UA Fort Smith recently won its third-consecutive NJCAA Region II tournament, and on Tuesday, the Lions will make their third-consecutive appearance in the NJCAA Division II national tournament.

The Lions finished eighth in the nation in 2006 and capitalized on solid final-round performance to finish seventh in the nation a year ago.

“That’s our goal – to do better than last year,” third-year UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “If you’re going out there, you’re going out there to win it, but we certainly want to do better than last year.”

The Lions will have to adjust to playing on a new course. The past two seasons the tournament was held at Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro, Ala., but this year, the tournament is being held at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz., which is a suburb of Phoenix.

Teams will play on Palm Valley’s Palms Course, a par 72 that measures 7,015 yards and has a 73.4 rating with a 133 slope. The course has been rated among Arizona’s best public courses by the Phoenix Business Journal and the ninth hole has been described by players as one of the best par-5s in the state.

“Supposedly, it’s a beautiful and fantastic golf course,” Curlett said. “It’s a great deal for our student-athletes to be able to go to Phoenix to play golf for the week and be exposed to that kind of golf course and the city, too.”

Only two Lions starters have national tournament experience – sophomores Matt Dodson of Van Buren, Ark., and Trevor Earls of Sallisaw, Okla. Dodson shot a nine-over par 297 last year and finished tied for 32nd, while Earls shot an 11-over par 299 and finished tied for 41st.

“Matt had a great tournament last year. He was our low (score) man at nationals. I’m expecting him to have a good tournament. He’s been hitting it well,” Curlett said. “Trevor’s been working hard.”

Dodson and Earls will be joined by talented freshmen Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith, Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., and Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark.

Adamson is coming off his best tournament performance of the spring. The former Southside Rebel shot a 6-over par 150 to earn medalist honors and help the Lions capture the region tournament championship on April 29 at Ben Geren Golf Course.

“He’s been playing well,” Curlett said.

Fogleman finished tied for fifth in the region tournament with a 15-over par 159, but the former Marion Patriot has proven he can be the front-runner for the Lions. Earlier this spring, he shot a 4-over par 144 to win the UA Fort Smith Classic at Hardscrabble Country Club.

“Ethan and Will have been playing one and two for us the whole season,” Curlett said. “They’re freshmen, and it’s a good opportunity for them to see the best players in the country. I think we’re going to see that they can play with anybody when they get there.”

Hubbard has been solid at times, too. The former Alma Airedale shot a 35 on the back-nine on his way to shooting a 78 during the first round of the region tournament to help send the Lions into the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead over rival Seminole State.

“Brett’s been a little up and down, but if Brett has a good tournament, I think we’ll do well again,” Curlett said. “You can’t go to nationals and play four on five, but I think as a team that we will be able to hang there with anybody.”

The four-round tournament will finish on Friday with the awards ceremony and banquet slated for 7:30 p.m.

All four UA Fort Smith golfers shot under 90 as the Lady Lions finished the final round with a 345. The Lady Lions finished the tournament with a three-round score of 1,070. Official team results were not immediately available, but third-year UA Fort Smith golf coach Mark Curlett speculated the Lady Lions would finish in the Top 10, perhaps as high as eighth.

It was the first time in the program’s three-year history that the Lady Lions competed as a team in the national tournament and the third-consecutive time they have had at least one player qualify for the tournament.

“That’s pretty good for our first year to compete as a team,” Curlett said.

Freshman Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., carded an 81 during the final round and finished the tournament with a team-best 256 (89-86-81).

Sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., a two-time national tournament qualifier, shot an 89 in and finished with a 265 (87-89-89). Freshman Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot an 86 and finished with a 271 (96-89-89), and freshman Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot an 89 and finished with a 278 (94-95-89).

“I’m really pleased,” Curlett said. “We got better every day.”

And, they did.

UA Fort Smith carded a 359, shaving seven strokes off their first round score.

“We played better,” Curlett said. “We still had some bad holes, like where we would shoot an 8 on a par 4.”

Freshman Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot an 86 during the second round, followed by sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., with an 89, freshman Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., with an 89 and freshman Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., with a 95.

The Lady Lions remained in ninth place after the second round — eight strokes behind eight-place Young Harris Community College.

