HOUSTON, Texas - Trailing 4-1 heading into the top of the ninth inning to St. Cloud State, the Arkansas Tech baseball team exploded for eight runs in the inning to pick up their first win of the season in come-from-behind fashion.
That final inning started with Logan Schwenke reaching first on an error by the St. Cloud shortstop. Shane Poe then singled to left field. Both advanced 90 feet in the next at-bat on a wild pitch. Later in that at-bat, the Wonder Boys loaded the bases as Brandon Bunton drew a walk.
After an out kept the bases loaded, Sawyer Duddleston singled to left field to score Schwenke and Poe. On that play, Duddleston advanced to second on the throw, but Bunton was cut down trying to take third.
Now down to their final out, the Wonder Boys got a clutch hit from Christian Olea as he doubled home Duddleston to tie the game at four-all. Two batters later, the Wonder Boys took the lead on a single to left field off the bat of Nick Jones. A batter later the bases were loaded again as Brendan Bard reached first base on an error by the St. Cloud third baseman.
That then set the stage for Schwenke to put the game away with a monster no-doubt grand slam blast over the railroad track in left field.
Now leading by five runs, the Wonder Boys behind the arm of Will Horton slammed the door with a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure their first win of the season.
Overall, Horton, who picked up the win, pitched 2.0 innings of relief and worked around four hits and a walk. Prior to Horton taking the mound, Grant Shahan was first in relief and his outing was paramount to the comeback being possible.
Entering the game with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Shahan would go on to work the next 3.1 innings. He would only allow one run on two hits and struck out six while walking none.
The Wonder Boys will now prepare to conclude their weekend at Minute Maid Park on Sunday afternoon against No. 9-ranked Southern New Hampshire. First-pitch against the Penmen is scheduled for 5 p.m.
