Jena Morrow, a junior golfer from Fort Gibson, Okla., and Evan Piche, a junior tennis player from Houston, Texas, earned the weekly honor, becoming the 10th and 11th UA Fort Smith student-athletes to earn the award.

Morrow has compiled a 3.77 grade-point average while majoring in business administration. She helped lead the Lady Lions to a second-place finish in the Show Me Summer Shootout and a fourth-place finish in the Harding Bison Classic earlier this fall.

Piche has compiled a 3.15 grade-point average while majoring in business administration. He advanced to the semifinals of doubles play in the Collin County Community College Fall Open and was 4-2 in singles play and 4-4 in doubles play during the Lions’ fall matches.

UA Fort Smith student-athletes have accounted for 11 of the 15 academic student-athlete award winners this semester. Morrow and Piche join tennis players McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla.; Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil; and Cameron Terrell of Little Rock; volleyball players Lucia Najselova of Nitra, Slovakia; Heidi Luks of Tallinn, Estonia; and Fabiane Nass of Santa Catarina, Brazil; and golfers Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith, Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark.; and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla.

Hendrex, a junior golfer from Fort Gibson, Okla., has compiled a 3.42 grade-point average while majoring in English. Hendrex helped lead the Lady Lions to a second-place finish in the Show Me Summer Shootout and a fourth-place finish in the Harding Bison Classic earlier this fall.

She is the ninth UA Fort Smith student-athlete to earn the weekly academic honor, joining tennis players McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla.; Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil; and Cameron Terrell of Little Rock; volleyball players Lucia Najselova of Nitra, Slovakia; Heidi Luks of Tallinn, Estonia; and Fabiane Nass of Santa Catarina, Brazil; and golfers Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith and Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark.

UA Fort Smith’s SAAC will conduct its “Bundle Up Fort Smith” community service project on Nov. 17 when the UA Fort Smith men’s basketball team hosts the University of the Ozarks Eagles in its season opener at 7 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

Fans are encouraged to bring a coat, a pair of shoes or both with them to the game, and members of SAAC will be on hand to collect these clothing items at both entrances of the Stubblefield Center.

The clothing items collected will go to help those in need to stay warm this winter.

“With the winter season approaching, some people don’t have coats or jackets to stay warm or shoes to keep their feet warm,” said UA Fort Smith director of athletic compliance Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to do something to help those in need in our community and help improve their quality of life.”

This project is a part of SAAC’s on-going community service project aimed at assisting those in need in the Fort Smith area. Earlier this month, SAAC members participated in a canned food drive to collect food for Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families in Fort Smith. The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

Fogleman, a golfer from Marion, Ark., has compiled a 3.50 grade-point average while majoring in business administration. He recently earned co-medalist honors in the Newman University Fall Invitational, shooting a 7-over par 151 to help the Lions win the tournament.

Eight of the 12 student-athletes who have earned the weekly honor have been from UA Fort Smith.

Fogleman joins tennis players McKenzie McCullough of Henryetta, Okla.; Matheus da Silva of Brasilia, Brazil; and Cameron Terrell of Little Rock; volleyball players Lucia Najselova of Nitra, Slovakia; Heidi Luks of Tallinn, Estonia; and Fabiane Nass of Santa Catarina, Brazil; and golfer Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith.

Fifty-two students and student-athletes went door-to-door throughout Fort Smith neighborhoods on Saturday collecting canned food items for Thanksgiving food baskets they will prepare for needy families.

“One of the guys who was in my group was like ‘I feel really good that I used a Saturday to help people,’” said UA Fort Smith tennis player Cameron Terrell, who helped organize the food drive. “It was cool. That was pretty much the common sentiment among everybody. They were excited to be there and really glad they could help.”

The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations. Terrell, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., said the group was really excited about the response.

“Most of the people who were home were really excited about helping us,” Terrell said. “They were glad they could give, too. They were glad we included them in the giving process.”

Initially, Terrell said the group had hoped to collect enough food to make baskets for 40 families but because of the overwhelming outpouring of support from the community that they now hope to make baskets for 60-75 families.

The group is working with the Community Clearinghouse, which will provide them with a list of needy families. They expect to make their food basket deliveries the week before the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We had a lot of help from Caring for the Northside and Sebastian Commons,” Terrell said. “Sebastian Commons provided us pizza, and Caring for the Northside provided the T-shirts and the transportation, which we really needed.”

The door-to-door food drive also was a community service project adopted by the UA Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

Student-athletes representing men’s and women’s tennis and baseball participated in the food drive.

“A huge part of SAAC is community service, and it was great to see our student-athletes jump on this opportunity to help a large number of people in our community,” said UA Fort Smith compliance director Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “Too often athletes are criticized for only wanting to do things for themselves, and it’s exciting that our athletes want to help others and be a positive influence in their community.”

UA Fort Smith SAAC members, along with members of Caring for the Northside, will be collecting canned food for Thanksgiving meals for those in need in Fort Smith.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

SAAC also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

UA Fort Smith, which held a two-stroke lead after Monday’s opening round, shot a 27-over par 315 during the second round and finished with an overall 44-over par 620. The Lions beat host and fellow Heartland Conference member Newman University by eight-strokes.

Newman shot a 52-over par 628 to finish second. Newman’s second team shot a 101-over par 677 and finished third, while fellow Heartland Conference member Oklahoma Panhandle State carded a 149-over par 725 and finished fourth.

Juniors Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., and Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith each carded 7-over par 151 to earn co-medalist honors to lead the Lions. Sophomore Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., finished fifth with a 13-over par 157. Junior Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished 10th with a 17-over par 161, and sophomore Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., finished 14th with a 30-over par 174.

It was the Lions’ first win of the fall season and their final fall tournament.

UA Fort Smith shot a 17-over par 305 while playing in 55-degree temperatures with a 20 mile-per-hour wind. Host and fellow Heartland Conference member Newman University is close behind after shooting a 19-over par 307.

Newman’s second team is in third place with a 55-over par 343, and Oklahoma Panhandle State is fourth with a 75-over par 363.

Junior Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., leads the Lions contingent and is tied for the overall lead with a 1-over par 73. Junior Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith is third overall with a 3-over par 75, sophomore Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., is tied for fourth with a 4-over par 76, junior Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., is 11th with a 9-over par 81 and sophomore Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., is tied for 12th with a 14-over par 86.

It is the second week in a row that UA Fort Smith has had a student-athlete earn the honor. Last week, McKenzie McCullough, a junior tennis player from Henryetta, Okla., earned the honor.

Najselova, a junior setter from Nitra, Slovakia, earned NJCAA Academic All-American honors last year after compiling a 3.71 grade-point average while majoring in psychology.

She played in a team-high 153 games last fall. She had a team-high 1,363 assists and was fifth on the team with 196 kills and second on the team with 66 aces. She was fourth on the team with 201 digs and fifth on the team with 42 blocks.

Najselova was named a preseason NJCAA Division I first team All-American, NJCAA first team All-American, AVCA first team All-American, NJCAA Division I Player of the Week and NJCAA Region II MVP.

She was named MVP of the UA Fort Smith Mattalee Fawcett Invitational and the MSU-West Plains Tournament of Champions. She was named to the MSU-West Plains Grizzly Invitational All-Tournament Team and the NCTC Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Adamson, a junior golfer from Fort Smith, compiled a 3.07 grade-point average last year while majoring in business administration.

He won three golf tournaments this past season, including the NJCAA Region II tournament, and finished seventh in the NJCAA national tournament. Adamson also tied for medalist honors in the season-opening Show Me Summer Shootout on Sept. 1 at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo.

Unfortunately for the Lady Lions and Lions, they couldn’t deliver a repeat performance during Tuesday’s second round at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo.

The Lady Lions shot a 51-over par 339 during the second round and finished second in the two-team field with a two-day score of 68-over par 644. Host William Woods University, which trailed UA Fort Smith by 10 strokes after the opening round, won the women’s division.

Junior Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot an 8-over par 80 and finished the tournament with a 22-over par 166. Juniors Jena Morrow and Johannah Hendrex, both of Fort Gibson, Okla., each shot a 14-over par 86 and finished with a 19-over par 163. First-round leader Sidney Tallon, a sophomore from Muskogee, Okla., shot a 17-over par 89 and finished with a 19-over par 163.

Freshman Jordan Bozeman of Canton, Texas, carded a 15-over par 87 and finished with a 20-over par 164.

The Lions trailed first-round leader William Woods University by only two strokes, but they, too, struggled down the stretch, shooting a 7-over par 295 to finish third behind Williams Woods and McKendree College.

Junior Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot an even-par 72 and finished the tournament with a 3-under par 141 to tie for medalist honors. Junior Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., and sophomore Patrick Willey of Conway, Ark., each shot a 1-over par 73 and finished with a 4-over par 148.

Sophomore Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., carded a 5-over par 77 and finished with a 9-over par 153, and sophomore Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., shot a 6-over par 78 and finished with a 17-over par 161.

The Lady Lions shot a program-best 17-over par 305 and own a 10-stroke lead over second-place William Woods University, which is the only other team competing in the women’s division.

Sophomore Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., led the Lady Lions’ five-player contingent with a 2-over par 74. Tallon also is the overall tournament leader.

Juniors Johannah Hendrex and Jena Morrow, both of Fort Gibson, Okla., and freshman Jordan Bozeman of Canton, Texas, each carded a 5-over par 77. Junior Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot a 14-over par 86.

“I am really excited about how the women’s team played,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “That was a great first round for them.”

The Lions are well within striking distance of the lead after the opening round after shooting a 7-over par 295. They are only two strokes behind leader and host William Woods University. McKendree College is close behind in third with a 296, Baker College is fourth with a 298 and Pittsburg State is fifth with a 302.