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions were one of 15 teams and several individuals set to compete in the tournament, which was originally scheduled to begin on Monday morning. As of midday Monday, no decision had been made as to when or where the tournament will be played.

“We were going down to eat breakfast this morning and were all set to get ready to play today when we found out we weren’t playing,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said.

According to published news reports, four wildfires broke out on Sunday in the central Florida area, and by midday Monday, firefighters were making progress in controlling three of the wildfires, which were being fueled by dry conditions and winds upwards of 40-50 miles per hour.

1. fire in Volusia County led to the evacuation of about 590 homes near LPGA Boulevard and people living in another 85 homes were on standby to be evacuated on Monday, Daytona Beach Fire Department spokesperson Fred Godawa told CNN.

“We practiced yesterday (at LPGA International Golf Course) and were leaving to go back to the hotel, and there were police cars along the road that had traffic stopped,” Curlett said. “We didn’t know what was going on. They were letting people out, but they weren’t letting people in.”

UA Fort Smith, however, made the best of the bad situation. The Lady Lions spent Monday at the beach.

“We have our banquet tonight,” Curlett said. “So, hopefully we’ll find out something then.”

UA Fort Smith did receive some good news on Sunday.

Normally, only the region championship team can compete as a team in the national tournament. However, since all four of the Lady Lions qualified as individuals, it was discovered that they too can compete as a team.

UA Fort Smith is one of three schools who had four players qualify as individuals that is being allowed to compete as a team.

“It’s in the fine print,” said Curlett of the rule. “If you have four players from the same team that qualify as individuals, you can compete as a team. … It’s a great compliment for our school to be able to qualify as a team.”

Once play finally begins, Curlett likes his Lady Lions’ chances of making a Top 10 finish.

“We practiced yesterday, and we played well and hit it well,” Curlett said.

For the first time in the program’s three-year history, UA Fort Smith fielded a complete, four-member team. And while the team didn’t qualify for the NJCAA national tournament, all four members qualified as individuals.

The UA Fort Smith contingent will begin play in the four-day tournament on Monday at LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Fla.

It will be the third time in as many years for UA Fort Smith to have a player compete in the national tournament.

“I’ve really been blessed. We have had some fine student-athletes come to UA Fort Smith,” UA Fort Smith golf coach Mark Curlett said. “You’ve got to have the kids first, and that’s what it’s all about. We have a good school, and they want to come to UA Fort Smith and play golf. That says a lot about our school.”

Former Lady Lion Katie Schluterman of Fort Smith – UA Fort Smith’s first women’s golfer – qualified for the national tournament last year and in 2006. Current sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., qualified for the tournament last year, finishing 67th.

“This will be Kaitlin’s second year to go, and I expect her to play even better this time,” Curlett said. “She can do it.”

Peters is the only current Lady Lion with national tournament experience. Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., and Jena Morrow and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., are all freshmen.

“This is a great opportunity for our freshmen, whom I plan on being here with us for four years, to get some experience,” Curlett said.

The four Lady Lions qualified for the national tournament by shooting one of the top five scores among non-championship team members in the recent NJCAA Region II tournament. Redlands Community College, the 2006 national champion and last year’s national runner-up, won the region tournament, which was held at Ben Geren Golf Course in Fort Smith.

Curlett looks for the Lady Lions to build off that strong finish in the region tournament, especially Martin who led the Lady Lions with a 167 at the region tournament.

“If she putts well, she could have a Top 20 finish,” Curlett said.

Freshman Ethan Adamson shot a 1-over par 73 on Tuesday afternoon to help the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions pull away from rival Seminole State and win the NJCAA Region II tournament at Ben Geren Golf Course.

UA Fort Smith shot a 627 during the two-round, two-day affair, beating Seminole State by just five strokes. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M finished third after shooting a 643.

“They hung in there and just stayed tough. That’s what we’re all about,” UA Fort Smith golf coach Mark Curlett said. “When you get the hammer put down on you, you’ve got to stand up sooner or later. I was proud of the guys.”

It’s the third-consecutive region title for the Lions since the program was restarted in the fall of 2005. UA Fort Smith qualified for its third-consecutive national tournament, which begins May 20 at Palm Valley Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz.

