out single in the top of the 10th inning off Connors State closer Garret Graziano drove in first baseman Jordan Troxell for the go-ahead run, and closer Aaron Davidson struck out Kyle DeGrace with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th to seal the Lions’ hard-fought win.

Whiting, who entered the game in the eighth when starting second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., moved to shortstop in place of starting shortstop Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., who struggled defensively late.

Whiting, who’s from Monticello, Ark., drew a leadoff walk in his first at-bat in the ninth and scored on a RBI single by Sallis, who was 2 for 3, to put the Lions ahead 4-3.

Lions middle reliever Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., gave up a leadoff walk and a single to start the ninth and was relieved by Aaron Davidson of Bryant, Ark., Davidson gave up a single to load the bases, but the right-hander got two quick strikeouts.

He struck out Smith, but Smith reached on a dropped third strike, allowing Brock Feldman to score the tying run. Davidson struck out Ryan Kilmer to end the Cowboys’ threat.

Working with another one-run lead to start the bottom of the 10th, Davidson flirted with trouble with three walks – the last of which loaded the bases with two outs. Davidson, who earned the save against Seminole State on Saturday, struck out DeGrace on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.

Davidson (10-4) allowed no earned runs on one hit, walked three and struck out five in two innings.

UA Fort Smith was in command of the game early. Lions catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second inning with a clutch two-out, two-run single to shallow center field that drove in Troxell, and sophomore designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla.

Troxell drew a leadoff walk, and McKinney singled with one out.

Carlin worked five strong innings before getting into trouble quickly in the bottom of the sixth inning. Carlin gave up a leadoff walk to DeGrace and a one-out walk to Brandon Smith.

DeGrace stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Worby. Brett Coffman followed with a double off the wall in right-center field.

Smith took third on the double and scored on an errant cut throw to the plate to tie the game at two runs apiece.

Carlin, who’s from Oklahoma City, Okla., was relieved by left-hander Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., who got Seth Merrie to pop up to first base to end the threat.

UA Fort Smith regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning when right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., snapped his recent hitting slump with a leadoff solo home run to right field put the Lions ahead 3-2.

Connors State tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-out RBI single by Worby that drove in DeGrace. DeGrace walked to lead off the inning and moved to second and third when a pickoff relay throw from Troxell was dropped by Washington – his second error.

UA Fort Smith regained the lead in the top of the ninth on a two-out double to left field by Sallis. Sallis drove in Whiting, who led off the inning with a walk.

NJCAA REGION II CHAMPIONSHIP

GAME ONE

NO. 5 UA FORT SMITH 5, NO. 2 CONNORS STATE 4 (10)

UA Fort Smith 020 000 011 1 — 5 8 2

Connors State 000 002 011 0 — 4 9 0

Carlin, Waddle (6), Davidson (9) and Decker; Martinez, Graziano (10) and DeGrace. W – Davidson, 10-4. L — Graziano. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Richmond (8).

GAME TWO

NO. 2 CONNORS STATE 6, NO. 5 UA FORT SMITH 1

UA Fort Smith 000 000 100 — 1 7 0

Connors State 014 001 000 — 6 7 1

Huchingson, Solberg (3) and Decker; Cameron, Lance (9) and Z. Williams. W - Cameron. L – Huchingson, 4-5. HRs – Connors State, Worby, Smith.

GAME TWO

FINAL

CONNORS STATE 6, UA FORT SMITH 1

UA Fort Smith 000000100 — 1 7 0

Connors State 01400100x — 6 7 1

Huchingson, Solberg (3) and Decker; Cameron, Lance (9) and Z. Williams. W - Coleman. L - Huchingson, 4-5. HRs - Connors State, Worby, Smith

Scoring Log

Second Inning: Connors State — Justin Worby two-out solo home run.

Third Inning: Connors State — Brock Feldman walked and scored on a wild pitch, Tyler Tuthull doubled and scored on a single by Kyle DeGrace, Zane Williams (walk) and DeGrace scored on a two-run single by Michael Zurmehly.

Sixth Inning: Connors State — Brandon Smith one-out solo home run.

Seventh Inning: UA Fort Smith — Kyle Decker RBI groundout scores Colton West, who reached on a leadoff walk

Game One

FINAL

UA FORT SMITH 5, CONNORS STATE 4 (10)

UA Fort Smith 0200000111 — 5 8 2

Connors State 0000020110 — 4 9 0

Carlin, Waddle (6), Davidson (9) and Decker; Martinez, Graziano (10) and DeGrace. W - Davidson, 10-4. L - Graziano. HRs - UA Fort Smith, Richmond.

Scoring Log

Second Inning: UA Fort Smith — Kyle Decker two-out, two-run single.

Sixth Inning: Connors State — Justin Worby one-out sacrifice fly, Brett Coffman doubles off the wall in right-center field advancing Brandon Smith to third. Smith scores on a throwing error on same play.

Eighth Inning: UA Fort Smith — Jared Richmond solo home run; Connors State — Justin Worby two-out RBI single.

Ninth Inning: UA Fort Smith — Jordan Sallis two-out RBI single; Connors State — Brandon Smith walked and scored on a dropped third strike with two outs.

Tenth Inning: UA Fort Smith — Matt Whiting one-out RBI single

UA Fort Smith survived a near-collapse in the eighth inning and emergency closer Aaron Davidson worked around a one-out walk in the ninth as the Lions beat the Seminole State Trojans 9-6 on Saturday to reach the championship round of the NJCAA Region II baseball tournament.

The No. 5 seed Lions (42-17), which won their third game in five tries against the No. 3 seed Trojans, will play the first of two games at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

If the Lions win their first game, they will play for the region title at 4 p.m.

UA Fort Smith will either play Connors State twice or play Connors State first and Eastern State second, provided Eastern beat Connors State in Saturday’s late game. Either way, UA Fort Smith will have to win to games to win the title.

The Lions gave sophomore starter Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla., a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Guy promptly gave up four runs – three earned – in the bottom of the first to put the Lions in a tough predicament.

Guy was almost flawless after that, though, pitching six scoreless innings before working his way into a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the eighth inning. Still, Guy (6-1) allowed only four earned runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out 14 to earn the win before giving way to reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., in the eighth with the Lions leading 8-4.

Babcock hit the first batter he faced to force in a run but followed with two quick outs. With Trojan home run threat Joe Patterson coming to bat, Lions pitching coach Shohn Doty brought in right-hander Aaron Davidson of Bryant, Ark., to extinguish rally.

Davidson, however, hit Patterson to force in another run and whittle the Lions lead to 8-6. Davidson then got David Chester to slap a ground ball to shortstop Clay Washington, who made a diving catch and tossed the ball to second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., for the force out at second base.

Washington’s highlight-reel play atoned for a fielding error he made early in the inning that helped prolong the inning.

The freshman, who was a late-game substitute for injured starting shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., made up for his miscue even more with a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth inning to push the Lions to a comfortable three-run lead. It was Washington’s first home run of the season.

Davidson did the rest, working around a one-out walk to retire the Seminole side in the ninth and earn his first save in as many opportunities. Washington’s home run was one of three for the Lions, who used the long ball to add a spark to their previously struggling offense.

Sophomore designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla., crushed a two-run home run – his eighth of the spring – in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at four runs apiece, and Sallis belted a two-out, three-run shot in the top of the sixth to give the Lions a 7-4 lead.

Sophomore Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., had an RBI double in the seventh inning to push the Lions’ lead to 8-4.

UA Fort Smith had 10 hits off three Seminole State pitchers, including starter Mehdi Djebbar who suffered his second loss in as many tries against the Lions. McKinney was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Troxell was 2 for 4 with a RBI and freshman center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Winiecki had an RBI single and scored on an error in the first inning to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.

Seminole State had seven hits – all against Guy – with three going for extra bases. Only James Lavinskas has multiple hits against Guy, going 2 for 3. David Chester was 1 for 4 with a three-run home run during the Trojans’ four-run first inning outburst.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

UA FORT SMITH 9, SEMINOLE STATE 6

UA Fort Smith 200 203 101 — 9 10 2

Seminole State 400 000 020 — 6 7 3

Guy, Babcock (8), Davidson (8) and Decker; Djebbar, Underwood (7), Kankel (9) and Patterson. W – Guy, 6-1. L – Djebbar. Sv – Davidson (1). HRs – UA Fort Smith, McKinney (8), Sallis (1), Washington (1); Seminole, Chester (18).

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

At Bill Doenges Stadium, Bartlesville, Okla.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma 11, No. 3 Seminole State 10

Game 2: No. 2 Connors State 14, No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4

Game 3: No. 1 NEO 7, No. 6 Rose State 5

Friday

Game 4: No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4, No. 6 Rose State 2

Game 5: No. 2 Connors State def. No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State

Game 6: No. 3 Seminole State 13, No. 1 NEO 1

Saturday

Game 7: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State 14, No. 1 NEO 2

Game 8: No. 5 UA Fort Smith 9, No. 3 Seminole State 6

Game 9: No. 2 Connors State 2, No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State 1

Sunday

Game 10: No. 5 UA Fort Smith vs. Connors State, 1 p.m.

