Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – Arkansas State (9-3, 0-0 SBC) completed the second sweep of the season over in-state foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff (4-9, 0-0 SWAC) Sunday afternoon with the 7-2 victory at Tomlinson Stadium-Slayton Family Field.
Plate discipline in the first inning reaped benefits with a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks loading the bases before another hit-by-pitch turned a run in. Pine Bluff capitalized on a fielding error in the second to tie things up.
Evan Griffis rocketed a homer to the batter’s eye to regain the lead for the Red Wolves, and back-to-back singles set up a Raul Torres drop into left field to score two. Lane Walton lined a fourth-inning pitch down the foul line and into the corner for a stand-up triple. Patrick Engskov singled into center field for Walton to make his way home for the 5-1 A-State advantage. The middle three innings were helmed by Cooper Garrison, who allowed two hits and one run in his time, striking out one batter.
The Red Wolves added their final two runs to the board in the fifth, with Derek Martinez driving a single between the middle infielders and Torres knocking a double the same direction. Joey McLaughlin III scored both of them with a low liner through the right side.
The Golden Lions struck a solo shot in the top of the sixth, but were held silent across the final three innings, thanks to Tyler Weimer’s mound presence. Weimer’s 3.0 innings saw the minimum number of batters, allowing none of them to reach base, with the sophomore striking out three of the nine batters at the plate to secure his first career save.
Win: Cooper Garrison (1-0)
Loss: Kenny Fabian (0-1)
Save: Tyler Weimer (1)
UP NEXT
A-State begins a road trip to conclude the non-conference stretch of the season Tuesday with a 6 p.m. start at Louisiana Tech.