“It’s good,” said Adamson, who’s from Fort Smith. “The domination by UA Fort Smith is awesome.”

The former Southside Rebel shot a 6-over par 150 to earn medalist honors. Adamson, who won his second collegiate tournament, would have qualified for the national tournament regardless of the Lions’ finish because he was the medalist.

Lions freshman Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., and sophomore Matt Dodson of Van Buren, Ark., each shot a 159, sophomore Trevor Earls of Sallisaw, Okla., shot a 167 and freshman Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., shot a 168.

“It’s definitely fun to win a tournament,” Adamson said. “But, it’s more of a team thing. I’m just glad we’re going to nationals as a team.”

UA Fort Smith relied on the late surge of Hubbard during Monday’s first round to take a one-stroke lead over Seminole State into the final round. Hubbard fell off the pace a bit – he carded a 90 during the second round – but Adamson followed up with the best round of the tournament.

“It’s (Adamson’s) home course, and he knows how to play it,” Curlett said. “He came down the stretch, played the last few holes 1-under par and just brought it home for us.”

Curlett, who is in his third season as Lions coach, was a bit anxious as the second round remained almost a stroke-for-stroke battle between the Lions and the Trojans. When Adamson hit the green on No. 18, Curlett said he was pretty confident the Lions would win another title.

Adamson birdied the final hole to clear up any doubts.

“He had a beautiful drive, a beautiful second shot within about 10 feet (of the hole) and a birdie,” Curlett recalled.

It may have been Adamson’s best putt of the round, especially since he struggled with his putter at times during the round.

“I was hitting it well, but I wasn’t putting very good,” Adamson said. “I had like three three-putts. I was hitting the ball on the green but not close enough to make an easy par.”

Brad Bottoms followed his first-round 77 with a 76 to finish runner-up for medalist honors and lead the Trojans to the runner-up finish.

“It’s fun when it’s a little bit of a nail-biter. It’s fun when it’s close like that,” Curlett said. “That’s the way it should be, and that’s the way you want it. You don’t want to just mow people down. You want to play good people, and Seminole’s good.”

Before the Lions depart for their national tournament, Curlett will be headed to Daytona Beach, Fla.

A little vacation? No, strictly business.

The Lady Lions finished runner-up to the defending region champion Redlands Lady Cougars, but all four Lady Lions qualified for the national tournament, which begins on May 12 at LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach.

Freshman Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., led the Lady Lions with a 167 and finished sixth overall. Sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., shot a 185, freshman Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., carded a 190 and freshman Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, shot a 193.

“Everybody improved on their score from the first round, and they are going to be fine,” Curlett said. “I’m excited about the ladies going to nationals. It’s Kaitlin’s second year, and it’s going to be an unbelievable experience for the three freshmen.”

Redlands, which was the 2006 national champion and 2007 national runner-up, shot a 636 to win the tournament by 99 strokes. The Lady Cougars shot the exact score (315) in the second round as the UA Fort Smith men did in the first round and had all five players finish in the top five spots.

Lady Cougars freshman Morgan Gay shot a 155 to earn medalist honors. Gay had rounds of 77 and 78 and was one of three Lady Cougars to shoot a 78 during the second round.

NJCAA REGION II GOLF TOURNAMENT

At Ben Geren Golf Course, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Tuesday