If Necessary

Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m.

UA Fort Smith survived a near-collapse in the eighth inning and emergency closer Aaron Davidson worked around a one-out walk in the ninth as the Lions beat the Seminole State Trojans 9-6 on Saturday to reach the championship round of the NJCAA Region II baseball tournament.

The No. 5 seed Lions (42-17), which won their third game in five tries against the No. 3 seed Trojans, will play the first of two games at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

If the Lions win their first game, they will play for the region title at 4 p.m.

UA Fort Smith will either play Connors State twice or play Connors State first and Eastern State second, provided Eastern beat Connors State in Saturday’s late game. Either way, UA Fort Smith will have to win to games to win the title.

The Lions gave sophomore starter Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla., a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Guy promptly gave up four runs – three earned – in the bottom of the first to put the Lions in a tough predicament.

Guy was almost flawless after that, though, pitching six scoreless innings before working his way into a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the eighth inning. Still, Guy (6-1) allowed only four earned runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out 14 to earn the win before giving way to reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., in the eighth with the Lions leading 8-4.

Babcock hit the first batter he faced to force in a run but followed with two quick outs. With Trojan home run threat Joe Patterson coming to bat, Lions pitching coach Shohn Doty brought in right-hander Aaron Davidson of Bryant, Ark., to extinguish rally.

Davidson, however, hit Patterson to force in another run and whittle the Lions lead to 8-6. Davidson then got David Chester to slap a ground ball to shortstop Clay Washington, who made a diving catch and tossed the ball to second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., for the force out at second base.

Washington’s highlight-reel play atoned for a fielding error he made early in the inning that helped prolong the inning.

The freshman, who was a late-game substitute for injured starting shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., made up for his miscue even more with a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth inning to push the Lions to a comfortable three-run lead. It was Washington’s first home run of the season.

Davidson did the rest, working around a one-out walk to retire the Seminole side in the ninth and earn his first save in as many opportunities. Washington’s home run was one of three for the Lions, who used the long ball to add a spark to their previously struggling offense.

Sophomore designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla., crushed a two-run home run – his eighth of the spring – in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at four runs apiece, and Sallis belted a two-out, three-run shot in the top of the sixth to give the Lions a 7-4 lead.

Sophomore Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., had an RBI double in the seventh inning to push the Lions’ lead to 8-4.

UA Fort Smith had 10 hits off three Seminole State pitchers, including starter Mehdi Djebbar who suffered his second loss in as many tries against the Lions. McKinney was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Troxell was 2 for 4 with a RBI and freshman center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Winiecki had an RBI single and scored on an error in the first inning to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.

Seminole State had seven hits – all against Guy – with three going for extra bases. Only James Lavinskas has multiple hits against Guy, going 2 for 3. David Chester was 1 for 4 with a three-run home run during the Trojans’ four-run first inning outburst.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

UA FORT SMITH 9, SEMINOLE STATE 6

UA Fort Smith 200 203 101 — 9 10 2

Seminole State 400 000 020 — 6 7 3

Guy, Babcock (8), Davidson (8) and Decker; Djebbar, Underwood (7), Kankel (9) and Patterson. W – Guy, 6-1. L – Djebbar. Sv – Davidson (1). HRs – UA Fort Smith, McKinney (8), Sallis (1), Washington (1); Seminole, Chester (18).

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

At Bill Doenges Stadium, Bartlesville, Okla.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma 11, No. 3 Seminole State 10

Game 2: No. 2 Connors State 14, No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4

Game 3: No. 1 NEO 7, No. 6 Rose State 5

Friday

Game 4: No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4, No. 6 Rose State 2

Game 5: No. 2 Connors State def. No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State

Game 6: No. 3 Seminole State 13, No. 1 NEO 1

Saturday

Game 7: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State 14, No. 1 NEO 2

Game 8: No. 5 UA Fort Smith 9, No. 3 Seminole State 3

Game 9: No. 2 Connors State vs. No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State (n)

Sunday

Game 10: No. 5 UA Fort Smith vs. Connors State/Eastern Oklahoma State, 1 p.m. *

*Note: If UA Fort Smith wins the 1 p.m. game, it will play again at 4 p.m.

Sophomore closer Jake Waddle worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning as the Lions held on for a 4-2 win against Rose State College on Thursday in the first round of loser’s bracket play in the NJCAA Region II baseball tournament.

UA Fort Smith (41-17), which beat Rose State for the fourth time in five tries this season, will play No. 3 seed Seminole State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in another elimination game at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

An error and a one-out walk and single allowed the Raiders to load the bases and put the tying and go-ahead runs on base, but Waddle was unfazed by the pressure.

The crafty left-hander from Waldron, Ark., who inherited a 4-2 lead from Lions starter Jordan Pratt in the eighth inning, struck out David Garner looking and got Tyler Powell to fly out to center field for the final out to post his team-leading sixth save.

With the Lions desperately in need of a solid pitching performance, Pratt delivered in the clutch. The freshman right-hander from Harrison, Ark., pitched six scoreless innings before allowing two unearned runs in the seventh inning.

Pratt gave up four hits, walked only two and struck out nine in seven complete innings to earn his third win in four decisions.

UA Fort Smith made the most of its eight hits off two Raiders pitchers. Center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 3 with one RBI, right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 1 for 3, first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 1 for 4, catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., was 1 for 2 and designated hitter Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Lions left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., was 1 for 4 and crushed his second home run in as many games and his fifth of the year.

His leadoff roundtripper in the third inning triggered a three-run outburst that Doty capped with a two-run single, driving in the winning run in the process.

Raiders starter Michael Stoltz (2-6) suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits, walking four and striking out two in only 5 2/3 innings.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

UA FORT SMITH 4, ROSE STATE 2

Rose State 000 000 200 — 2 6 3

UA Fort Smith 003 010 00X — 4 8 2

Stoltz, Cawthon (6) and Butts; Pratt, Waddle (8) and Decker. W - Pratt, 3-1. L - Stoltz. Sv - Waddle (6). HRs - UA Fort Smith, Robertson (5).

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

At Bill Doenges Stadium, Bartlesville, Okla.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma 11, No. 3 Seminole State 10

Game 2: No. 2 Connors State 14, No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4

Game 3: No. 1 NEO 7, No. 6 Rose State 5

Friday

Game 4: No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4, No. 6 Rose State 2

Game 5: No. 2 Connors State 8, No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State 6 (13 inn.)

Game 6: No. 3 Seminole State 13, No. 1 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 1

Saturday

Game 7: No. 1 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M vs. No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma, noon

Game 8: No. 5 UA Fort Smith vs. No. 3 Seminole State, 3:30 p.m.

Game 9: No. 2 Connors State vs. Winner Game 7, 7 p.m.

Sunday

Game 10: TBA

Harpenau’s warnings went unheeded.

Lions starter Aaron Davidson allowed five runs in the fifth inning and reliever Drew Babcock gave up four in the sixth as No. 2 seed Connors State rallied to beat No. 5 seed UA Fort Smith 14-4 via run-rule at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

UA Fort Smith (40-17), which has lost two in a row and six of its last 11, will play Rose State game at noon on Friday in an elimination game.

Connors State (41-16) will play Eastern Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m. in winner’s bracket play.

Trailing 3-2, UA Fort Smith rallied to take its second lead in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run by left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., and a RBI single by center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark.

Lions starter Aaron Davidson was strong through four innings but quickly faded in the fifth inning. Davidson allowed five runs – two with two outs – on three hits, walked three and struck out one in the decisive inning.

Third baseman Tyler Tuthill had a two-RBI single and right fielder Kyle DeGrace had a two-RBI single to ignite the Cowboys’ offensive explosion.

Davidson, who had beaten the Cowboys earlier this season, didn’t make it out of the inning, giving way to Babcock with two outs. Babcock got first baseman Michael Zurmehly to ground out to end the inning.

Davidson, a first team All-Region performer from Bryant, Ark., suffered the loss – the fourth in his last five outings – and allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walked six and struck out six.

UA Fort Smith never recovered.

The Cowboys tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off Babcock, who gave up three hits and a walk before giving way to reliever Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., with one out in the sixth inning.

Babcock, who’s from Gentry, Ark., fell victim to consecutive errors by the Lions in the inning. He allowed only two earned runs on three hits and walked one in 2/3 of an inning.

Connors State ended the game early in the bottom of the eighth inning with a walk-off, two-run home run by catcher Zane Williams off Lions reliever Kevin Coleman of North Little Rock, Ark.

The Cowboys scored their 14 runs on 14 hits and took advantage of three UA Fort Smith errors to win their third game in five tries against the Lions this season.

Connors State starter Shane Cameron earned the win in a complete-game effort. Cameron allowed four earned runs on nine hits, struck out seven and did not walk a batter while throwing 125 pitches during eight innings of work.