UA Fort Smith two-time All-American Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith is tied for the overall lead with a 3-under par 69. Fellow junior Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., and sophomore Patrick Willey of Conway, Ark., each carded a 3-over par 75, sophomore Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot a 4-over par 76 and sophomore Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., carded an 11-over par 83.

Tryouts will be for the spring semester, and prospective players must be current UA Fort Smith students.

Prospective walk-ons must have had a physical within the past six months and have documentation from a physician on file with UA Fort Smith director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Jeff McGee prior to the tryout.

Also, prospective players must fill out a UA Fort Smith walk-on form and have it on file with UA Fort Smith compliance director Will Collier prior to the tryout. The walk-on form is available at www.uafortsmith.edu/attach/Athletics/Nav/UAFSWalk-onForm.pdf.

For more information, contact Curlett at mcurlett@uafortsmith.edu.

The NCAA has granted UA Fort Smith provisional Division II membership status beginning with the upcoming academic year. UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith received official notification from the NCAA during a conference call on Thursday afternoon.

“A lot of work has gone into getting to this point. By no means is it over, but it is a huge step in the right direction and a positive movement for the institution and the athletic department,” Smith said. “A lot of worries have ended with this decision. We are one step closer to the prize, and that prize is active membership in Division II.”

As a provisional member, UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level this upcoming season, but its teams will not be eligible to compete for conference or region championships or participate in postseason play.

Once the provisional year is completed, UA Fort Smith will be eligible for full active membership. That decision will be made by the NCAA in July 2010. Smith said he expects UA Fort Smith to be granted full active membership at that time.

“In the whole process if (the NCAA) doesn’t feel that you have done what you are supposed to do, you repeat the year that you are on,” Smith explained. “I can’t ever say that (full active membership) is a done deal, but hopefully a year from this time, we can say that it’s a done deal and that we are an active Division II school.

“We have the pieces in place, and I would not foresee them saying that we would have to repeat the third year (the provisional year).”

UA Fort Smith announced its intentions to leave the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and pursue NCAA Division II membership prior to the start of the 2007-08 season.

UA Fort Smith completed the first year of the two-year exploratory phase required for Division II membership and was given approval by the NCAA on July 24, 2008, to move to the second year of the membership process for the 2008-09 academic year.

Two members representing the NCAA membership committee conducted a two-day, on-site visit at UA Fort Smith this past April, during which time they toured the campus and the athletic facilities and interviewed administrators, faculty and staff about the university’s academic and athletic policies and procedures.

Their favorable report – as well as UA Fort Smith’s work throughout the early stages of the membership process – was instrumental in the committee granting the university provisional membership status.

“My goal in this whole process was to do as much as we could on the front end to look and present ourselves as a Division II school,” Smith said. “We looked at a lot of institutions both in the state and in the region to give us some guidance and to set a standard for us to follow.

“My whole philosophy was that ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Obviously, there are schools around us who have been successful as Division II schools. We wanted to implement some of the things they do, and (UA Fort Smith Chancellor) Dr. (Paul) Beran has given us great guidance in doing that and has been very supportive of that. I think the (membership) committee was pleased with what we have done.”

This past spring, UA Fort Smith accepted an invitation to join the Heartland Conference and will begin competition in the league beginning this fall. The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

UA Fort Smith shot a 38-over par 1,190 to match its best tournament finish ever. The Lions also finished fourth last year.

The Lions finished 29 strokes behind national champion John A. Logan (Ill.) College, which carded a 9-over par 1,161 to win the title by three strokes over Darton (Ga.) College.

Adamson shot rounds of 74, 71, 73, and 70 for an overall even-par 288 and finished in seventh place. The former Southside Rebel became the Lions' first two-time All-American. He was a first team All-American as a freshman and earned second team All-American honors this spring.

Lions freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., shot a 9-over par 297 and tied for 25th; freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., fired a 17-over par 305 and tied for 50th; freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., shot an 18-over par 306 and finished 53rd; and sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 19-over par 307 and tied for 58th.

UA Fort Smith fired a 14-over par 302 – only the seventh-best score among the 17 teams in the third round – and enters Friday’s final round of play in sixth place with a combined score of 30-over par 894. The Lions trail leader South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College by 25 strokes.

The Cougars enter the final round with a 5-over par 869.

Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith carded a 1-over par 73 during the third round and is tied for 13th place with a 2-over par 218. Freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., shot a 2-over par 74 and is tied for 33rd place with an 8-over par 224. Freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., shot a 6-over par 78 and is tied for 46th place with a 12-over par 228. Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., carded 7-over par 79 and is tied for 54th place with a 13-over par 229.

Freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot a 5-over par 77 and is tied for 60th place with a 14-over par 230.

Better weather and a change in venue allowed the women’s NJCAA national tournament to finally be completed, albeit in a shortened format.

The tournament was originally a four-round event scheduled to begin on Monday at LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla. However, rain on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday forced tournament officials to move the tournament to Providence Golf Club in Davenport, Fla., and shorten the event to just one 18-hole round.

UA Fort Smith was represented by three players competing as individuals. Sophomores Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., each shot a 12-over par 84 and freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., carded a 17-over par 89.

Overall individual results were not available as of Thursday night.

NJCAA Region II champion Redlands Community College won the overall team championship.

UA Fort Smith shot a 1-over par 289 during the second round but only moved up to seventh place. The Lions have shot a combined 16-over par 592 and are 17 strokes behind new leader South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College, which has shot a blistering 1-under par 575 through two rounds at Goosepond Colony in Scottsboro, Ala.

Four of the five Lions greatly improved on their first-round performances.

Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot a 1-under par 71 on Wednesday to again lead the Lions contingent. Adamson, who finished tied for second overall last year, is tied for 13th place with a two-round score of 1-over par 145.

Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., followed his first-round 5-over par 77 with a 1-over par 73 and is tied for 38th. Freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., countered his first-round 6-over par 78 with an even-par 72 and is tied for 38th. Freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., countered his opening-round 5-over par 77 with a 1-over par 73 and is tied for 38th.

Freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., struggled during the second round. After shooting a 3-over par 75 during the opening round, he fired a 6-over par 78 in the second round and is tied for 64th.

The four-round event was originally scheduled to begin on Monday, but rain in and around the LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla., has wreaked havoc on the tournament all week.

Play was suspended after only three holes on Monday and two attempts to resume play have been futile. Continued heavy rain on Wednesday prompted some local flood warning advisories, and the LPGA tournament course was deemed unplayable.

Weather permitting, the teams will play a one-round, 18-hole, winner-take-all championship beginning with a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start on Thursday at Providence Golf Club in Davenport, Fla.

Three players are representing UA Fort Smith in the tournament – sophomores Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., and freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla.

After the first round was canceled on Monday because of rain, the tournament was again postponed on Tuesday because of heavy rain. The golfers were scheduled to play 36 holes on Tuesday in hopes of keeping the tournament on schedule.

Weather permitting, the tournament will begin on Wednesday.

Three Lady Lions are representing UA Fort Smith in the national tournament – sophomores Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., and freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla.

The tournament will continue, weather permitting, on Tuesday morning with the golfers playing 36 holes to keep the tournament on schedule.

Three Lady Lions are representing UA Fort Smith in the national tournament – sophomores Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., and freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla.

It’s been almost a month since either team has played an opponent other than themselves. UA Fort Smith last played on April 20-21 when the Lions won the NJCAA Region II tournament championship and the Lady Lions finished second at El Reno Golf Course in El Reno, Okla.

The Lions will end the unusually long break on Tuesday when they begin first-round play in the national tournament at Goosepond Colony in Scottsboro, Ala. The four-time Region II champs are looking to improve on last year’s program-best fourth-place finish.

UA Fort Smith won four tournaments and one dual match during regular season and posted a 10th-place finish in the Illinois Central Tournament, which was hosted by Goosepond Colony.

The Lions are led by sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith. Adamson, who earned first team All-American honors as a freshman, won two tournaments this season – the UA Fort Smith Classic and the Region II tournament.

The Lady Lions will begin tournament play on Monday at LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach, Fla.

UA Fort Smith finished eighth in last year’s national tournament – the Lady Lions’ first time to compete as a full team in the event. However, they did not qualify as a team for this year’s tournament, but three Lady Lions qualified to compete as individuals.

Sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., and sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., will represent the Lady Lions at the tournament.

Martin, who became the first Lady Lion to ever win a golf tournament, won two tournaments and one dual match during regular season – the Bison Classic, the South Central Kansas Invitational and the Seminole State dual match.

UA Fort Smith posted its first wins in the program’s four-year history during the regular season, winning the Harding University Bison Classic and the Seminole State dual match.

Sophomore Ethan Adamson shot a 2-under par 142 to lead the University of Arkansas –Fort Smith Lions to their fourth-consecutive NJCAA Region II golf tournament championship on Tuesday afternoon at El Reno Country Club in El Reno, Okla.

The Lions shot an 11-over par 587 to dominate region rival Seminole State College by 19 strokes. The Trojans, who only trailed the Lions by six strokes after the first round, shot a 30-over par 606.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M finished third (623), and Western Oklahoma State College finished fourth (630).

Adamson, who’s from Fort Smith, shot a 1-under par 71 during each round to repeat as region tournament champion. The former Southside Rebel shot a 6-over par 150 last spring to win the region tournament at Fort Smith’s Ben Geren Golf Course.

He wasn’t the only Lion to break par during the second round. Teammate Trent Hill, a freshman from Fayetteville, Ark., followed his first-round 75 with a 71 on Tuesday to finish with a 2-over par 146.

Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 3-over par 147 (73-74), freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., shot an 9-over par 153 (73-80) and freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot an 16-over par 160.