Final Results

Team Standings

Men

Player Round 1 Round 2 Total

1. UA Fort Smith 315 312 627

2. Seminole State 316 316 632

3. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 326 317 643

Women

Player Round 1 Round 2 Total

1. Redlands 321 315 636

2. UA Fort Smith 370 365 735

Individual Standings

Men

Player Round 1 Round 2 Total

1. Ethan Adamson, UA Fort Smith 77 73 150

2. Brad Bottoms, Seminole State 77 76 153

3. Matt Penick, Western Oklahoma State 77 80 157

3. Calvin Becker, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 83 74 157

5. Will Fogleman, UA Fort Smith 78 81 159

5. Brant Gear, Seminole State 79 80 159

5. Matt Dodson, UA Fort Smith 82 77 159

5. Nick Iness, Western Oklahoma State 83 76 159

9. Bryan Bottoms, Seminole State 80 80 160

9. Stuie Palmer, UACC-Morrilton 81 79 160

11. Jason Martin, Seminole State 80 81 161

12. Chad Langley, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 77 85 162

13. Dalton Hamilton,Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 85 79 164

14. Derrick Ashe, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 83 82 165

14. Tanner Langley, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 83 82 165

16. Derek Nagel, Seminole State 86 80 166

17. Trevor Earls, UA Fort Smith 86 81 167

18. Brett Hubbard, UA Fort Smith 78 90 168

19. Keton Smiley, Western Oklahoma State 84 88 172

19. Jared Mason, UACC-Morrilton 89 83 172

21. Erik Hawkins, UACC-Morrilton 98 97 195

Women

Player Round 1 Round 2 Total

1. Morgan Gay, Redlands 77 78 155

2. Abby Allford, Redlands 80 81 161

3. Nicola Race, Redlands 84 78 162

4. Andrea Kaelin, Redlands 85 78 163

5. Emily Kwak, Redlands 80 84 164

6. Lacy Martin, UA Fort Smith 84 83 167

7. Kaitlin Peters, UA Fort Smith 92 93 185

8. Johannah Hendrex, UA Fort Smith 94 96 190

8. Cara Horn, Western Oklahoma State 94 96 190

10. Jena Morrow, UA Fort Smith 100 93 193

11. Chelsey Vaught, Western Oklahoma State 109 117 226

When the final first-round scores were posted, he was in a little better mood.

UA Fort Smith shook off the ill-effects of a rough front nine and finished the first round with a 315. The Lions will carry a one-stroke lead over region rival Seminole State into Tuesday’s final round at Ben Geren Golf Course.

Play begins at 8 a.m. with the awards presentation slated for approximately 1:30 p.m.

Seminole State shot a 316 to stay well in contention for the region title, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is still in the title hunt, too, after shooting a 326. Western Oklahoma State and University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton did not field a complete team and are competing as individuals.

“We were tight between the shoulder blades,” said Curlett of the Lions’ play on the first nine holes. “We were obviously tight, and if I knew why, we wouldn’t have been tight. Nobody broke 40 on the front side.”

While Curlett didn’t know the exact cause of the Lions’ sluggish play, he did have a remedy.

“We’re going to come back and practice after lunch,” Curlett said. “We’re going to try and get some of our energy back.”

Freshman Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith paced the Lions with a 5-over par 77 and is one of four tied for medalist honors going into the final round. Freshman Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., and freshman Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., each carded a 78, sophomore Matt Dodson of Van Buren, Ark., shot an 82 and sophomore Trevor Earls of Sallisaw, Okla., carded an 86.

Hubbard sparked the Lions’ quick turnaround with a spectacular back-nine performance. The former Airedale standout shot a 43 on the front nine and carded a 35 on the back nine to put UA Fort Smith back in contention.

“That was huge for us,” Curlett said. “That helped us get back in it.”

Seminole State’s Brad Bottoms also is tied for medalist honors with a 77, and he and teammate Brant Gear, who shot a 79, are the only Trojans to break 80 during the opening round.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M’s Chad Langley shot a 77 to lead the Norsemen, while Western Oklahoma State’s Matt Penick kept his bid for a trip to the national tournament as an individual alive by carding a 77, too.

Only the men’s region championship team will qualify for the national tournament, which begins May 20 at Palm Valley Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. If the medalist is not on the championship team, he also will qualify for the national tournament.

The Redlands Community College Lady Cougars have established themselves as a national power, having won the 2006 national championship and finished national runner-up a year ago.

They looked every bit the part after the first round.

Lady Cougars occupied the top four spots and five were in the Top 10 going into the final round.

Morgan Gay shot a 5-over par 77 to take the early lead for medalist honors while helping the Lady Cougars shoot a 321. UA Fort Smith, which is the only other school fielding a women’s team in the tournament, is 49 strokes off the pace after carding a 370.

UA Fort Smith freshman Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., is tied for fourth after shooting an 84. Lady Lions sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., shot a 92, freshman Johanna Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 94 and freshman Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., carded a 100.

“Lacy Martin shot an 84, and that’s probably the worst she could have shot,” Curlett said. “She really played steady golf.”