Lions shortstop Blake Doty returned the defensive lineup for the first time after missing 18 games with an arm injury. It was Doty’s offense that got the Lions going early, though. The sophomore from Springdale, Ark., belted a solo home run in his first at-bat to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Doty, who was 1 for 5 as a designated hitter last week against NEO, was 3 for 4 with one RBI and two runs scored and was the only Lions batter with multiple hits.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

CONNORS STATE 14, UA FORT SMITH 4

UA Fort Smith 100 120 00 — 4 9 3

Connors State 012 054 02 — 14 14 1

Davidson, Babcock (5), Huchingson (6), Coleman (7) and Decker; Cameron and Z. Williams. W – Cameron. L – Davidson, 9-4. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Doty (5), Robertson (4); Connors State, Williams.

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

At Bill Doenges Stadium, Bartlesville, Okla.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma 11, No. 3 Seminole State 10

Game 2: No. 2 Connors State 14, No. 5 UA Fort Smith 4

Game 3: No. 1 NEO 7, No. 6 Rose State 5

Friday

Game 4: No. 5 UA Fort Smith vs. No. 6 Rose State, noon

Game 5: No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State vs. No. 2 Connors State, 3:30 p.m.

Game 6: No. 1 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M vs. No. 3 Seminole State, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, noon

Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5, 3:30 p.m.

Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 7 p.m.

Sunday

Game 10 Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.

If Necessary

Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m.

Take last year, for instance.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M was the No. 1 seed but lost its opening game to No. 6 seed Rose State.

The Norsemen won their first game in the loser’s bracket against No. 5 seed Eastern Oklahoma State but were eliminated by No. 3 seed Seminole State in the loser’s bracket final.

UA Fort Smith, on the other hand, was the No. 4 seed and marched uncontested to the championship game, where the Lions lost 9-5 to Seminole State in the first game but won the what-if game 21-13 to win its first region title since 1972.

NEO is once again the No. 1 seed in the region tournament, which begins on Thursday at Bill Doenges Stadium in Bartlesville, Okla., but the tournament field may be more muddled than it’s ever been.

NEO, Connors State, Seminole State and Eastern Oklahoma State finished tied for first place with 12-8 conference records, UA Fort Smith was one-game behind the leaders with an 11-9 league record and Rose State was last with a 1-19 conference mark.

The Norsemen received the No. 1 seed via the tiebreaker, and as a result of another tiebreaker, Connors State received the No. 2 seed, Seminole State received the No. 3 seed and Eastern Oklahoma State received the No. 4 seed.

UA Fort Smith, which was ranked No. 12 in the final NJCAA regular-season poll, received the No. 5 seed, and Rose State earned the No. 6 seed.

“We finished one game out of first, we’re 40-16 and, at one time, we were ranked No. 8 in the country. And, we’re going in as the fifth seed,” UA Fort Smith coach Dale Harpenau said. “That really speaks of the parity of the conference and how good our league is day-in and day-out. You could make a case for the top five teams going in and having a chance to win it.

“This year’s no different than any other year. It’s all about playing well for four days.”

UA Fort Smith will begin defense of its region championship at 3:30 p.m. against longtime conference rival Connors State College. The game will be broadcasted on KHGG-FM 103.1, KHGG-AM 1580 and on the Internet at www.sportsinthefort.com

The Lions split their regular-season series with the Cowboys.

The Lions won both of their home games against the Cowboys – 13-4 and 2-1 – and lost both road games – 9-8 and 7-5. The Lions led late in both road games, squandering an 8-1 lead in the first loss and a 4-3 lead in the second loss.

“That was a long time ago it seems like. That was our first series of the year in the league,” Harpenau said. “I’m sure both teams have changed a bunch since that time, but our guys are looking forward to it regardless of who we play.”

UA Fort Smith split two league series (Connors State and Seminole State), won two series (NEO and Rose State) and lost one series (Eastern Oklahoma State). Connors State (40-16) won one series (Rose State) and split four series (UA Fort Smith, Eastern Oklahoma, Seminole State and NEO).

“Connors is a team that’s very talented and very capable of winning the tournament, too. It just really comes down to who is going to play well,” Harpenau said. “That first game of the tournament is awful big and important, and our guys are looking forward to that challenge.”

UA Fort Smith enters the tournament with a better overall record (40-16) than a year ago (38-18), but it’s not been an easy trek into the tournament for the Lions, who lost 5 of their last 10 games to end the regular season.

“We’ve kind of limped into the final few weeks and rested some guys in hopes of getting them back and ready for this tournament,” Harpenau said. “This is the most important time of the year, and we feel like guys are going to step up and play for us.”

Injuries have played a significant part in the Lions’ late struggles, particularly the loss of starting shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., for the final 18 games. Doty, who re-aggravated an arm injury, likely could play in the tournament either at shortstop or designated hitter.

“We think Blake’s going to be able to play in some sort of limited role as a DH or maybe even get on the field and play defensively for us,” Harpenau said. “He was a big part of our success this year, especially early and midway through the season.”

The loss of Doty, as well as the handful of other starters who have been sidelined with nagging injuries, forced Harpenau to shuffle the lineup several times throughout the stretch run, creating inconsistency.

“(Doty) hits in the three-hole for us, and when he went down, it changed our batting order. Not only did it hurt us defensively, but also it affected us offensively,” Harpenau said. “Guys were asked to do some different things they weren’t asked to do earlier in the year. Even though they have filled in admirably, I think the team has a better feel for it and there’s a better chemistry when he’s in the lineup, especially offensively.”

Even though the Lions have cooled off a bit offensively the past few weeks, they are still batting .370 as team.

Freshman center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., leads the team with a .461 average and has 95 hits in 206 at-bats. Winiecki, who leads the nation in hits, is a first team All-Region performer.

Sophomore right-hander Aaron Davidson of Bryant, Ark., will likely start for the Lions against the Cowboys. Davidson, who’s a first team All-Region performer, beat Connors State in the opening game of the conference series.

Davidson is 9-3 in 12 starts and boasts a 1.59 ERA. He leads the team with 105 strikeouts and is second in the nation in strikeouts per inning (1.6).

The UA Fort Smith-Connors State winner will play the Eastern Oklahoma-Seminole State winner at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, while the loser will play the loser of Thursday’s NEO-Rose State game at noon on Friday in an elimination game.

Davidson, a 5-foot-11 right-hander from Bryant, Ark., posted a 9-3 win-loss record, making 12 starts and 13 appearances. The sophomore, who pitched five complete games, compiled a 1.59 ERA with a team-best 105 strikeouts and only 24 walks over 66 innings.

“He gave us a big lift coming in as a transfer guy, taking over a pretty difficult position in our league in being our No. 1 starter and facing everybody’s best guy,” UA Fort Smith pitching coach Shohn Doty said.

“It’s a credit to him. He put up good numbers. He’s got a really good feel for pitching.”

Davidson, who was a catcher and closer at NCAA Division II Harding University last spring, finished the regular-season ranked No. 2 in the nation in strikeouts and strikeouts per inning (1.6). He was ranked 27th in the nation in overall pitching.

“He’s got an average fast ball but can locate it,” Doty said. “He’s got an above-average breaking pitch and is able to throw that at any time in the count. That’s been the difference between him and a lot of other guys who have rolled through here.”

Winiecki, a 6-foot freshman from Bryant, Ark., played in all but five of the Lions’ 56 regular-season games. The quick-footed outfielder batted a team-best .461 with five home runs, seven doubles and two triples.

Winiecki, who was second on the team with 54 RBIs, led the nation with 95 hits during the regular season and was 12th in the nation in batting average. He led the team with 30 stolen bases in 36 attempts and was ranked 11th in the nation.

“If he goes, we kind of go,” UA Fort Smith coach Dale Harpenau said. “With him and Jordan (Sallis) at the top of the lineup, they both have been really good for us this year. When they get on base, we have a tendency to score runs. Because they run so well, they’re able to go first to third, steal some bags and do some different things for us that helps us to be successful offensively.”

Along with Davidson and Winiecki, seven Lions received honorable mention All-Region honors: sophomore pitcher Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla.; freshman pitcher Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sophomore right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark.; freshman third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark.; freshman second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla.; sophomore shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark.; and sophomore first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla.

UA Fort Smith and Connors State will play the second game of the opening round at 3:30 p.m.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Connors State, Seminole State and Eastern Oklahoma State finished tied for first place with 12-8 conference records, UA Fort Smith was one-game behind the leaders with an 11-9 league record and Rose State was last with a 1-19 conference mark.

NEO received the No. 1 seed via the tiebreaker, and as a result of another tiebreaker, Connors State received the No. 2 seed, Seminole State received the No. 3 seed and Eastern Oklahoma State received the No. 4 seed.

UA Fort Smith (40-16), which was ranked No. 12 in the final NJCAA regular-season poll, split its regular-season series with Connors State.

The Lions won both of their home games against the Cowboys – 13-4 and 2-1 – and lost both road games – 9-8 and 7-5. The Lions led late in both road games, squandering an 8-1 lead in the first loss and a 4-3 lead in the second loss.