The Lions clinched their fourth-consecutive berth in the NJCAA national tournament, which begins on May 19 at Goosepond Colony in Scottsboro, Ala. UA Fort Smith finished a program-best fourth place in last year’s tournament.

The Redlands Community College Lady Cougars also completed their region tournament repeat, beating the Lady Lions by 81 strokes. Redlands shot a 35-over par 611, while UA Fort Smith carded a 116-over par 692.

Seminole State College was third (702), and Western Oklahoma State College was fourth (811).

Redlands sophomores Nicola Race and Andrea Kaelin each shot a 5-over par 149 (76-73) to earn medalist honors.

Sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot a 25-over par 169 (84-85) to lead the UA Fort Smith contingent. Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., shot a 26-over par 170 (86-84), sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 28-over par 172 (87-85) and sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 37-over par 181.

Martin, Tallon and Hendrex each qualified as individuals for the national tournament, which begins on May 18 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

UA Fort Smith shot a 4-over par 292 during the opening round to lead the four-team field going into Tuesday’s final round. The Lions own a six-stroke lead over rival Seminole State College, which shot a 10-over par 298.

Western Oklahoma State is third (311) and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is fourth (312).

UA Fort Smith sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot a 1-under par 71 and leads the entire tournament field. Teammates Will Fogleman, a sophomore from Marion, Ark., and freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., each carded a 1-over par 73, while freshmen Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., and Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot a 3-over par 75 and a 9-over par 81, respectively.

The perennial national championship contender Redlands Lady Cougars are well on their way to another region tournament title, too. The Lady Cougars shot a 26-over par 314 in the opening round and own a 35-stroke lead over UA Fort Smith, which carded a 61-over par 349.

Seminole State is third (352) and Western Oklahoma State is fourth (416).

Redlands sophomores Nicola Race and Andrea Kaelin are tied for the tournament lead after each shot a 4-over par 76.

UA Fort Smith sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot a 12-over par 84 to lead the Lions contingent. Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., shot a 14-over par 86, while sophomores Johannah Hendrex and Jena Morrow, both of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 15-over par 87 and a 20-over par 92, respectively.

The region championship team plus the next five best scorers will advance to their respective national tournaments.

McKown fired a 1-over par 72 on Tuesday afternoon to win the weather-shortened Oklahoma Baptist University Bison Classic at Shawnee Country Club in Shawnee, Okla. The Van Buren, Ark., native clipped Oklahoma Baptist’s Alex Hamilton by one stroke to earn medalist honors.

Oklahoma Baptist edged Southwestern College by one stroke to win the classic, which featured NJCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division II teams. Oklahoma Baptist carded a 22-over par 306, while Southwestern College shot a 23-over par 307.

UA Fort Smith finished third with a 31-over par 315 and was four strokes ahead of fourth-place Seminole State College, which shot a 35-over par 319.

The classic was originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, but first-round play was scratched after 14 holes on Monday because of wind and cold temperatures.

McKown was one of three Lions to score a Top 20 finish. Sophomore Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., and sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith each finished tied for 12th with an 8-over par 79 and sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished tied for 26th with a 14-over par 85.

Three Lady Lions carded Top 20 scores as UA Fort Smith finished third in the women’s classic. UA Fort Smith shot a 93-over par 377 and finished 23 strokes behind classic champion Southern Nazarene University, which shot a 60-over par 344.

Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., topped off one of her best outings of the spring with a sixth-place finish. Tallon shot a 19-over par 90 to lead the UA Fort Smith contingent.

Sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., finished tied for 12th with a 23-over par 94, sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished tied for 16th with a 24-over par 95 and sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished tied for 22nd with a 27-over par 98.

And Mother Nature didn’t help much.

The final round was delayed by an hour because of rain and thunder, and then wind played havoc on the golfers the rest of the afternoon. That made for an even tougher day for the Lions, who finished last place in the 18-team field.

UA Fort Smith shot a 34-over par 322 during the final round – one stroke better than Missouri State University – but finished the mostly-NCAA Division I classic with a 104-over par 968. The Lions finished 89 strokes behind champion Lamar University, which rallied to clip host UALR by three strokes to win the title.

Hutchinson Community College, which was the only other junior college in the classic, shot a 64-over par 928 and finished 15th.

Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 17-over par 233 and finished tied for 65th to lead the Lions, who were in last place after Monday’s opening two rounds.

Freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., shot a 22-over par 238 and finished tied for 78th, sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot a 25-over par 241 and finished tied for 85th, freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot a 42-over par 258 and finished 94th and freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., shot a 44-over par 260 and finished 95th.

He had every reason.

The Lions will have a lot of work ahead of them during Tuesday’s final round as they try to move out of last place in the 18-team field. Final-round action will begin with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. at Chenal Country Club.

UA Fort Smith, which is one of only two junior colleges competing in the mostly NCAA Division I field, shot a 70-over par 646 during Monday’s opening two rounds. The Lions are 67 strokes behind host and leader UALR.

Huchinson Community College, which is the other junior college in the classic, is 15th after shooting a 38-over par 614.

UA Fort Smith freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., is tied for 64th after shooting an 11-over par 155. Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., is tied for 70th after shooting a 12-over par 156.

Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith is 85th after shooting a 17-over par 161. Freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., is 95th after shooting a 30-over par 174, and freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., is 96th after shooting a 32-over par 176.

UA Fort Smith shot a 59-over par 911 to finish 36 strokes behind champion Darton Community College, which shot a 23-over par 875.

Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 10-over par 223 and finished tied for 24th to lead the Lions contingent. Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot a 12-over par 225 and finished tied for 30th. Freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., shot a 16-over par 229 and finished tied for 41st.

Sophomore Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., and sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., each shot a 24-over par 237 to finish tied for 65th, and freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot a 25-over par 238 and finished tied for 68th.

The Lions shot a 78-over par 646 – 38 strokes behind invitational champ Lon Morris College. UA Fort Smith did finish eight strokes ahead of Region II rival Seminole State, which finished last in the eight-team field.

Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith finish tied for 20th to lead the UA Fort Smith contingent with an 18-over par 160. Freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., tied for 25th (161), sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., finished 29th (163), freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., tied for 36th (166) and sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., tied for 38th (168).

The Lady Lions shot a 147-over par 715 on their way to a fourth-place finish – 57 strokes behind invitational champ Western Texas Community College. UA Fort Smith finished eight strokes behind region rival Seminole Sate.

Sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., finished ninth with a 27-over par 169 to lead the UA Fort Smith contingent. Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., tied for 14th (176), sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished 17th (178) and sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished 23rd (192).

Athletic director Dustin Smith announced on Monday that UA Fort Smith has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Heartland Conference, a now 10-member league based in Waco, Texas.

UA Fort Smith will begin play in the Heartland Conference with the start of the 2009-10 season.

“It’s a historic day for UA Fort Smith athletics as we continue our transition to NCAA Division II status,” Smith said. “We are thankful to now have a home, and we feel the Heartland Conference fits the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department.”

UA Fort Smith, which is in its final year as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, is currently in the second year of the three-year Division II membership process.

UA Fort Smith will be a provisional Division II member next season while competing in the Heartland Conference. UA Fort Smith’s teams, however, will not be eligible to compete in postseason play until the 2010-11 season, when it becomes a full-fledged member of Division II.

“We are excited about beginning play in Division II next year and being a member of the Heartland Conference,” UA Fort Smith chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran said. “We will be playing schools that will be on par with us. … This is a great moment.”

The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

“We look forward to establishing ourselves at the Division II level, and the Heartland Conference will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our program – athletically and academically,” Smith said.

The Heartland Conference sponsors six men’s sports – cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and seven women’s sports – cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, softball and tennis.

UA Fort Smith currently competes in four men’s sports – basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and four women’s sports – volleyball, basketball, golf and tennis. Next season, it also will field men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Smith said the Heartland Conference not only is a great fit for UA Fort Smith athletically but academically as well.

Universities in the Heartland Conference offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The strength of the student-athlete concept is well supported by the many NCAA scholar-athletes in each school, the high cumulative GPA of the student-athletes in each school and the high number of student-athletes who graduate from each institution in the Heartland Conference.

“We are proud of their commitment to academics at the conference level,” Smith said. “That’s what we expect of our student-athletes.”

Smith said he is looking forward to a long relationship with the Heartland Conference.

“We are excited about being a member of the Heartland Conference and look forward to playing in the conference for many years to come,” Smith said.

Adamson shot the low score of each round during the two-day classic to help the Lions defend their tournament title with a seven-stroke win over Bi-State Conference rival Seminole State Tuesday afternoon at Hardscrabble Country Club.

The Lions, who trailed Seminole State by two strokes after the first round, fired a 42-over par 602 to beat the Trojans, who shot a 49-over par 609 on one of the most challenging courses in the region.

Adamson shot an even-par 70 during the first round and followed the spectacular round with a two-over par 72 on Tuesday to earn medalist honors. Lions freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., finished tied for third (76-74), sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., was fifth (77-76), sophomore Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., tied for ninth (79-78) and sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., tied for 22nd (81-82).

Lions freshmen Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., tied for 19th (83-78) and Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., tied for 22nd (79-84) while competing as individuals.

The Lady Lions trailed the NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech Golden Suns by four strokes after the first round but couldn’t close the gap during the final round, finishing four strokes behind the Suns.

Tech defended its classic title, shooting a 132-over par 692. UA Fort Smith shot a 136-over par 696.

Courtney Nupport of Southwestern College earned medalist honors with a 24-over par 164. Nupport shot the low score of the first round (80), while teammate Kayden Johnson shot the low score of the second round (82).

UA Fort Smith sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot a 27-over par 167 to finish tied for second overall. Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., finished seventh (86-86), sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished 10th (89-87) and sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., finished 14th (92-89).

