Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Arkansas-Fort Smith scored on a walk-off double in the ninth inning to defeat St. Edward's, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in the Heartland Conference Tournament at Sullivan Field. The loss knocks the Hilltoppers out of the tournament.
UA Fort Smith (28-21) struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Curtis Clark led off with a bunt single. After a sacrifice bunt and a Hilltopper error moved him to third base, Ben Smith laced a double to the left centerfield gap to put the Lions ahead, 1-0.
St. Edward's (35-13) finally got on the board in the third inning when Taylor Johnson (Dripping Springs, Texas/Dripping Springs HS) led off with a single through the left side. He swiped second base for his 15 stolen base of the season. A sacrifice bunt by Kyle Harris (Layton, Utah/Clarendon JC) moved Johnson to third and a sacrifice fly by Adam Shank (Sugar Land, Texas/San Jacinto JC) knotted the score, 1-1.
That is how the score would stay as both starting pitchers kept the offenses in check. In the ninth inning, the Hilltoppers had a shot to take the lead. With one out, back-to-back singles by Ransom LaLonde (Tulsa, Okla./UT San-Antonio) and Colin Elmore (Rockwall, Texas/Richland CC) put two runners on for St. Edward's. A ground out would move each runner up a base, however, the Hilltoppers could not come up with the big hit as they left both runners stranded. In the bottom of the inning, Hilltopper closer Stephen Johnson (Boulder, Colo./Boulder HS) retired the first two batters.
With two outs, Ben Kozma single through the left side. Jordan May ended the game on a double to the left-centerfield gap to score Kozma and advance the Lions to another elimination game. St. Edward's will now have to wait and see if its season is extended for NCAA Regional play. They are currently sixth in the latest NCAA Regional Poll released on Wednesday.
Central Missouri is No. 1, followed by St. Mary's (2), Angelo State (3), Southern Arkansas (4), and Texas A&M-Kingsville (5). The top six seeds on the final regional poll this Sunday evening will advance unless there upsets in the two remaining conference tournaments. If UA Fort Smith were to knock off St. Mary's twice on Sunday, that would seal the Hilltoppers' fate.
Along with the Heartland Conference Tournament, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament is in its championship round. Central Missouri would need to lose two games on Sunday for Fort Hays to knock out St. Edward's. That is if St. Edward's stays in the sixth slot and does not move up. Check the Hilltopper Athletic Website for updates.