UA Fort Smith split two league series (Connors State and Seminole State), won two series (NEO and Rose State) and lost one series (Eastern Oklahoma State). Connors State (40-16) won one series (Rose State) and split four series (UA Fort Smith, Eastern Oklahoma, Seminole State and NEO).

The UA Fort Smith-Connors State winner will play the Eastern Oklahoma-Seminole State winner at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, while the loser will play the loser of Thursday’s NEO-Rose State game at noon on Friday in an elimination game.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

At Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium, Bartlesville, Okla.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 3 Seminole State vs. No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State, noon

Game 2: No. 2 Connors State vs. No. 5 UA Fort Smith, 3:30 p.m.

Game 3: No. 1 NEO vs. No. 6 Rose State, 7 p.m.

Friday

Game 4: Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 3, noon

Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 3:30 p.m.

Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 1, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, noon

Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 5, 3:30 p.m.

Game 9: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7, 7 p.m.

Sunday

Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9, 1 p.m.

If necessary

Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Loser Game 10, 4 p.m.

Note: Bracket is subject to change after first two rounds.

UA Fort Smith (40-16) won the opening game 16-8 but lost the second game 14-9. The Lions, who won the series 3-1, finished 11-9 in conference play — one game out of first place.

NEO finished 12-8 in league play and in a four-way tie for first place. The Norsemen, however, won the tiebreaker and captured the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Region II tournament, which begins on Thursday at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in Bartlesville, Okla.

A tiebreaker will decide the Nos. 2-4 seeds — Connors State, Seminole State and Eastern Oklahoma State. Rose State finished 1-19 and will be the No. 6 seed.

UA Fort Smith won its conference series against NEO and Rose State, split with Connors State and Seminole State and lost the series against Eastern Oklahoma.

UA Fort Smith will play the No. 2 seed at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday in the first round of the tournament.

The Lions pounded out 20 hits in the opening game off four Norsemen hurlers and scored runs in all but two innings.

Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., was 3 for 4 with one RBI, left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., was 4 for 4 with four RBIs, a home run and two doubles; second baseman Matt Whiting of Monticello, Ark., was 4 for 5 and center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 3 for 5 with three RBIs to lead the Lions.

UA Fort Smith reliever Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., pitched 2 1/3 innings of middle relief to earn the win. Waddle (3-2) allowed three earned runs on six hits and struck out three in relief of Lions starter Cobey Guy.

NEO 14, UA Fort Smith 9

GAME TWO — UA Fort Smith bolted to a 3-0 lead after the first half-inning, but NEO responded with seven unanswered runs to take a commanding lead.

Jacob Taylor drove in what turned into the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning with a RBI triple to right-center field during a three-run outburst by the Norsemen, who led 10-4 after five innings.

The Norsemen pounded out 15 hits off five UA Fort Smith pitchers. Lions starter Jordan Pratt suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits and walking one in just one inning of work.

The Lions collected 11 hits off three Norsemen hurlers. Second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 3 for 4, designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla., was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., was 1 for 3 with a three-run home run.

Decker’s three-run blast — his fifth home run of the season — gave the Lions a brief bit of hope in the top of the ninth inning as they rallied to within five runs with two outs but couldn’t complete the comeback.

GAME ONE

UA FORT SMITH 16, NEO 8

UA Fort Smith 325 050 1 — 16 20 3

NEO 103 220 0 — 8 11 1

Guy, Waddle (3), Davidson (6) and Decker; Jordan, Maxey (3), Correa (5), Gagnon (6) and Hutton. W - Waddle, 3-2. L - Jordan. Hrs - UA Fort Smith, Robertson (3), Troxell (3); NEO, Hutton, Moniz.

GAME TWO

NEO 14, UA FORT SMITH 9

UA Fort Smith 300 100 113 — 9 11 4

NEO 421 030 13X — 14 15 3

Pratt, Hutchinson (2), Troxell (4), Babcock (6), Solberg (8) and Decker; White, Reid (7), Neptune (9) and Hutton. W - White. L - Pratt, 2-2. Hrs - UA Fort Smith, Decker (5); NEO, Hutton, Anderson.

UA Fort Smith belted three home runs as part of an eight-hit performance against Eastern Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon, but the Lions couldn’t get the big hit at the opportune time as the Mountaineers prevailed 10-5 in the Bi-State Conference series finale.

UA Fort Smith lost the series 3-1 after winning the opening game 10-6 on Wednesday night at Crowder Field. It was the Lions’ first series loss of the league season.

The No. 13-ranked Lions (39-15) slipped to 10-8 in league play. UA Fort Smith has lost three games in a row – its longest losing streak since dropping three in a row on March 30, April 1 and April 4.

UA Fort Smith will finish conference play on Saturday when it travels to Miami, Okla., to play a doubleheader against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M that was originally scheduled for April 12.

The No. 17-ranked Mountaineers (37-15) finished league play at 12-8 and won its second conference series of the spring. Eastern swept last-place Rose State to open conference play March 27 and 29.

Eight different batters accounted for all of the Lions’ eight hits off Mountaineers starter Nate Pettus and reliever Gunner Glad. First baseman Zach Coshow of Edmond, Okla., was 1 for 3 with a solo home run, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 1 for 3 with a solo home run and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 1 for 5 with a two-run home run.

All but one of the Lions’ runs was scored via a home run.

Richmond’s one-out roundtripper – his seventh of the spring – capped a three-run seventh inning outburst that seemed to give the Lions new life and cut their deficit to 7-5.

Eastern, however, answered in the bottom of the seventh inning with a pair of runs on a solo home run by Glad – the last of three Eastern home runs — and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Casey McCollum off Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark.

Babcock relieved Lions starter Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City with no outs in the sixth inning after Carlin gave up three-consecutive hits, including a three-run home run by Mountaineers catcher Danny Cartwright.

Carlin (5-2) allowed seven earned runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three in five-plus innings in suffering the loss.

Eastern extended its lead to five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning when center fielder Blake Mounce, who was 4 for 4 with a double, led off the inning with a single off Lions closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., and scored on an error.

UA Fort Smith had Glad rattled a bit in the top of the ninth after second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., singled and Winiecki walked to start the inning, but Glad got Richmond to ground into a double play to deal the Lions’ comeback bid a huge blow.

Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., and first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., drew walks from Glad, but Glad struck out Coshow swinging on a 2-2 pitch to end the threat.

UA Fort Smith stranded 10 base runners.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 17 EASTERN OKLAHOMA 10, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 5

UA Fort Smith 010 001 300 — 5 8 2

Eastern 002 113 21X — 10 13 2

Carlin, Babcock (6), Waddle (8) and Decker; Pettus, Glad (6) and Cartwright. W – Pettus, 4-1. L – Carlin, 5-2. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Coshow (1), Winiecki (5), Richmond (7); Eastern, Pettus (16), Cartwright (3), Glad (17).

UA Fort Smith belted three home runs as part of an eight-hit performance against Eastern Oklahoma State on Sunday afternoon, but the Lions couldn’t get the big hit at the opportune time as the Mountaineers prevailed 10-5 in the Bi-State Conference series finale.

UA Fort Smith lost the series 3-1 after winning the opening game 10-6 on Wednesday night at Crowder Field. It was the Lions’ first series loss of the league season.

The No. 13-ranked Lions (39-15) slipped to 10-8 in league play. UA Fort Smith has lost three games in a row – its longest losing streak since dropping three in a row on March 30, April 1 and April 4.

UA Fort Smith will finish conference play on Saturday when it travels to Miami, Okla., to play a doubleheader against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M that was originally scheduled for April 12.

The No. 17-ranked Mountaineers (37-15) finished league play at 12-8 and won its second conference series of the spring. Eastern swept last-place Rose State to open conference play March 27 and 29.

Eight different batters accounted for all of the Lions’ eight hits off Mountaineers starter Nate Pettus and reliever Gunner Glad. First baseman Zach Coshow of Edmond, Okla., was 1 for 3 with a solo home run, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 1 for 3 with a solo home run and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 1 for 5 with a two-run home run.

All but one of the Lions’ runs was scored via a home run.

Richmond’s one-out roundtripper – his seventh of the spring – capped a three-run seventh inning outburst that seemed to give the Lions new life and cut their deficit to 7-5.

Eastern, however, answered in the bottom of the seventh inning with a pair of runs on a solo home run by Glad – the last of three Eastern home runs — and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Casey McCollum off Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark.

Babcock relieved Lions starter Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City with no outs in the sixth inning after Carlin gave up three-consecutive hits, including a three-run home run by Mountaineers catcher Danny Cartwright.

Carlin (5-2) allowed seven earned runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out three in five-plus innings in suffering the loss.

Eastern extended its lead to five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning when center fielder Blake Mounce, who was 4 for 4 with a double, led off the inning with a single off Lions closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., and scored on an error.

UA Fort Smith had Glad rattled a bit in the top of the ninth after second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., singled and Winiecki walked to start the inning, but Glad got Richmond to ground into a double play to deal the Lions’ comeback bid a huge blow.

Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., and first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., drew walks from Glad, but Glad struck out Coshow swinging on a 2-2 pitch to end the threat.

UA Fort Smith stranded 10 base runners.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 17 EASTERN OKLAHOMA 10, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 5

UA Fort Smith 010 001 300 — 5 8 2

Eastern 002 113 21X — 10 13 2

Carlin, Babcock (6), Waddle (8) and Decker; Pettus, Glad (6) and Cartwright. W – Pettus, 4-1. L – Carlin, 5-2. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Coshow (1), Winiecki (5), Richmond (7), Pettus (16), Cartwright (3), Glad (17).

Scardino allowed only two unearned runs on four hits and struck out six in a complete-game effort as the No. 17-ranked Mountaineers beat the No. 13-ranked Lions 5-2 at Crowder Field.

Eastern (36-15) took a 2-1 lead in the four-game Bi-State Conference series and improved to 11-8 in league play. UA Fort Smith (39-14), which is mired in its first losing streak since dropping three in a row on March 30, April 1 and April 4, slipped to 10-7 in conference play.

The series finale will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Wilburton, Okla.

Scardino, who did not walk a batter, allowed a pair of singles to Lions center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., an RBI single to right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., and a single to shortstop Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark.

He pitched five shutout innings before giving up his only runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., reached on an error to start the inning, and Washington followed with a single. A sacrifice bunt by second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., moved the runners into scoring position. Winiecki drove in Robertson on a grounder to second, and Richmond drove in Washington on a single to shallow center field.

That’s all the offense the Lions could muster against Scardino (2-1), who raised his inning count to only 26 1/3 for the season. UA Fort Smith had only five base runners and stranded two runners.

The lack of offensive production didn’t bode well for Lions starter Cobey Guy, who suffered his first loss in six decisions. Guy (5-1) allowed five earned runs on nine hits, walked five and struck out three in 7 1/3 innings before giving way to reliever Drew Babcock.

Shortstop Dearth Parker was 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI, Scardino was 2 for 3 with one RBI and second baseman Casey McCollum was 2 for 2 with a triple and two RBIs to lead the Mountaineers.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 17 EASTERN OKLAHOMA 5, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 2

Eastern 010 030 010 — 5 9 1

UA Fort Smith 000 002 000 — 2 4 0

Scardino and Cartwright; Guy, Babcock (8) and Decker. W – Scardino, 2-1. L – Guy, 5-1. HRs – None.

The No. 13-ranked Lions (39-13) slipped to 10-6 in conference play, while the No. 17-ranked Mountaineers (35-15) improved to 10-8. The four-game series, which is tied at one game apiece, will resume on Saturday when the Lions host the Mountaineers for one nine-inning game beginning at 5 p.m. at Crowder Field.

Lions starter Aaron Davidson suffered his third loss in his last four outings. The sophomore right-hander from Bryant, Ark., allowed six runs – three earned – on six hits, walked four and struck out six in five complete innings.

UA Fort Smith led 3-2 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, and Davidson appeared well on his way to a 1-2-3 inning after retiring the Nos. 7 and 8 batters in the lineup. However, he walked nine-hole batter Tommie Johnson on four-consecutive pitches, and that triggered a four-run outburst by the Mountaineers.

Eastern Oklahoma had three two-out hits, including a RBI single by third baseman Steve Irvine and a two-run home run by second baseman Gunner Glad, and capitalized on three Lions’ errors. Glad, who was 2 for 4, also hit a two-run home run in the third inning to give Eastern an early 2-0 lead.

UA Fort Smith answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI infield single by center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant and an error – the second of two Eastern errors.

Eastern broke the game open for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Irvine, who was 2 for 3, ignited a five-run explosion with a leadoff solo home run off Lions middle reliever Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark. Solberg gave up three runs – two earned – on two hits in just 2/3 of an inning before giving way to Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark.

Huchingson gave up three RBI doubles to the first three batters he faced before getting the Lions out of the inning. Eastern added an unearned run in the seventh off Huchingson to pad its final margin. Huchingson allowed just two earned runs on four hits, walked one and struck out one over the last 2 1/3 innings.

Mountaineers starter Ashton Mowdy retired the first seven Lions he faced and survived a rocky fourth and fifth inning to earn his fifth win in eight decisions. Mowdy allowed one earned run on seven hits, walked two and struck out nine in 5 2/3 innings.

Eastern relievers Seth Terry and Carter Browning tossed a combined 3 1/3 innings of two-hit baseball to seal the win.

Winiecki was 2 for 5, catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., was 2 for 4 with one RBI, third basemen Colton West of Greenland, Ark., was 1 for 5 with a double and one RBI and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 1 for 4 with one RBI for the Lions.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 17 EASTERN OKLAHOMA 12, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 5

UA Fort Smith 000 320 000 — 5 9 5

Eastern 002 405 10X — 12 12 2

Davidson, Solberg (6), Huchingson (6) and Decker; Mowdy, Terry (6), Browning (9) and Cartwright. W – Mowdy, 5-3. L – Davidson, 9-3. HRs – Eastern, Glad (15, 16), Irvine (9).

The No. 13-ranked Lions (39-12) improved to 10-5 in Bi-State Conference play and will play the No. 17-ranked Mountaineers (34-15, 9-8) at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Wilburton, Okla., in the second game of the four-game series.

Richmond, who is from Van Buren, Ark., continued his hot hitting streak, going 3 for 5 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Richmond, who hit his third home run in as many games and sixth of the spring, is batting a gaudy .583 over the past three games and is hitting .411 for the season.

With the game tied at six runs apiece going into the bottom of the sixth inning, UA Fort Smith took its first lead on a one-out single by shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., that drove in left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., who was hit by Mountaineers reliever Jimmy Johnson to lead off the inning.

Center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., followed with a single – he was 3 for 5 – to set the table for Richmond. Richmond fell behind 0-1 in the count, but the right fielder took his next offering from Johnson well over the right field fence to give the Lions a four-run lead.

That was enough run support for the Lions’ bullpen.

Left-hander Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., who took over for starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., with two outs in the fifth, worked three solid innings of relief to earn his second win. Babcock (2-0) left with two outs and two on in the eighth inning. Right-hander Cobey Guy, a conference starter, pitched to one batter in the eighth, striking out Mountaineers second baseman Gunner Glad to end the threat.

Left-hander Jake Waddle worked around a one-out single by first baseman Nate Pettus and a two-out walk to designated hitter Casey McCollum to seal the win in the ninth inning, which was delayed about 30 minutes because of lightning.

Glad and Pettus hit solo home runs in the first and second innings, respectively, to give the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead. Eastern Oklahoma stretched its lead to 3-0 on a RBI single by McCollum in the top of the fourth inning.

UA Fort Smith cut its deficit to one run in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI single by first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., and a RBI single by Robertson.

Eastern chased Pratt during what turned into a three-run fifth inning for the Mountaineers. Pratt gave up a one-out walk and a RBI double and RBI single with two outs before giving way to Babcock.

The Mountaineers added one more run off Babcock, which was charged to Pratt, but were held scoreless the final four innings. Pratt, who earned a no-decision, allowed six runs on six hits, walked four and struck out two in 4 2/3 innings.

UA Fort Smith tied the game at six runs apiece in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run outburst that was highlighted by a two-run triple by third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., and a solo home run by designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 10, NO. 17 EASTERN OKLAHOMA 6

Eastern 110 130 000 — 6 11 2

UA Fort Smith 000 244 00X — 10 13 3

Deason, Johnson (6), Parcell (7) and White, Johnson (8); Pratt, Babcock (5), Guy (8), Waddle (9) and Decker. W – Babcock, 2-0. L – Johnson, 4-1. HRs – Eastern, Glad (14), Pettus (15); UA Fort Smith, McKinney (7), Richmond (6).

Then, the Trojans took their turn in the second game.

The No. 10-ranked Lions took advantage of the short outfield fence and launched a season-high five home runs during a 15-4 win in the opening game that ended after five innings via run-rule. Seminole State, however, belted two home runs as part of a 17-hit barrage in the second game to force a split with a 13-3 win that ended after eight innings via run-rule.

It was the Trojans’ second win via run-rule against the Lions, who lost 11-0 in five innings during the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Crowder Field. The teams split the four game series. UA Fort Smith (38-12) is 9-5 in conference play, while Seminole State is 8-8 in league play.

UA Fort Smith pounded out 15 hits in the opening game thanks in part to the long ball. Sophomore right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 3 for 3 with six RBIs and two home runs – a solo shot in the fourth inning and a grand slam in the fifth inning, first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 3 for 4 with four RBIs – all coming on a second-inning, two-out grand slam.

Sophomore catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., was 2 for 3 with a solo home run, and sophomore designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla., was 2 for 4 with one RBI and a home run.

That was plenty of offense for Lions sophomore hurler Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla. Guy allowed just three hits, walked five and struck out 10 in a complete-game effort to improve to 5-0.