The Lions and Lady Lions are in second place but well within striking distance of the lead after Monday’s first round at Hardscrabble Country Club. Final-round play will begin a shotgun start at 9 a.m. today.

The defending champion Lions shot a 22-over par 302 and are just two strokes behind NJCAA Region II rival Seminole State. The Lady Lions shot a 68-over par 348 and are four strokes behind NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech University, which is the defending champion.

“We’ve got a fight on our hands,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “We had an average day. We didn’t play great, but we didn’t play bad either.”

UA Fort Smith sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot an even-par 70 to lead the Lions and the field going into the second round. Freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., is tied for fifth (76), sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., is tied for seventh (77) and sophomore Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., and freshman Trent Hill are tied for 10th (79).

Sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., is tied for 16th (81) and freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., is 25th (83), and while competing as individuals for the Lions.

“Ethan Adamson had an excellent round with a 70,” Curlett said. “We have a lot of work to do, though. The spring is a new season, and we have some work to do. Seminole had a great first round for Hardscrabble.”

UA Fort Smith sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., shot an 11-over par 81 to lead the Lady Lions. She is one stroke behind leader Courtney Nupport of Southwestern College, who shot an 80. Lions freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., is tied for sixth (86), sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., is 12th (89) and sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., is tied for 15th (92).

UA Fort Smith Lions Classic

First Round Team Results

Men

Team Score

1. Seminole State College 300

2. UA Fort Smith 302

3. Harding University 315

4. Central Baptist College 331

5. University of Arkansas - Monticello 335

6. Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 337

7. Western Oklahoma State 341

8. Des Moines Area CC 348

Women

Team Score

1. Arkansas Tech University 344

2. UA Fort Smith 348

3. Southwestern College 365

4. Seminole State College 368

5. Des Moines Area CC 377

6. Western Oklahoma State College 440

7. University of Arkansas - Monticello 517

UA Fort Smith Lions Classic

First Round Individual Results

Women

Individual/School Score

1. Courtney Nupport, Southwestern College

2. Lacy Martin, UA Fort Smith 81

3. Madi Fischels, Des Moines Area CC 85

3. Kimber Quinn, Seminole State 85

3. Casey Wheeler, Arkansas Tech University 85

6. Kyla McIsaac, Arkansas Tech University 86

6. Danielle Lewis, Arkansas Tech University 86

6. Sidney Tallon, UA Fort Smith 86

6. Sam Pingel, Des Moines Area CC 86

10. Lizi Sweetnam, Seminole State 87

10. Alyssia Duvall, Arkansas Tech University 87

12. Jena Morrow, UA Fort Smith 89

13. Kayden Johnson, Southwestern College 91

13. Ana Morales, Arkansas Tech University 91

15. Johannah Hendrex, UA Fort Smith 92

15. Jennifer Alury, Western Oklahoma State 92

17. Lacie Holbert, Southwestern College 96

18. Maria Servin, Seminole State 98

18. Courtney Underhill, Seminole State 98

18. Amy Kellner, Southwestern College 98

21. Amber Smallwood, Seminole State 99

22. Jesse Krull, Des Moines Area CC 100

23. Caitlin Peterson, Des Moines Area CC 106

24. Jessica Carter, Western Oklahoma State 108

25. Amber Barmettler, Western Oklahoma State 114

26. Doni Gratham, Des Moines Area CC 115

27. Leigh Sadler, UA Monticello 116

28. Laurisa Soap, Western Oklahoma State 126

29. Rebecca Smith, UA Monticello 129

30. Kim Gibson, UA Monticello 134

31. Cayla Knapp, UA Monticello 138

Blair Koehn, Southwestern College DNF

UA Fort Smith Lions Classic

First Round Individual Results

Men

Individual/School Score

1. Ethan Adamson, UA Fort Smith 70

2. Derek Nagel, Seminole State 74

2. Clint Bailey, Seminole State 74

4. Nathan Harris, Seminole State 75

5. Matt McKown, UA Fort Smith 76

5. Devin DeBray, UA Monticello 76

7. Mariano Newton, Seminole State 77

7. Will Fogleman, UA Fort Smith 77

7. Dusty Gourley, Harding University 77

10. Brett Hubbard, UA Fort Smith 79

10. Bruce McMullin, Harding University 79

10. Dustin Richter, Harding University 79

10. Trent Hill, UA Fort Smith 79

14. Matt Hedrick, Central Baptist College 80

14. Michael Sitler, Harding University 80

16. Taylor Owens, UA Fort Smith 81

16. Camron Hurst, UA Monticello 81

16. Rick Hutchinson, Central Baptist College 81

19. Andrew Wander, Harding University 82

19. Nolan Couch, NEO 82

19. Chad Longley, NEO 82

19. Trey Lawson, Western Oklahoma State 82

19. Jake Anderson, Des Moines Area CC 82

19. Forest Carvajal, Central Baptist College 82

25. Jacob Embry, UA Fort Smith 83

26. Tanner Lowery, NEO 84

26. Brad Lorenz, Des Moines Area CC 84

28. Hayden Hughes, Seminole State 85

29. Dallas Wigington, Western Oklahoma State 86

29. Casey Williard, Western Oklahoma State 86

29. John Watkins, Western Oklahoma State 86

32. Nick Iness, Western Oklahoma State 87

32. Scott Harvey, Des Moines Area CC 87

34. Jarod Durham, Central Baptist College 88

35. Calvin Becker, NEO 89

35. Trey Halferty, Central Baptist College 89

35. Jared Dutton, UA Monticello 89

35. Matt Diffie, UA Monticello 89

39. Richard Eberle, UA Monticello 91

40. Brett King, Western Oklahoma State 94

41. Scott Montgomery, Des Moines Area CC 95

42. Nick Davidson, Des Moines Area CC 97

43. Jacob McGhee, UA Monticello 98

44. Stephen Cate, NEO 100

UA Fort Smith will look to build off that early success when the spring season begins on Monday with the annual UA Fort Smith Lions Classic at Hardscrabble Country Club. Play in the two-day tournament will begin at 9 a.m. each day with a shotgun start.

The Lions are the defending classic champions but will battle a competitive field of seven other teams from the junior college and NCAA Division II ranks – Harding University, Des Moines Area Community College, University of Arkansas - Monticello, Western Oklahoma State College, Seminole State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Central Baptist College.

UA Fort Smith won two of its three fall tournaments – the Arris’ Pizza Fall Invitational and the Bison Fall Classic – and won its only dual match, beating Bi-State Conference rival Seminole State.

The Lions are led by sophomores Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith, Ark., and Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark. Adamson was a NJCAA first team All-American a year ago, and Fogleman was a second team All-American.

Fogleman won the classic a year ago with a four-over par 144.

The Lady Lions had a solid performance in last year’s Lions Classic, finishing third in a competitive field. They will again face tough competition from six other teams in their bid to win their own classic – Southwestern College, Des Moines Area Community College, University of Arkansas - Monticello, Western Oklahoma State College, Seminole State College and Arkansas Tech University.

Arkansas Tech is the defending women’s classic champion.

UA Fort Smith won one of its three fall tournaments – the Arris’ Pizza Fall Invitational – and won its only dual match, beating conference rival Seminole State.

The Lady Lions are led by sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark. Martin became the first Lady Lion golfer to win a tournament this fall, winning the Harding Bison Classic and South Central Kansas Fall Invitational.

She also won the dual match against Seminole State College.

MONDAY’S TICKET

UA FORT SMITH LIONS CLASSIC

TIME: 9 a.m.

SITE: Hardscrabble Country Club, Fort Smith

DEFENDING TEAM CHAMPIONS: Women – Arkansas Tech University. Men – UA Fort Smith

DEFENDING INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS: Women – Blair Koehn, Southwestern College; Emma Cuttmore, Dodge City Community College. Men – Will Fogleman, UA Fort Smith.

TEAMS: Women – UA Fort Smith, Southwestern College, Des Moines Area Community College, University of Arkansas - Monticello, Western Oklahoma State College, Seminole State College and Arkansas Tech. Men – UA Fort Smith, Harding University, Des Moines Area Community College, University of Arkansas - Monticello, Western Oklahoma State College, Seminole State College, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Central Baptist College.

UA Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran received the official notification of the decision made by the President’s Council of the Gulf South Conference during Wednesday’s session of the NCAA National Convention, which is being held this week in Washington, D.C.

In making its decision, the President’s Council cited the current balance within the conference’s two divisions – eight teams in the West Division and eight teams in the East Division – as being the desired management structure that they want to maintain for the conference.

“UA Fort Smith has a strong athletic program, excellent facilities, and most importantly, dedicated and energized athletic personnel,” Beran said. “The athletic department administration and I will immediately begin to pursue other conference opportunities.”

This past July, the athletic department received approval from the NCAA Division II membership committee to proceed to the second year of the two-year exploratory phase of the three-year membership process.

UA Fort Smith is currently competing in its final season as a member of the NJCAA.

“UA Fort Smith has demonstrated full ability to be a strong member of any NCAA Division II conference,” Beran said. “We will move forward to not only join another conference of equal or greater quality and stature, but also we will move forward to show our huge capacity for being the university of choice for student athletes.”

Both UA Fort Smith teams are ranked in Golfstat.com’s NJCAA Division II Top 10 Head-To-Head rankings released earlier this week. The Lions are ranked No. 5 and the Lady Lions are No. 6 in the standings, which are a round-robin, head-to-head comparison of all teams.

The Lions won two of their three fall tournaments – the Arris’ Pizza Fall Invitational and the Bison Fall Classic – and won their only dual match, beating Bi-State Conference rival Seminole State. The Lady Lions won one of their three fall tournaments – the Arris’ Pizza Fall Invitational – and won their only dual match, beating conference rival Seminole State.