The women’s region championship team will qualify for the national tournament, which begins May 12 at LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. Also, the top 5 individuals not on the championship team will qualify for the national tournament.

NJCAA REGION II GOLF TOURNAMENT

At Ben Geren Golf Course, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Monday

First Round

Men

Team Standings

Team Score

1. UA Fort Smith 315

2. Seminole State 316

3. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 326

Women

Team Standings

Team Score

1. Redlands 321

2. UA Fort Smith 370

Individual Standings

Men

Player Score

1. Ethan Adamson, UA Fort Smith 77

1. Chad Langley, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 77

1. Brad Bottoms, Seminole State 77

1. Matt Penick, Western Oklahoma State 77

5. Will Fogleman, UA Fort Smith 78

5. Brett Hubbard, UA Fort Smith 78

7. Brant Gear, Seminole State 79

8. Bryan Bottoms, Seminole State 80

8. Jason Martin, Seminole State 80

10. Stuie Palmer, UACC-Morrilton 81

11. Matt Dodson, UA Fort Smith 82

12. Calvin Becker, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 83

12. Derrick Ashe, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 83

12. Tanner Langley, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 83

12. Nick Iness, Western Oklahoma State 83

16. Keton Smiley, Western Oklahoma State 84

17. Dalton Hamilton, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 85

18. Trevor Earls, UA Fort Smith 86

18. Derek Nagel, Seminole State 86

20. Jared Mason, UACC-Morrilton 89

21. Erik Hawkins, UACC-Morrilton 98

Terry Skinner, UACC-Morrilton DNS

Women

Player Score

1. Morgan Gay, Redlands 77

2. Abby Allford, Redlands 80

2. Emily Kwak, Redlands 80

4. Nicola Race, Redlands 84

4. Lacy Martin, UA Fort Smith 84

6. Andrea Kaelin, Redlands 85

7. Kaitlin Peters, UA Fort Smith 92

8. Johanna Hendrex, UA Fort Smith 94

8. Cara Horn, Western Oklahoma State 94

10. Jena Morrow, UA Fort Smith 100

11. Chelsea Vaught, Western Oklahoma State 109

UA Fort Smith, the two-time defending region champion, has its sights set on a third-consecutive title, and the Lions will have the home-course advantage, too. UA Fort Smith will host the two-day tournament beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday at Ben Geren Golf Course. Final round action will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

“We get to host it for the first time, and we’re really excited about getting to play at home at Ben Geren,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said.

UA Fort Smith normally plays its home tournaments at Hardscrabble Country Club, but because of a conflict – Hardscrabble is preparing to host the upcoming Fort Smith Classic – the tournament was moved to Ben Geren.

“We’ve been practicing over there (Ben Geren) for the past two weeks,” Curlett said.

Five teams will make up the men’s tournament field – UA Fort Smith, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Western Oklahoma State, University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton and Seminole State.

Only the region championship team will advance to the NJCAA Division II national tournament, which begins May 20 at Palm Valley Golf Course in Phoenix, Ariz. If the region tournament medalist is not a part of the championship team, he also will advance to the national tournament and compete as an individual.

“We’ve won (the region) two years in a row,” said Curlett, whose Lions finished seventh in last year’s national tournament. “We really haven’t played in a lot of tournaments with our conference opponents this year. I know that NEO has a nice team, and Seminole does, too. UA-Morrilton has a couple of nice players, and so does Western.”

Curlett likes the Lions’ chances of a three-peat.

“I believe in all five of my guys,” the third-year coach said. “I like our depth.”

For the first time in their three-year history, the Lady Lions will battle for the team title at the region tournament. Prior to this season, UA Fort Smith hasn’t fielded a four-player team and only competed as individuals.

UA Fort Smith will be a part of a strong three-team field that will include defending region champ Redlands Community College and Western Oklahoma State. University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton will have one individual player. Seminole State has a team but is ineligible to compete in the tournament.

“Our ladies are shooting good scores,” Curlett said. “They’re really excited about the tournament.”

Redlands is the favorite to win the region tournament. The Lady Cougars won the 2006 national title and were the national runner-up last spring.

“They’re a national power,” Curlett said.

The region championship team will advance to the national tournament, which begins May 12 at LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. Also, the top five individuals who are not members of the championship team will advance to the national tournament to compete as individuals.