Three of Seminole’s runs were scored on a two-out, three-run home run by catcher Joe Patterson in third inning that briefly cut the Lions’ lead to 8-3.

Seminole State 13, UA Fort Smith 3

GAME TWO – The Lions’ potent offense was shut down in the second game by a pair of Seminole pitchers – starter Aaron Rosborough and Jordan Underwood.

Rosborough (2-0) allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits, walked two and struck out five in six strong innings before giving way to Underwood, who allowed two hits, walked one and struck out two in two innings.

Decker was 1 for 4 with one RBI, which came on a solo home run in the third inning and got the Lions within 2-1. Freshman third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., reached on an error in the fourth and scored on an error to tie the game at two runs apiece. Freshman shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., singled and scored on a double-steal in the fifth inning to tie the game at three runs apiece.

Sallis was 3 for 4 and freshman center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 3 to lead the Lions.

UA Fort Smith only trailed 5-3 going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Seminole State scored four runs off reliever Kevin Coleman of North Little Rock, Ark. – the third of the Lions’ five pitchers – to break the game open for good and bring in Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., who finally got the Lions out of the inning.

Trojans first baseman David Chester delivered the big hit in the inning, belting a three-run home run off Coleman. The Trojans added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off closer Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark.

Second baseman Tucker Brown sealed the win with a walk-off two-run double to provide the 10-run margin for the run-rule.

Lions starter Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City suffered his first loss. Carlin (5-1) allowed three earned runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out six in five innings.

UA Fort Smith will begin its final four-game conference series on Wednesday when it hosts Eastern Oklahoma State in a nine-inning game at 5 p.m. at Crowder Field. The Lions will play the Mountaineers on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Wilburton, Okla., on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Crowder Field and on Sunday (April 27) at 1 p.m. at Wilburton, Okla.

The Lions will finish the regular season on May 3 with a make-up doubleheader against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at Miami, Okla., beginning at 1 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 15, SEMINOLE STATE 4

UA Fort Smith 161 16 — 15 15 1

Seminole 003 01 — 4 3 2

Guy and Decker; Djebbar, Molloy (3), Clark (5) and Patterson. W – Guy, 5-0. L – Djebbar, 1-4. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Richmond (4,5), McKinney (6), Decker (3), Troxell (2); Seminole, Patterson (16).

GAME TWO

SEMINOLE STATE 13, NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 3

UA Fort Smith 001 110 00 — 3 8 4

Seminole 020 111 44 — 13 17 3

Carlin, Huchingson (6), Coleman (6), Babcock (7), Solberg (8) and Decker; Rosborough, Underwood (7) and Burgess. W – Rosborough, 2-0. L – Carlin, 5-1. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Decker (4); Seminole, Patterson (17), Chester (11).

Troxell ripped a two-out, two-run triple to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive in the go-ahead runs as the No. 10-ranked Lions rallied to beat the Trojans 6-3 in the second game of the Bi-State Conference twinbill on Thursday at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (37-11) saw its eight-game winning streak end with an 11-0 loss via run-rule in the first game. The Lions, who are 8-4 in league play, will finish their four-game series with the Trojans (28-13, 8-6) on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Seminole, Okla.

Troxell, who is from Anadarko, Okla., was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and scored the Lions’ final run in the eighth-inning rally on a single by left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., who was 1 for 4 with one RBI.

It was Troxell’s sixth triple and his 18th extra-base hit, and it helped Lions reliever Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark., earn his second win in three days. Solberg (3-1), who earned the win against Carl Albert in relief on Tuesday night, retired the Trojans in order in the eighth inning – his only inning of work.

Lions closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., worked around a leadoff walk and a one-out single by pinch hitter Tucker Brown to earn his second save in three days and his fifth overall.

UA Fort Smith trailed 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning before catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., doubled to deep left-center field off Trojans starter Kale Murphree with two outs to drive in designated hitter Eric McKinney to tie the game.

The Lions completed their comeback against Trojans reliever William Kankel. Kankel (4-2) allowed three earned runs on three hits and struck out one in the eighth inning – his only inning of work.

Seminole State 11, UA Fort Smith 0

GAME ONE – The Lions were shutout for only the second time this season and lost via the run-rule for the first time in the opening game of the doubleheader.

Seminole State starter Tommy Luce (5-3) scattered five hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter in the five-inning win. Luce joins Rose State’s Kevin Hyde as the only pitchers to pitch a complete-game shutout against the Lions.

Lions ace Aaron Davidson of Bryant, Ark., suffered his second loss in three starts. Davidson (9-2) allowed seven runs – three earned – on seven hits, walked one and struck out two in only two-plus innings – his shortest stint of the spring.

Seminole scored all the runs it needed in the top of the second inning during a five-run outburst against Davidson. Trojans designated hitter Joe Patterson delivered the big hit in the frame, slapping a two-out, three-run double to right field. It was one of four Seminole hits in the inning.

Davidson would have escaped the inning having allowed only two runs, but a two-out error by second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., allowed the inning to continue.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

SEMINOLE STATE 11, NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 0

Seminole 053 30 — 11 13 0

UA Fort Smith 000 00 — 0 5 2

Luce and Burgess; Davidson, Babcock (3) and Decker. W – Luce, 5-3. L – Davidson, 9-2. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 10 UA FORT SMITH 6, SEMINOLE STATE 3

Seminole 000 210 000 — 3 8 0

UA Fort Smith 000 200 13X — 6 10 0

Murphree, Kankel (8) and Patterson; Pratt, Coleman (7), Solberg (8), Waddle (9) and Decker. W – Solberg, 3-1. L – Kankel, 4-2. Sv – Waddle (5).

UA Fort Smith jumped six spots to No. 10 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll, which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Lions (36-10), who have peaked at No. 8 in the poll, were tied for No. 16 last week with Bi-State Conference foe Eastern Oklahoma State.

Eastern Oklahoma (33-12) slipped to slipped three spots to No. 19 in the current poll. UA Fort Smith and Eastern Oklahoma are the only two conference teams ranked in the poll.

Pensacola Junior College (37-6) received five of the 10 first-place votes to remain atop the poll. Howard College (38-6) is second, followed in the Top 5 by Walters State Community College (38-6), New Mexico Junior College (38-6) and Young Harris College (40-9).

UA Fort Smith also moved up two spots to No. 21 in the latest Perfect Game Crosschecker Top 25, and the Lions are the only conference team ranked in that poll. Eastern Oklahoma, which was ranked No. 17 in the last poll, dropped out of the rankings.

Walters State is ranked No. 1 in the Perfect Game poll, followed in the Top 5 by Pensacola, Navarro College, Howard and San Jacinto College.

After the Lions had squandered a four-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, Sullivan led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run to give the Lions a one-run lead, and that was just enough as UA Fort Smith eked out a 7-6 win against border rival Carl Albert State on Tuesday night at Crowder Field.

The No. 16-ranked Lions (36-10) won their eighth-consecutive game and swept the nonconference border series with the Vikings. UA Fort Smith beat Carl Albert 12-1 via run-rule on April 9 at Poteau, Okla.

UA Fort Smith led 6-2 going into the top of the sixth inning before a brief collapse by the Lions’ bullpen gave the Vikings new life.

Lions starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., pitched a score first inning – the only inning he was scheduled to pitch – and reliever Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., allowed only two runs on three hits during four solid innings.

However, Lions reliever Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., worked his way into trouble quickly in the sixth inning. Fuller allowed four runs – three earned – on just two hits in only 2/3 of an inning. Fuller gave up a three-run double to John Homer, who later scored on an error by third baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark.

Fuller faced seven batters before being replaced by reliever Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark., who struck out Cavett Bright to end the inning.

UA Fort Smith didn’t waste any time regaining the lead.

Sullivan, who is from Maumelle, Ark., took a first-pitch strike from Vikings reliever Darrell Atchison and then crushed his second pitch well over the left field fence to give UA Fort Smith a one-run lead.

It was Sullivan’s only hit in three at-bats.

Solberg (2-1), who earned the win, pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before giving way to closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark. Waddle retired the Vikings in order in the ninth inning to earn his fourth save.

UA Fort Smith peppered three Carl Albert pitchers with 11 hits. First baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 3 for 4 with a double and one RBI and left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., was 2 for 5 to lead the Lions.

Homer was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Clinton Carter was 2 for 4 with one RBI to highlight the Vikings’ six-hit performance.

UA Fort Smith will return to Bi-State Conference play on Thursday when it hosts Seminole State College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 7, CARL ALBERT STATE 6

Carl Albert 000 024 000 — 6 6 4

UA Fort Smith 032 101 00X — 7 11 3

Haag, Atchison (3), Chronister (6) and Jones, Gee (5), Haderer (6); Pratt, Huchingson (2), Fuller (6), Solberg (6), Waddle (9) and Meyer, Decker (6). W – Solberg, 2-1. L – Atchison. Sv – Waddle (4). HRs – UA Fort Smith, Sullivan (1).