Statistically, the Lions are fourth in par 5 scoring (4.78), and sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith is third in Par 5 scoring (4.38) and tied for fifth in subpar strokes per round (4.5)

The Lady Lions are third in par 3 scoring (3.6), fifth in par 4 scoring (5.16), fourth in par 5 scoring and fifth in subpar strokes per round (0.75).

Sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., is second in par 3 scoring (3.19), tenth in par 4 scoring (4.53) and tied for sixth in par 5 scoring (5.38). Sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., is tied for eighth in par 3 scoring (3.38), and freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., is tied for sixth in par 5 scoring (5.38).

The sophomore from Harrison, Ark., shot a 3-over par 73 to lead the Lady Lions to a 26-stroke win over NJCAA Region II rival Seminole State. UA Fort Smith carded a 348, while Seminole State shot a 374.

It was Martin’s third win this fall and the Lady Lions’ second-ever win.

“To shoot 73 here at Hardscrabble for the ladies is just fantastic,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “If you shoot 73 at Hardscrabble, you’ve played a good round of golf. Lacy has really played well this fall.”

UA Fort Smith sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot an 88; freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., shot a 91; sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson shot a 96 and freshman Keshia Lowery of Cecil, Ark., shot a 128.

Sophomore Kimberly Quinn of Fulshear, Texas, led Seminole State with an 86. Sophomore Emily Kiesel of Seminole shot a 91, freshman Maria Servin of Mexico City, Mexico, shot a 97; freshman Amber Smallwood of Henryetta, Okla., shot a 100; and freshman Courtney Underhill of Henryetta shot a 104.

The Lions used a balanced team effort to beat Seminole State and earn their third win of the fall. UA Fort Smith shot a 297 – 27 strokes ahead of Seminole State.

Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith and sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson each shot a 73 to lead the Lions. Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 74, and Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., and freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., each carded a 77.

Lions sophomore Brett Hubbard of Alma, Ark., and freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., competed as individuals and shot a 77 and a 79, respectively.

“It was a team effort, and that’s what we’ll have to have in the spring,” Curlett said. “We’ll need everyone to do their part in scoring.”

Seminole State’s Luke Morgan of Muldrow, Okla., shot an even-par 70 to win medalist honors. Clint Burley of Stillwater, Okla., shot an 83; Derek Nagel of Mansfield, Texas, shot an 84; Jon Balmain of Westville, Okla., shot an 87; and Nathan Harris of Vian, Okla., shot an 88.

JUNIOR COLLEGE GOLF

WOMEN

UA FORT SMITH DEF. SEMINOLE STATE, 348-374

UA Fort Smith 348

Lacy Martin 73

Jena Morrow 88

Sidney Tallon 91

Johannah Hendrex 96

Keshia Lowrey 128

Seminole State 374

Kimberly Quinn 86

Emily Kiesel 91

Maria Servin 97

Amber Smallwood 100

Courtney Underhill 104

WOMEN

UA FORT SMITH DEF. SEMINOLE STATE, 348-374

UA Fort Smith 297

Ethan Adamson 73

Taylor Owens 73

Will Fogleman 74

Matt McKown 77

Jacob Embry 77

Individuals

Brett Hubbard 77

Trent Hill 79

Seminole State 324

Luke Morgan 70

Clint Bailey 83

Derek Nagel 84

Jon Balmain 87

Nathan Harris 88

Martin won a three-hole, sudden-death playoff on Tuesday afternoon to win the South Central Kansas Fall Invitational at Winfield Country Club in Winfield, Kan.

The sophomore from Harrison, Ark., shot 21-over par 165 to finish tied for first place, but she birdied the third and final playoff hole to capture medalist honors.

It is the second-consecutive tournament win for Martin, who last week became the first UA Fort Smith Lady Lion to win a tournament.

Martin’s strong two-day performance – she shot rounds of 81 and 84 – helped the Lady Lions shoot 709 (368-341) and finish second in the invitational. Host Southwestern College won the tournament.

Along with Martin, freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., shot 173 (92-81), sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot 183 (100-83), sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson shot 188 (95-93) and freshman Keshia Lowery of Cecil, Ark., shot 225 (115-110).

Sophomore Ethan Adamson, who won last week’s Harding University Bison Classic, shot a 4-over par 148 (76-72) to finish runner-up in the men’s division. Adamson, who’s from Fort Smith, helped the Lions shoot 618 (309-309) and finish runner-up. Southwestern College won the tournament.

Along with Adamson, freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., shot 153 (78-75), sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot 157 (76-81), sophomore Taylor Owens of Muskogee, Okla., shot 160 (79-81) and freshman Jacob Embry shot 175 (82-93).

UA Fort Smith will finish its fall schedule on Oct. 8 when it hosts NJCAA Region II rival Seminole State College in a match at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith.

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lady Lions and Lions golf teams each beat out a field of mostly four-year teams on Tuesday to win their respective championships in the Harding University Bison Classic at Stone Links Golf Course in Little Rock, Ark.

The Lady Lions shot a 642 over the two-day tournament to edge host NCAA Division II Harding University.

It was the first tournament win in the four-year history of the women’s program, and sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., became the first Lady Lion ever to win a golf tournament. Martin shot a 9-over par 153 to lead the Lady Lions’ contingent.

Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., carded a 14-over par 158, sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 22-over par 166, sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., carded a 23-over par 167 and freshman Keshia Lowrey of Cecil, Ark., shot a 60-over par 204.

“That was the first tournament win ever for the women’s program,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “They’ve really been working hard, and I’m really proud of them.”

It was the first time, obviously, that the Lions and Lady Lions have swept a tournament. The Lions shot a 1-over par 577 to edge out Harding University.

It also was the first time UA Fort Smith has swept medalist honors. Sophomore first-team All-American Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot a 3-under par 144 to win his third collegiate tournament.

Sophomore second-team All-American Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot an even-par 144, freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot an even-par 144, freshman Trent Hill of Fayetteville, Ark., shot a 5-over par 149 and freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., carded a 9-over par 153.

“The guys played a great round of golf on the second day, and they won another tournament,” Curlett said.

The Lions and Lady Lions are atop their respective leader boards after Monday’s first round of the Harding University Bison Classic at Stonelinks Golf Course in Little Rock, Ark.

The Lady Lions will carry a comfy 10-stroke lead into the second round of play on Tuesday, while the Lions will carry a slim two-stroke advantage into the final round.

“Both of them are leading after the first day, and I’m real pleased with that,” Curlett said. “The ladies have played great, and the guys have played well. But, we can do better.”

UA Fort Smith is competing against a field made up mostly of four-year programs like Southern Arkansas, Lyon College, Hendrix College, Central Baptist College and Harding.

UA Fort Smith shot a tournament-record 12-under par 564 to win the William Woods University/Arris Pizza Fall Invitational on Tuesday afternoon at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo.

The Lions finished Monday’s first round two-strokes behind NCAA Division II University of Central Missouri but rallied during the second round to eclipse the Mules by one stroke.

“That’s a great start to the season,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “That was just fantastic golf. It was a total team effort, and all the guys shot great rounds.”

Freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., led the Lions with a second-place overall finish. McKown carded a 140 with rounds of 69 and 71.

“Matt shot two great rounds,” Curlett said.

Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., finished fourth overall after shooting a 141 with rounds of 71 and 70. Sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith rallied from a tough first round to finish fifth after shooting a 142 with rounds of 74 and 68. Freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., shot a 146 with rounds of 72 and 74, and sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 147 with rounds of 69 and 78.

The Lady Lions were in third place after Monday’s first round and kept pace during the second round, finishing third with an 891. William Woods won the women’s invitational.

Lady Lions sophomore Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., finished sixth overall with a 157, shooting rounds of 79 and 78. Sophomore Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 161 with rounds of 79 and 82, freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., fired a 175 with rounds of 92 and 83, sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 187 with rounds of 98 and 89 and freshman Keshia Lowrey of Cecil, Ark., carded a 211 with rounds of 109 and 102.

“The ladies played great,” Curlett said.

UA Fort Smith shot a 7-under par 281 and will enter Tuesday’s final round only two strokes behind first-round leader Central Missouri University.

“I’m really proud of the guys. That was a good round of golf,” UA Fort Smith coach Mark Curlett said. “Our guys were solid all the way through.”

Sophomore Taylor Owens of Fort Gibson, Okla., and freshman Matt McKown of Van Buren, Ark., each shot a 69 to lead the Lions’ contingent. Sophomore Will Fogleman of Marion, Ark., shot a 71, freshman Jacob Embry of Huntsville, Ark., carded a 72 and sophomore Ethan Adamson of Fort Smith shot a 74.

The Lady Lions are in third place going into the second round of the invitational after firing a 59-over par 347. Sophomores Lacy Martin of Harrison, Ark., and Johannah Hendrex of Fort Gibson, Okla., each shot 79 to lead the Lady Lions. Freshman Sidney Tallon of Muskogee, Okla., shot a 92, sophomore Jena Morrow of Fort Gibson, Okla., shot a 97 and freshman Keshia Lowrey of Cecil, Ark., fired a 109.

“Johannah and Lacy shot two fine rounds of golf,” Curlett said.

Harpenau and Co. signed six players this week during the early signing period, including highly-sought after junior college pitching prospects Aaron Kleekamp from Jefferson College, Randolph Reel from Northeast Texas Community College and Sam Meloy from Connors State College.

“We are extremely excited about this class, especially since it is our first true NCAA Division II recruiting class,” said Harpenau, whose Lions are provisional members of D-II this season and members of the Heartland Conference. “We feel like we were able to satisfy some needs on the pitching staff. We feel like we have signed some players who will have an immediate impact on our program.”