Former Lady Lion Katie Schluterman of Fort Smith and current Lady Lion sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., qualified for the national tournament as individuals last year. Schluterman finished tied for 62nd and Peters finished 67th.

UA Fort Smith shot a 588 over the two-day classic and finished 26 strokes behind champion Arkansas Tech, which shot an impressive 6-under par 562. Henderson State was second with a 578, while classic host Harding University was fourth with a 595. Central Baptist College was fifth with a 600.

Adamson, who is from Fort Smith, was one of two Lions to finish in the Top 10. Freshman Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 3-over par 145 and finished tied for eighth.

Sophomore Matt Dodson of Van Buren, Ark., and sophomore Trevor Earls of Sallisaw, Okla., each shot a 9-over par 151 and finished tied for 21st. Freshman Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., shot a 16-over par 158 and finished tied for 36th. Arkansas Tech’s Jarred Carlyle shot a 6-under 136 to earn medalist honors. He was one of three Wonder Boys in the Top 10.

The Lady Lions shot a 726 on their way to a sixth-place finish in the classic. The University of Montevallo dominated the nine-team field, shooting a 645 to win by 33 strokes over runner-up Henderson State.

Sophomore Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., shot a 177 and finished 18th to lead the Lady Lions. Freshman Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot a 179 and finished 22nd. Freshman Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., carded a 183 and finished 24th. Freshman Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, shot a 187 and finished tied for 25th.

Montevallo’s Morgan Bell shot a 16-over par 158 to earn medalist honors. She was one of five Lady Falcons to finish in the Top 10. It was the second tournament championship for the Lady Falcons this spring.

It was the final regular-season matches for UA Fort Smith. UA Fort Smith will host the NJCAA Region II tournament on April 28-29 at Ben Geren Golf Course.

The Lions shot a 617 over the two-day event and finished second behind champion and host Southwestern College, which topped the 12-team field with a 607.

UA Fort Smith was the highest finisher among the Bi-State Conference teams competing in the tournament. Seminole State College finished fifth after shooting a 629, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M was sixth after carding a 637 and Western Oklahoma State was 11th after shooting a 705.

UA Fort Smith’s Matt Dodson of Van Buren, Ark., shot a 150 (80-70) to lead the Lions and was within one stroke of tying for medalist honors. Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 152 (78-74), Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith, Ark., carded a 154 (80-74), Trevor Earls of Sallisaw, Okla., shot a 161 (80-81) and Jay Winborn of Alma, Ark., carded a 187 (98-89).

The Lady Lions shot a 752 to finish third – 15 strokes behind champion Park University. Park shot a 737 to top the six-team field.

UA Fort Smith was the highest-finishing Bi-State Conference team in the tournament. Seminole State College carded a 776 to finish fifth.

UA Fort Smith’s Kaitlin Peters of Peoria, Ariz., shot two consistent rounds to lead the Lady Lions with a 181 (91-90), while Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot a 189 (101-81), Jenna Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 191 (89-102) and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 191 (97-94).

SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS SPRING IN

At Quail Ridge Golf Course, Winfield, Kan.

Monday-Tuesday

MEN

TEAM SCORE

1. Southwestern College 607

2. UA Fort Smith 617

3. Bethany College 620

4. Missouri Valley 627

5. Seminole State 629

6. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 637

7. Friends University 639

8. Bethel College 659

9. Sterling College 664

10. Ottawa College 668

11. Western Oklahoma 705

12. Kansas Wesleyan University 737

UA FORT SMITH INDIVIDUALS

PLAYER SCORE

Matt Dodson 80-70-150

Will Fogleman 78-74-152

Ethan Adamson 80-74-154

Trevor Earls 80-81-161

Jay Winborn 98-89-187

WOMEN

TEAM SCORE

1. Park University 737

2. Southwestern College 741

3. UA Fort Smith 752

4. Oklahoma Baptist University 764

5. Seminole State College 776

6. Ottawa College 799

UA FORT SMITH INDIVIDUALS

PLAYER SCORE

Kaitlin Peters 91-90-181

Lacy Martin 101-88-189

Jenna Morrow 89-102-191

Johannah Hendrex 97-94-191

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 Cli