UA Fort Smith tagged three Crowder College pitchers with 20 hits on Sunday afternoon on its way to a 12-5 nonconference win against the Roughriders. The No. 16-ranked Lions salvaged a split in their series with the Roughriders, who beat the Lions 10-9 on April 1 at Crowder Field.

The Lions (35-10) won their seventh-consecutive game while sustaining what has been a red-hot offensive streak.

UA Fort Smith, which hasn’t lost since an 8-0 setback at Rose State on April 4, has scored 73 runs on 103 hits during the past seven games – an average of almost 11 runs and 15 hits per game.

Eight Lions batters had hits against Crowder’s trio of hurlers, and all eight had multiple hits. UA Fort Smith batted .455 (20 of 44) with four extra-base hits.

Lions sophomore right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 4 for 5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs, and freshman designated hitter Zach Coshow of Edmond, Okla., had a career day, going 4 for 5 with two RBIs.

Crowder (22-16) tagged Lions starter Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City for four runs – two earned – during the first two innings, but UA Fort Smith responded with a game-breaking, six-run outburst in the top of the third inning against Roughriders starter Don Lisi. The Lions had eight hits during the 12-batter inning, including four-consecutive hits by center fielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark. (double); shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla. (single); second baseman Matt Whiting of Monticello, Ark. (single) and Richmond (single).

That was all the run support Lions reliever Drew Babcock needed. Babcock, who is from Gentry, Ark., allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out six during six solid innings of relief to earn his first win.

UA Fort Smith gave Babcock three insurance runs in the fourth inning thanks in part to a two-run home run by Richmond – his third of the season – and added two more in the top of the ninth inning.

Lisi allowed nine runs – seven earned – on 13 hits, walked three and struck out three over five innings in suffering the loss.

The Lions will continue nonconference play on Tuesday when they host border rival Carl Albert State for one nine-inning game beginning at 6 p.m. at Crowder Field. UA Fort Smith beat Carl Albert 12-1 via run-rule in seven innings last Wednesday at Poteau, Okla.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 12, CROWDER COLLEGE 5

UA Fort Smith 006 301 002 — 12 20 3

Crowder 130 100 000 — 5 11 3

Carlin, Babcock (4) and Meyer; Lisi, Brock (6), Mitchell (9) and Williams. W – Babcock, 1-0. L – Lisi. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Richmond (3); Crowder, Anglin.

Having struggled against Bi-State Conference nemesis Northeastern Oklahoma A&M the past few seasons, the Lions took advantage of 38 total hits on Saturday afternoon in sweeping a doubleheader against the Norsemen at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (34-10) won the opening game 14-4 in six innings via run-rule and rallied late to win the second game 13-9. The No. 16-ranked Lions maintained their conference lead in improving to 7-3, while the Norsemen (22-14) fell to 5-5 and out of what was a three-way tie for first place.

The Lions scored in every inning in the opening game, making it a relatively easy afternoon for ace Aaron Davidson.

It wasn’t the best outing for Davidson (9-1), who allowed four runs on 10 hits, walked two and struck out 11 in a complete-game effort, but it was good enough for the sophomore from Bryant, Ark., to earn his ninth win in 10 decisions.

Center fielder Josh Botts was 1 for 3 with a two-run home run and third baseman Mike Sodders was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Norsemen.

The Lions pounded three Norsemen hurlers with 17 hits with starter Jared White (3-2) suffering the loss in a brief one-plus inning of work. White allowed seven runs in his quick stint – his second-consecutive early exit.

Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., was 4 for 4 with four RBIs, second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 3 for 3 with one RBI, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a triple to lead the Lions, who led 8-0 after two innings.

UA Fort Smith 13, NEO 9

GAME TWO – The Lions rapped 21 hits and needed about every one of them to rally past the Norsemen in the second game. UA Fort Smith twice squandered early leads but battered NEO’s bullpen each time to regain its lead.

Trailing 6-5 the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lions regained the lead for good with a five-run outburst off Norsmen starter Trent Montgomery and middle reliever Jeff Neptune.

Richmond had a two-run single to right field off Neptune, third baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., followed with a RBI single to right-center field and designated hitter Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., had an RBI single to spark the big inning.

NEO answered with three runs in the top of the seventh off Lions reliever Kevin Coleman (5-0) of North Little Rock, Ark., who earned the win after taking over for starter Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla., in the top of the sixth inning, but the Norsemen got no closer as closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his third save.

UA Fort Smith gave Waddle some much-needed insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring three runs on a RBI triple by Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla., a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Matt Whiting of Monticello, Ark., and a balk by Norsemen closer Jared Jordan.

Richmond was 4 for 6 with three RBIs, Washington of was 3 for 5 with three RBIs, outfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 3 for 5 with one RBI and Robertson was 2 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Lions.

Second baseman Carl Moniz was 3 for 5 and first baseman Steve Anderson was 1 for 3 with a two-run home run to lead the Norsemen.

UA Fort Smith will return to nonconference play on Sunday when it travels to Neosho, Mo., to play one nine-inning game against Crowder College at 2 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 14, NEO 4

NEO 002 110 - 4 10 3

UA Fort Smith 441 113 - 14 17 0

Ja. White, Correa (2), Maxey (6) and Jordan; Davidson and Decker. W – Davidson, 9-1. L – White, 3-2. HRs – NEO, Botts (8).

GAME TWO

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 13, NEO 9

NEO 002 103 300 - 9 10 1

UA Fort Smith 300 115 03X - 13 21 0

Montgomery, Neptune (6), Jordan (8) and Hutton; Guy, Coleman (6), Waddle (7) and Decker. W – Coleman, 5-0. L – Montgomery, 2-3. Sv – Waddle (3). HRs – NEO, Anderson (8).

UA Fort Smith now will play NEO at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Crowder Field.

It will be the first two games of the four-game Bi-State Conference series. The Lions will travel to Miami, Okla., on May 3 to play the Norsemen in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

The No. 16-ranked Lions (32-10) are 5-3 in conference play and locked in a three-way tie for first place with NEO (22-10, 5-3) and Eastern Oklahoma State (30-10, 5-3).

With rain forecasted for the afternoon, the No. 16 Lions only need about two hours to run-rule the Vikings 12-1 in seven innings in the first installment of their annual border feud. The two rivals will play another nine-inning game on April 15 at Crowder Field.

Lions starter Chase Huchingson (4-4) of Fayetteville, Ark., allowed only one unearned run on four hits, walked three and struck out four in six innings before giving way to closer Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., who retired the Vikings in order in the seventh inning.

Vikings center fielder Cavett Bright led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and scored on second baseman Michael Vise’s single to left field to cut the Lions’ lead to 2-1.

Designated hitter Michael Jones singled in the third inning, and shortstop Arten White singled in the fourth inning for the Vikings, who left five runners stranded.

Carl Albert (9-25) did not have a base runner after the fourth inning as Huchingson and Babcock retired the last nine Vikings batters in order.

UA Fort Smith right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., gave Huchingson all the offense he needed early.

Richmond belted a two-run home run to right-center field with one out in the first inning to give UA Fort Smith (32-10) a 2-0 lead. Richmond, who has two home runs, was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Lions added a pair of runs in the third inning and a single run in the fifth inning before breaking the game open for good with a six-run sixth inning. UA Fort Smith sent 11 batters to the plate during the inning, capitalizing on four singles, two errors and two walks.

UA Fort Smith tagged four Carl Albert pitchers for eight hits and took advantage of five errors and nine walks. Vikings starter Jake Avery suffered the loss in only 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on two hits, walked five and struck out two.

Lions shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 1 for 3 with one RBI and a stolen base and third baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a double.

Weather permitting, UA Fort Smith will resume Bi-State Conference play on Thursday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for a doubleheader at Crowder Field.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 12, CARL ALBERT STATE 1

UA Fort Smith 202 016 1 — 12 8 1

Carl Albert 100 000 0 — 1 4 5

Huchingson, Babcock (7) and Meyer; Avery, James (3), Atchison (6), Haag (6) and Haderer. W – Huchingson, 4-4. L – Avery. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Richmond (2).

UA Fort Smith (31-10) will play Carl Albert at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Poteau, Okla., weather permitting.

The No. 11-ranked Lions pounded out 25 hits during their doubleheader sweep of the Raiders at Crowder Field. UA Fort Smith won the opening game 11-1 via run-rule and won the second game 6-2.

UA Fort Smith (31-10) won the four-game series 3-1 and improved to 5-3 in the Bi-State Conference. Rose State, which split with UA Fort Smith on Friday, slipped to 1-7 in conference play.

It was the first conference series win for the Lions, who split their four-game series with the Connors State Cowboys last weekend.

The Lions pounded out 15 hits against Raiders starter Matt Cawthon (0-7), who suffered the complete-game loss in the opener, and all but one Lions batter had at least one hit.

Designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 4 for 4 with three RBIs, shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a triple, first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 2 for 3 with one RBI and left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., was 2 for 3 to lead the Lions.