Kleekamp, a 5-foot-11 right-hander from Washington, Mo., was 6-1 as a freshman and earned first team All-Conference and first team All-Region honors. He chose UA Fort Smith over D-II Central Missouri State University and Delta State University.

Reel, a 6-3 right-hander from Dangerfield, Texas, was 3-4 with two saves in 11 games last season while playing for NAIA Jarvis Christian College. He compiled a 6.62 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 66 2/3 innings. Reel, who transferred to Northeast Texas for his sophomore season, chose UA Fort Smith over D-II Southern Arkansas University.

Meloy, a 6-4 right-hander from Houston, Texas, was 8-0 in 14 appearances last spring with a 2.55 ERA, 64 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 42 1/3 innings. He chose UA Fort Smith over NCAA Division I Oral Roberts University.

The Lions also signed local pitching prospects Brennan Rogers, a 6-2 right-hander from Greenwood (Ark.) High School, and Blake Brodie, a 6-3 right-hander from Fort Smith Northside High School, as well as Jonathan Rogers, a 6-0 catcher from Hot Springs (Ark.) Lakeside High School.

“These guys we have signed will help us build a solid foundation as we move forward and grow as a Division II program,” Harpenau said.

UA Fort Smith’s SAAC will conduct its “Bundle Up Fort Smith” community service project on Nov. 17 when the UA Fort Smith men’s basketball team hosts the University of the Ozarks Eagles in its season opener at 7 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

Fans are encouraged to bring a coat, a pair of shoes or both with them to the game, and members of SAAC will be on hand to collect these clothing items at both entrances of the Stubblefield Center.

The clothing items collected will go to help those in need to stay warm this winter.

“With the winter season approaching, some people don’t have coats or jackets to stay warm or shoes to keep their feet warm,” said UA Fort Smith director of athletic compliance Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to do something to help those in need in our community and help improve their quality of life.”

This project is a part of SAAC’s on-going community service project aimed at assisting those in need in the Fort Smith area. Earlier this month, SAAC members participated in a canned food drive to collect food for Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families in Fort Smith. The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

Fifty-two students and student-athletes went door-to-door throughout Fort Smith neighborhoods on Saturday collecting canned food items for Thanksgiving food baskets they will prepare for needy families.

“One of the guys who was in my group was like ‘I feel really good that I used a Saturday to help people,’” said UA Fort Smith tennis player Cameron Terrell, who helped organize the food drive. “It was cool. That was pretty much the common sentiment among everybody. They were excited to be there and really glad they could help.”

The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations. Terrell, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., said the group was really excited about the response.

“Most of the people who were home were really excited about helping us,” Terrell said. “They were glad they could give, too. They were glad we included them in the giving process.”

Initially, Terrell said the group had hoped to collect enough food to make baskets for 40 families but because of the overwhelming outpouring of support from the community that they now hope to make baskets for 60-75 families.

The group is working with the Community Clearinghouse, which will provide them with a list of needy families. They expect to make their food basket deliveries the week before the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We had a lot of help from Caring for the Northside and Sebastian Commons,” Terrell said. “Sebastian Commons provided us pizza, and Caring for the Northside provided the T-shirts and the transportation, which we really needed.”

The door-to-door food drive also was a community service project adopted by the UA Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

Student-athletes representing men’s and women’s tennis and baseball participated in the food drive.

“A huge part of SAAC is community service, and it was great to see our student-athletes jump on this opportunity to help a large number of people in our community,” said UA Fort Smith compliance director Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “Too often athletes are criticized for only wanting to do things for themselves, and it’s exciting that our athletes want to help others and be a positive influence in their community.”

UA Fort Smith SAAC members, along with members of Caring for the Northside, will be collecting canned food for Thanksgiving meals for those in need in Fort Smith.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

SAAC also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

The former University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lion and Arkansas Razorback centerfielder was called up by the Texas Rangers on Monday night after a stellar season with the Frisco Roughriders, which is the Rangers’ AA affiliate.

“I just don’t know what to think,” Gentry told MLB.com. “It feels like a dream. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I had no idea. I thought we had a chance to make the Double-A playoffs, or I’d be going home. I’ve worked hard and put in a lot of time. To have it pay off is a good feeling.”

A Van Buren, Ark., native, Gentry was a multi-sport athlete at Fort Smith Christian School before signing with UA Fort Smith, where he roamed the outfield for two seasons. Gentry later signed with the University of Arkansas and played two seasons before being drafted by Texas in the 10th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Gentry batted .303 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs at Frisco this season. He led the Texas League with 49 steals and was second in the league with 100 runs scored.

“He was impressive in Spring Training, and he’s had a heckuva year at Frisco,” Rangers manager Ron Washington told MLB.com. “He’s opened some eyes. He can run. You think (Rangers outfielder Julio) Borbon can run — this guy can run too.”

Considering the Rangers already have a crowded outfield with the likes of Josh Hamilton, David Murphy, Borbon and Nelson Cruz, Gentry’s role is expected to be as a pinch runner or a defensive replacement.

“He’s got a number of guys ahead of him,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told MLB.com. “He brings some things to the table to make him a good fit, but it’s not about next year. It’s about helping us now.”

Prior to Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Rangers were 4 ½ games behind the American League West Division leader Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and 3 ½ games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wildcard race.

The NCAA has granted UA Fort Smith provisional Division II membership status beginning with the upcoming academic year. UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith received official notification from the NCAA during a conference call on Thursday afternoon.

“A lot of work has gone into getting to this point. By no means is it over, but it is a huge step in the right direction and a positive movement for the institution and the athletic department,” Smith said. “A lot of worries have ended with this decision. We are one step closer to the prize, and that prize is active membership in Division II.”

As a provisional member, UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level this upcoming season, but its teams will not be eligible to compete for conference or region championships or participate in postseason play.

Once the provisional year is completed, UA Fort Smith will be eligible for full active membership. That decision will be made by the NCAA in July 2010. Smith said he expects UA Fort Smith to be granted full active membership at that time.

“In the whole process if (the NCAA) doesn’t feel that you have done what you are supposed to do, you repeat the year that you are on,” Smith explained. “I can’t ever say that (full active membership) is a done deal, but hopefully a year from this time, we can say that it’s a done deal and that we are an active Division II school.

“We have the pieces in place, and I would not foresee them saying that we would have to repeat the third year (the provisional year).”

UA Fort Smith announced its intentions to leave the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and pursue NCAA Division II membership prior to the start of the 2007-08 season.

UA Fort Smith completed the first year of the two-year exploratory phase required for Division II membership and was given approval by the NCAA on July 24, 2008, to move to the second year of the membership process for the 2008-09 academic year.

Two members representing the NCAA membership committee conducted a two-day, on-site visit at UA Fort Smith this past April, during which time they toured the campus and the athletic facilities and interviewed administrators, faculty and staff about the university’s academic and athletic policies and procedures.

Their favorable report – as well as UA Fort Smith’s work throughout the early stages of the membership process – was instrumental in the committee granting the university provisional membership status.

“My goal in this whole process was to do as much as we could on the front end to look and present ourselves as a Division II school,” Smith said. “We looked at a lot of institutions both in the state and in the region to give us some guidance and to set a standard for us to follow.

“My whole philosophy was that ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Obviously, there are schools around us who have been successful as Division II schools. We wanted to implement some of the things they do, and (UA Fort Smith Chancellor) Dr. (Paul) Beran has given us great guidance in doing that and has been very supportive of that. I think the (membership) committee was pleased with what we have done.”

This past spring, UA Fort Smith accepted an invitation to join the Heartland Conference and will begin competition in the league beginning this fall. The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

Freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., was named to the team as a designated hitter and was named Freshman of the Year, and freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., was named to the team as a relief pitcher. Sophomore Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was named honorable mention as an outfielder.

Barnes played in 48 games and batted a team-high .400 with 12 doubles, three triples, a team-high 11 home runs and a team-high 55 RBIs. He also stole five bases. Vaughn was 6-2 with a team-high seven saves in a team-high 27 appearances. He compiled a 2.87 ERA during 47 innings of work, struck out 56 and walked 32.

Winiecki, who played in only 25 games after suffering a season-ending injury, batted .366 with two doubles and eight RBIs. He also had 19 stolen bases.

UA Fort Smith finished 43-15 overall and 13-9 in the Bi-State Conference in its final season as a member of NJCAA. The Lions will compete at the NCAA Division II level beginning this season and will be a member of the Heartland Conference.

The Red Sox selected Sallis, who will be a junior this season, in the 47th round with the 1,428th overall pick. He was the only current UA Fort Smith player to be drafted during the 50-round, three-day affair.

Sallis, who is from Muskogee, Okla., is a two-year starter for the Lions. The speedy 5-foot-8 infielder played in 46 of the Lions’ 58 games this past spring and batted .280 (42 for 150) with 10 doubles, one home run and 23 RBIs.

Sallis drew a team-high 37 walks and, most importantly, had a team-high 38 stolen bases in 42 attempts. He was honorable mention All-Region.

As a freshman, Sallis played in 50 games and batted .367 (65 for 177) with five doubles, three triples and one home run and 27 RBIs. He was second on the team with 27 steals in 32 attempts.

Sallis said he has made no official decision about his future, but he said that he “probably” will sign with the Red Sox.

“This is pretty nice,” Sallis said. “This is what I always wanted to do.”

Sallis said he expects to make an official decision within the next two weeks. If he does sign with the Red Sox, Sallis will either report to Florida for workouts or report to Boston’s short season Class A minor league affiliate – the Lowell (Mass.) Spinners.

“It’s a club with a winning tradition,” said Sallis of the Red Sox. “That’s the main thing. They are trying to win games.”

