University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Drops RiverHawks
FORT SMITH, ARK. – Northeastern State fell to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith 12-7 Monday night at Crowder Field in a non-conference baseball clash.
The loss dropped the RiverHawks to 14-21 for the season while the Lions, members of the Heartland Conference improve to 8-16.
Northeastern State outhit the Lions 12-9 but could not push across enough runs to get the victory. Chris Gallegos led the NSU hitting attack with three hits in five plate appearances. The RiverHawks used six pitchers with Brandon Compton, who started, getting the loss, his first of the season.
The RiverHawks took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on three hits and a Lion error. Greg Jackson tripled with one out and scored on Noah Ringenberger’s single. Gallegos singled and went to second base when the ball was misplayed and Ringenberger advanced to third. Angel Hernandez’s ground ball deep in the hole at second base allowed Ringenberger to score from third for a 2-0 NSU lead.
The Lions came back with a run in the first, three in the second and two more in the third to take a 5-1 lead after six innings.
The RiverHawks cut into the Lions lead with a run in the seventh. Chris Sprick singled and came around to score on a Ringenberger ground out later in the inning. Fort Smith then put the game out of reach with four runs in their half of the seventh for a 12-3 lead.
NSU made a late run at the Lions with three runs in the eighth and a run in the ninth for the 12-7 final. Demetrius Terronez supplied the firepower in the 8th for the RiverHawks with a 3-run homer. In the 9th Hernandez singled home Gallegos.
ARKANSAS –FORT SMITH 12, NORTHEASTERN STATE 7
Northeastern State 200 000 131 – 7 12 3
Arkansas-Fort Smith 132 002 40x – 12 9 1
Compton, Walker (3), Dean (6), Krebs (7), Avery (7), F. Sprick (7) and C. Sprick. Waddle, Benton (7), Gay (9) and Rawls. W: Waddle (2-1). L: Compton (1-1). HR: Terronez.