Lions freshman right-hander Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla., allowed one earned run on three hits, walked one and struck out five in five innings to improve to 5-0 in seven starts.

Third baseman Coty Wilson (1 for 2), designated hitter Hunter London (1 for 1) and left fielder David Garner (1 for 2) had the only hits for the Raiders.

Garner singled to lead off the third inning and scored on a two-out single by Wilson for the Raiders’ only run.

UA Fort Smith 6, Rose State 2

GAME TWO – UA Fort Smith’s bats remained hot in the second game with the Lions collecting 10 hits off Raiders starter Corey Miller (2-7), who struck out three and did not walk a batter in suffering the complete-game loss.

All but three Lions batters had at least one hit against Miller. Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., was 3 for 3 with one RBI and two doubles, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 4, Robertson was 2 for 3 with one RBI, and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 1 for 3 with one RBI to lead the Lions.

Lions freshman right-hander Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., allowed one earned run on two hits, walked five and struck out nine in five innings to improve to 2-1 in seven starts.

Sophomore closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., allowed one unearned run on two hits in two innings of relief.

Second baseman Tyler Powell (1 for 3), shortstop Josh Moore (1 for 3), center fielder Morgan Marr (1 for 2) and Garner (1 for 3) accounted for all of the Raiders’ hits.

Raiders catcher Ryon Butts walked and scored on a RBI single by Moore in the fifth inning, and Butts reached on an error and scored on a ground out by Powell in the seventh for the Raiders’ only runs.

UA Fort Smith will travel to Poteau, Okla., on Tuesday to play border rival Carl Albert State College in one nine-inning game beginning at 1:30 p.m. and will resume Bi-State Conference play on Thursday when it hosts Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 11, ROSE STATE 1

Rose State 001 00 — 1 3 2

UA Fort Smith 241 04 — 11 15 1

Cawthon and Barnes; Carlin and Decker. W – Carlin, 5-0. L – Cawthon, 0-7. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 6, ROSE STATE 2

Rose State 000 010 1 — 2 4 2

UA Fort Smith 010 230 X — 6 10 2

Miller and Butts; Pratt, Waddle (7) and Meyer. W – Pratt, 2-1. L – Miller, 2-7. HRs – None.

The No. 11-ranked Lions eked out a 5-4 win in 12 innings on Friday afternoon to salvage a doubleheader split with the Rose State College Raiders and end a three-game winless streak on the road. UA Fort Smith (29-10) lost the opening game 8-0.

UA Fort Smith, which is 3-3 in Bi-State Conference play, will look to win the four-game series Saturday when it hosts Rose State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field. The Raiders (8-23) are 1-5 in league play.

The Lions led 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning of the second game, whch was a scheduled seven-inning affair, but the Raiders rallied with two runs in the frame on a solo home run by Colby Gibson and a RBI single by Ryon Butts to take the lead.

UA Fort Smith kept its bid for its first road win alive in the top of the seventh when second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., scored on a two-out fielding error to tie the game at three runs apiece.

The Lions broke the stalemate briefly in the top of the 11th inning when Sallis was hit by a pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., but UA Fort Smith couldn’t hold the lead.

Rose State tied the game in the bottom of the 11th on a one-out RBI single by Josh Moore. The Raiders, however, left the go-ahead run at third base as Lions reliever Kevin Coleman of North Little Rock, Ark., struck out Coty Wilson and got Morgan Marr to fly out to left field to end the threat.

UA Fort Smith regained the lead for good in the top of the 12th on a two-out RBI single to left field by Sallis off Raiders closer Cody Barnes. Lions closer Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark., did the rest, retiring the Raiders in order in the bottom of the 12th to seal the win.

Coleman (4-0) allowed one earned run on two hits, walked one and struck out two to earn the win, while Solberg earned his first save in as many opportunities. Lions starter Cobey Guy allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits, walked four and struck out nine in eight innings and earned a no-decision.

Center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 3 for 6, first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 2 for 4 with a double and catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., was 3 for 5 with a double to lead the Lions, who had 12 hits.

Rose State 8, UA Fort Smith 0

FIRST GAME – Ace Kevin Hyde tossed a four-hit shutout as the Raiders stunned the Lions in the opening game.

Hyde (3-3) walked two and struck out eight in the complete-game effort. Sallis (1 for 4), West (1 for 3), left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., (1 for 3) and designated hitter Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., (1 for 3) accounted for all of the Lions’ hits.

Lions ace Aaron Davidson (8-1) suffered his first loss in nine appearances. He allowed eight runs – all unearned – on six hits, walked one and struck out six in five innings. Davidson was the victim of a shaky defensive effort by the Lions, who committed five errors.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

ROSE STATE 8, UA FORT SMITH 0

UA Fort Smith 000 000 0 — 0 4 5

Rose State 220 040 X — 8 6 2

Davidson, Waddle (6) and Decker; Hyde and Barnes. W – Hyde, 3-3. L – Davidson, 8-1. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

UA FORT SMITH 5, ROSE STATE 4

UA Fort Smith 001 100 100 011 — 5 12 3

Rose State 001 002 000 010 — 4 6 2

Guy, Coleman (9), Solberg (12) and Decker; Stoltz, Tarbutton (4), Barnes (11) and Butts. W – Coleman, 4-0. L – Barnes, 1-2. Sv – Solberg (1). HRs – Rose State, Gibson (4).

The Bi-State Conference doubleheader will be played on Friday at 1 p.m. at Midwest City, Okla.

UA Fort Smith (28-9), which is ranked No. 11 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll, is 2-2 in conference play, and Rose State (7-22) is 0-4 in league play.

The two teams will finish the four-game series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (28-9), which has lost three of its last five games, is ranked No. 11 in the poll, which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Lions, who were ranked No. 8 last week, received 19 points in the voting.

The Lions are ranked just ahead of Bi-State Conference foe Eastern Oklahoma State College, which is ranked No. 12 after receiving 18 points in the voting. UA Fort Smith and Eastern Oklahoma (27-7) are the only conference teams ranked in the poll.

Pensacola Junior College (33-5) received five of the 10 first-place votes and remains the No. 1-ranked team for the second-consecutive week.

Walters State Community College (31-6) received two first-place votes and is ranked No. 2, Howard College (33-3) received one first-place vote and is ranked No. 3, Miami-Dade College (35-4) received two first-place votes and is ranked No. 4 and San Jacinto College-North (30-7) is ranked No. 5.

UA Fort Smith slipped five spots to No. 23 in the latest Perfect Game Crosschecker Junior College Baseball Top 25 poll. The Lions, who were ranked No. 18 in the poll last week, are six spots behind Eastern Oklahoma, which enters the poll for the first time at No. 17.

Walters State is the No. 1-ranked team in the Perfect Game rankings. Miami-Dade, Pensacola, Howard and San Jacinto round out the Top 5.

It was the second-consecutive loss for the Lions (28-9), who lost to Connors State 7-5 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.

UA Fort Smith never led and trailed 10-6 going into the bottom of the ninth inning before mounting a brief comeback bid against Roughriders reliever Addison Rayford.

Lions third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., drew a lead-off walk and left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., singled, but Rayford settled down and got first baseman Dillon Black of Greenwood, Ark., to ground into a double play.

Catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., and designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., drew back-to-back walks from Rayford to load the bases for second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., who ripped a two-run single to left field.

Center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., followed with a RBI single to right field to push the Lions within one run of tying the game.

Shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., drew another walk from Rayford – his fourth free pass of the inning – to again load the bases for right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark.

Richmond, who batted in the game-winning run during the Lions’ 2-1 win against Connors State on Saturday, fell behind 1-2 in the count and slapped his fourth pitch from Rayford to left field, where Michael Dunlavy made the routine catch for the final out.

UA Fort Smith, which trailed 6-0 after the 2 ½ innings, had its chances and even out-hit Crowder College 16-13, but the Lions left 13 runners stranded and couldn’t overcome four errors.

Sallis was 4 for 4 with three RBIs, Winiecki was 2 for 6 with two RBIs, Doty was 1 for 4 with three RBIs and Richmond was 2 for 5 with one RBI to lead the Lions. Cody Thompson (3-4) earned the win for Crowder College (18-11), allowing four earned runs on 10 hits, walking two and striking out four in 5 1/3 innings.

Freshman right-hander Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., suffered the loss for the Lions in three innings of work. Fuller (2-1) allowed four earned runs on eight hits and struck out two. Kyle Zimmerman was 4 for 5 with one RBI, Will McGinnis was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Matty Johnson was 3 for 5 to lead the Roughriders.

UA Fort Smith will return to Bi-State Conference play on Thursday when it travels to Midwest City, Okla., to play Rose State College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

CROWDER COLLEGE 10, NO. 8 UA FORT SMITH 9

Crowder College 006 003 010 — 10 13 1

UA Fort Smith 003 002 013 — 9 16 4

Thompson, Luper (6), Rayford (8) and Williams; Fuller, Huchingson (4) and Meyer. W – Thompson, 3-4.