UA Fort Smith coach Dale Harpenau said getting drafted by the Red Sox presents a good opportunity for Sallis.

“There’s no question that Jordan will go out and do well for himself and represent himself and the UA Fort Smith program well as a professional,” Harpenau said. “His defensive skill set is good, and he’s got good hands. He’s got a good knowledge of the game, and he has good base-running ability.”

Former Lions pitcher and current University of Arkansas - Little Rock pitcher Jake Sullivan was drafted on Wednesday by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 22nd round with the 679th overall pick.

Sullivan, a 6-5 left-hander, only played one season at UA Fort Smith (2007). The rising senior, who is a Little Rock Central High School graduate, was 5-5 with a 5.82 ERA and struck out 70 during 77 1/3 innings.

It was the second consecutive loss for the Lions (43-15), who were run-ruled 17-7 by Northeastern Oklahoma A&M during Thursday’s first round. UA Fort Smith, which was ranked No. 13 in the final regular-season NJCAA regular-season poll, was the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

A season’s-worth of wear and tear on a pitching staff that was limited because of injuries and an offensive lineup that was without a few key bats down the stretch finally took its toll on the Lions, who lost six of their last eight games.

Connors starter Josh Eidt kept the Lions off-balance for eight innings, allowing no runs on six hits, walking four and striking out 11 in earning the victory. Reliever Samuel Meloy allowed both runs on hit, walked one and struck out one in the ninth inning.

UA Fort Smith couldn’t muster the big hit when it needed and left 11 runners stranded, including six in scoring position and the bases loaded once. Six Lions had at least one hit, but only first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., had multiple hits, going 2 for 5 with two RBIs.

Lions starter Jordan Pratt was solid throughout with the exception of two rough innings when the sophomore struggled to end the inning after getting two outs. Connors State scored three runs with two outs in the fourth inning and three runs with two outs in the seventh inning.

Pratt (5-4) allowed five earned runs on 10 hits, walked three and struck out two in seven complete innings.

Freshman Trent Daniel of Bryant, Ark., got just one out in a brief relief appearance in the eighth, allowing two unearned runs before giving way to freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., who ended the Cowboys’ threat.

Connors State third baseman Josh Castaldo was 3 for 3 with one RBI, second baseman James Kottaras was 2 for 4 and designated hitter Peter Bako was 1 for 5 with two RBIs to highlight the Cowboys’ 11-hit performance.

CONNORS STATE 8, UA FORT SMITH 2

UA Fort Smith 000 000 002 — 2 7 2

Connors State 000 300 32X — 8 11 1

Pratt, Daniel (8), Vaughn (8) and Rawls; Eidt, Meloy (9) and Shankle. W – Eidt. L – Pratt, 5-4. HRs – None.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M scored in all but one inning and pounded out 15 hits as the No. 5 Golden Norsemen run-ruled the No. 2 Lions 17-7 in seven innings at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium.

UA Fort Smith (43-14), which lost to NEO for only the second time in five tries this season, will play No. 1 seed Connors State at noon on Friday in an elimination game.

Connors State was run-ruled 22-8 by No. 6 seed Rose State in Thursday's last game. It was Rose State's first win against a conference opponent this season, snapping an 0-20 streak.

The Golden Norsemen and the Lions were locked in a back-and-forth slugfest until NEO broke the game open for good in the sixth inning.

Ahead 10-7, the Golden Norsemen erupted for six runs in the decisive inning. Third baseman Sean Mattson belted a three-run double to ignite the outburst, and the Golden Norsemen took advantage of the second of two Lions’ errors in the inning and tacked on three more runs – two of which were unearned.

The Lions never recovered and were shut out the final two frames by Golden Norsemen middle reliever Taylor Ferguson and closer Cameron Mann.

NEO added another run on a solo home run by Mattson in the top of the seventh off Lions reliever Daniel McKinney – the last of three Lions pitchers – to give the Golden Norseman a 10-run lead.

Of the Golden Norsemen’s 15 hits, five were for extra bases and three were home runs. Mattson was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a home run, left fielder Trevor Bowden was 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run, Mann was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a home run and centerfielder Josh Botts was 3 for 4 with one RBI.

Lions starter Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., suffered the loss. The sophomore, who slipped to 7-3, allowed 10 runs – eight earned – on nine hits, walked four and struck out two before giving way to reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., with no outs in the fifth.

UA Fort Smith, which never led, peppered three Golden Norsemen pitchers with nine hits, including seven for extra bases. Freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a home run and sophomore centerfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 2 for 3.

Golden Norsemen starter Dan Reid, who lost 3-1 to the Lions in the opening game of the four-game, regular-season conference series, allowed seven runs – six earned – on seven hits, walked five and struck out one in 4 1/3 innings.

Reid, who earned a no-decision, gave way to Ferguson in the fifth inning. Ferguson earned the win in 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing no runs on one hit, walking one and striking out one.

NO. 5 NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M 17, NO. 2 UA FORT SMITH 7

NEO 023 236 1 — 17 15 2

UA Fort Smith 022 120 0 — 7 9 3

Reid, Ferguson (5), Mann (7) and Paz; Fuller, Babcock (5), McKinney (6) and Meyer, Rawls (7). W – Ferguson. L – Fuller, 7-3. HRs – NEO, Mann, Bowden, Mattson; UA Fort Smith, Barnes (11).

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

Thursday-Sunday

At Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium, Bartlesville, Okla.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 3 Seminole State 13, No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State 5

Game 2: No. 5 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 17, No. 2 UA Fort Smith 7

Game 3: No. 6 Rose State 22, No. 1 Connors State 8

Friday

Game 4: No. 2 UA Fort Smith vs. No. 1 Connors State, Noon

Game 5: No. 3 Seminole State vs. No. 5 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 3:30 p.m.

Game 6: No. 6 Rose State vs. No. 4 Eastern Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, Noon

Game 8: Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 3:30 p.m.

Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 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 Game 6.

Sophomore pitcher Colin Fuller and freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes were each named first team All-Region. Sophomore first baseman Clay Washington and freshmen pitchers Derek Vaughn and Trent Daniel were named second team All-Region.

Sophomore second baseman Jordan Sallis, freshman third baseman Cameron Young, sophomore outfielders Joey Winiecki, Drew Sullivan and Adam Robertson and sophomore pitcher Chase Huchingson were named honorable mention All-Region.

Fuller, who’s from Cabot, Ark., made 15 appearances and posted a 7-2 win-loss record with three saves. Fuller, who compiled a 5.27 ERA, led the team in wins, was tied for second in saves, was second in strikeouts (75) and was first in innings pitched (71 2/3).

Barnes, who’s from Yukon, Okla., played in 46 games, batted a team-high .399 and led the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (52). He was second in doubles (11) and tied for second in triples (3).

Washington, who’s from Little Rock, Ark., played in 55 games and batted .337. He was second on the team in home runs (9), third in doubles (10) and tied for first in triples (6). He also was third in steals (18).

He also was named NJCAA Division I Player of the Week.

Vaughn, who’s from Edmond, Okla., made 26 appearances, including two starts, and posted a 6-2 win-loss record with seven saves. Vaughn, who compiled a 2.91 ERA, led the team in saves, was second in wins and tied for third in strikeouts (55).

He also was named NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Week.

Daniel, who’s from Bryant, Ark., made 13 appearances and posted a 6-2 win-loss record. Daniel, who compiled a 5.72 ERA, led the team in strikeouts (80), tied for second in wins and was third in innings pitched (61 1/3).

Sallis, who is from Muskogee, Okla., played in 44 games and batted .283. He led the team in stolen bases (36) and was tied for fourth in doubles (9). Young, who is from Fort Smith, played in 52 games, was fourth on the team in batting average (.355) and led the team in hit-by-pitches (13).

Winiecki, who’s from Bryant, Ark., only played in 25 games after his season was cut short because of injury but was third on the team in batting average (.366) and second in steals (19). Sullivan, who’s from Maumelle, Ark., played in 49 games, batted .342 and was second in home runs (7). Robertson, who’s from Searcy, Ark., played in 46 games, batted .353 and led the team in doubles (14).

Huchingson, who’s from Fayetteville, Ark., played double-duty for the Lions as left fielder and pitcher. Huchingson, who compiled a 2.84 ERA, made 12 appearances and posted a 5-1 win-loss record. He was tied for third on the team in wins (5), fourth in strikeouts (51) and fourth in innings pitched (50 2/3).

He played in 38 total games, was second in batting average (.371) and tied for first in triples (6).

The No. 2 seed Diamond Lions begin their quest for their last NJCAA Region II tournament title at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon against No. 5 seed Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in Bartlesville, Okla.

It will be the second of three first-round games on Thursday. No. 3 seed Seminole State College will play No. 4 seed Eastern Oklahoma State College at noon, and No. 1 seed Connors State College will play No. 6 seed Rose State College at 7 p.m.

Tournament play will continue through Sunday afternoon with the championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. Only the tournament champion will advance to the South Central District tournament, which begins May 15 at the site of the Region XVI winner.

It will be the fifth encounter of the season between UA Fort Smith and NEO and the first on a neutral site.

The Lions won the four-game, regular-season conference series against the Golden Norsemen 3-1. UA Fort Smith swept NEO on the road and split with Golden Norsemen at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith posted wins of 3-1 and 10-2 at NEO and lost 11-5 and won 16-6 at Crowder Field.

The Lions enter the tournament coming off their only conference series loss of the season. Eastern Oklahoma State, which finished fourth in the conference, took the series 3-1 with wins of 15-2, 18-10 and 22-17 and a 5-2 loss.

UA Fort Smith is batting .326 as a team with nine players batting .300 or better. Freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., leads the team in average (.399), home runs (10) and RBIs (52).

Sophomore right fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., leads the team in doubles (14), and sophomore first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., and freshman left fielder Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., lead the team in triples (6).

Seven Lions pitchers have five wins or more. Sophomore Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., leads the team in wins (7), complete games (3) and innings pitched (71 2/3). Freshman reliever Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., is tied for the team lead in appearances (26), is tied for second in wins (6) and leads the team in saves (7).

The Norsemen enter the tournament coming off a pair of losses to regular-season champion Connors State College – the four-game series was cut to two games because of inclement weather.

NEO won only one conference series, sweeping Rose State. Along with Connors State, the Golden Norsemen lost series to UA Fort Smith (3-1), Seminole State (3-1) and Eastern Oklahoma State (3-1).

The Golden Norsemen are batting .341 as a team with 14 players batting .300 or better. Sophomore shortstop/outfielder Wesley Starkes leads the team in average (.389) among starters. Sophomore centerfielder Josh Botts leads the team in doubles (20), home runs (11) and RBIs (53) and is tied for the lead in triples (3).

Only two Golden Norsemen pitchers have four wins or more. Freshman Trevor Bowden leads the team in wins (5), sophomore Dan Reid leads the team in innings pitches (61) and freshman Cameron Mann leads the team in saves (4).

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

Thursday-Sunday

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 UA Fort Smith vs. No. 5 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 3:30 p.m.

Game 3: No. 1 Connors State 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 6 vs. Winner Game 5, Noon

Game 8: Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 3:30 p.m.

Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 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 Game 6.

WILBURTON, Okla. – When you’re playing the Eastern Oklahoma State College Mountaineers, no lead is safe.

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions will attest to that.

Two days after squandering a 7-0 lead against the Mountaineers in an 18-10 loss, the No. 13 Lions gave up a 12-1 lead to the Mountaineers, who rallied Sunday afternoon for an improbable 22-17 win to clinch the Bi-State Conference series.

UA Fort Smith (43-13) finished 13-7 in conference play after losing its only league series of the season and will be the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA Region II tournament, which begins on Thursday at Bill Doenges Memorial Stadium in Bartlesville, Okla.

Eastern Oklahoma (30-23) finished 12-8 in conference play and will be the No. 3 seed in the region tournament.

Two big innings provided the spark the Mountaineers needed to overcome their 11-run deficit.

Eastern Shortstop Jesse Santo crushed a two-out, grand slam off Lions starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., as part of a five-run fourth inning that got Eastern within 12-6. Two costly two-out errors kept the fifth inning alive for the Mountaineers, and first baseman Stephen Hagen made the Lions pay with a grand slam off reliever Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., to top off another five-run outburst.

The Mountaineers tied the game at 16 runs apiece in the sixth inning with their third-consecutive, five-run explosion with Hagen driving in the tying runs with a two-run single.

Santo was 3 for 5 with five RBIs, and Hagen was 3 for 6 with six RBIs. The duo accounted for half of the Mountaineers runs and six of their 17 hits.

UA Fort Smith regained the lead in the seventh inning with a pair of unearned runs on a ground out by sophomore right fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., and a two-out single by sophomore left fielder Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark.

Robertson was 2 for 5 with three RBIs, Huchingson was 6 for 6 with four RBIs, sophomore designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 4 for 6 with three RBIs, sophomore shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and freshman third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

UA Fort Smith had 19 hits total but left 12 runners stranded.

Eastern regained the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning, tying the game on a one-out home run by centerfielder Tommie Johnson off Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., and a RBI fielder’s choice by second baseman Bryce Killingsworth.

Babcock (6-1), who was the fourth of five Lions hurlers, allowed two earned runs on three hits and walked one in suffering the loss in just 2/3 innings of relief.

Eastern added four insurance runs off Lions freshman closer Derek Vaughn in the eighth inning to polish off the Mountaineers’ second-consecutive come-from-behind win.

Mountaineers reliever Jeff Scardino, who was the last of seven Eastern pitchers, earned the win, allowing no runs on one hit, walking one and striking out two in 2 1/3 innings.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 22, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 17

UA Fort Smith 532 213 100 — 17 19 3

Eastern 001 555 24X — 22 17 4

Pratt, McKinney (5), Bogard (6), Babcock (6), Vaughn (7) and Meyer; Knight, Vann (1), Burke (2), Brawner (3), Ellison (5), Watson (6), Scardino (7) and White, Spring (8). W – Scardino. L – Babcock, 6-1. HRs – Eastern, Hagen (28), Santo.

UA Fort Smith, which clinched second place in the league with the first win, couldn’t complete the doubleheader sweep, losing the second game 18-10. The Lions (43-12, 13-6) will look to force a split in the four-game series on Saturday when they play the Mountaineers (29-23, 11-8) at 2 p.m. in Wilburton, Okla., weather permitting.

The Lions collected five hits off Mountaineers starter Zack Garling, who suffered the complete-game loss. Meyer, a catcher from Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 3 with a double, and Huchingson, a left fielder from Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 2.

Garling allowed three earned runs, walked two and struck out two.

Lions starter Colin Fuller shook off a sluggish start to earn the complete game win. Fuller (7-2), who’s from Cabot, Ark., allowed two earned runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out five.

Designated hitter Stephen Hagen, who has committed to Texas Tech, was 2 for 4 with a double, first baseman Cameron Green was 2 for 3 with one RBI and shortstop Jesse Santo was 1 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Mountaineers, who left nine runners stranded.

Eastern Oklahoma State 18, UA Fort Smith 10

GAME TWO – The Mountaineers rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to beat the Lions in a slugfest and take the series lead.

Eastern Oklahoma tied the game at 10 runs apiece on a solo home run by right fielder Justin Klusak off Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark. The Mountaineers then broke the game open with four unearned runs off reliever Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., to top off the five-run, 10-batter surge.

Vaughn (6-2) suffered the loss, allowing the four unearned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out two in two innings of relief.

UA Fort Smith never recovered, and Eastern added four more runs off reliever Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., in the ninth inning to pad the final margin.

The Lions allowed a season-high 20 hits with seven Mountaineers collecting multiple hits and five driving in multiple runs. The Mountaineers also had eight extra-base hits. Catcher Brady White was 2 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs, third baseman Casey McCollum was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, Klusak was 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs and left fielder Houston Slemp was 1 for 4 with a home run.

UA Fort Smith tagged three of the four Eastern hurlers with 15 hits, including five for extra bases. Freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., was 4 for 5 with two RBIs and a home run, sophomore centerfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 3 for 5 with two RBIs and a home run and left fielder Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., was 3 for 4 with one RBI.

Mountaineers middle reliever Seth Terry earned the win in 2 2/3 innings of work. He allowed no runs on three hits, walked one and struck out two.

GAME ONE

NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 5, EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 2

Eastern 100 001 0 — 2 9 2

UA Fort Smith 001 202 X — 5 5 1

Garling and White; Fuller and Meyer. W – Fuller, 7-2. L – Garling. HRs – None.

GAME TWO EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 18, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 10

Eastern 000 342 504 — 18 20 1

UA Fort Smith 313 120 000 — 10 15 2

Parcells, Watson (3), Terry (6), Scardino (8) and Spring, White (7); Daniel, Babcock (5), Vaughn (7), Bogard (9) and Rawls, Meyer (7). W – Terry. L – Vaughn, 6-2. HRs – Eastern, Klusak, White, Slemp; UA Fort Smith, Barnes (10), Sullivan (7).

Eastern Oklahoma State College drenched two Lions hurlers with 11 hits and took advantage of seven errors en route to a 15-2 run-rule win against No. 13 UA Fort Smith here in the opening game of the four-game Bi-State Conference baseball series.

UA Fort Smith (42-11, 12-5) will resume the series with Eastern Oklahoma State (28-22, 10-7), weather permitting, at 2 p.m. on Friday with a doubleheader at Crowder Field.

Mountaineers first baseman Stephen Hagen and third baseman Casey McCollum did the most damage offensively, accounting for five of Eastern’s hits and 10 of its 15 runs.

Hagen crushed his 26th home run – a three-run shot – as part of the Mountaineers’ seven-run, first-inning outburst against Lions starter Chase Huchingson and belted his 27th – another three-run shot – during Eastern’s four-run, fifth-inning charge against Lions reliever Daniel McKinney.

Hagen was 2 for 4 with six RBIs, and McCollum was 3 for 4 with a double and four RBIs.

Huchingson (5-1), a sophomore from Fayetteville, Ark., allowed 10 runs – five earned – on just four hits, walked three and struck out three in a brief 2 2/3 innings. McKinney, a freshman from Spiro, Okla., allowed five runs – all earned – on seven hits and struck out one.

The Lions tied a season-high for errors. UA Fort Smith also committed seven errors against Seminole State on April 23 but rallied to win 11-8.

UA Fort Smith had eight hits but left seven runners stranded. The Lions’ only offense came on a first-inning, sacrifice fly by freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., that drove in sophomore shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., and a solo home run by sophomore catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., in the second inning.

Only three Lions had multiple hits. Sophomore left fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark.; freshman third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith; and sophomore centerfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., were each 2 for 3.

Mountaineers reliever Jimmy Johnson, who relieved starter Jared Coon after three innings, earned the win, allowing no runs on three hits, walking one and striking out two in four innings.

EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE 15, NO. 13 UA FORT SMITH 2

UA Fort Smith 110 000 0 — 2 8 7

Eastern Oklahoma 712 140 X — 15 11 0

Huchingson, McKinney (3) and Meyer; Coon, Johnson (4) and White. W – Johnson. L – Huchingson, 5-1. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Meyer (4); Eastern Oklahoma, Hagen (26, 27)

Vaughn, a 6-foot freshman from Edmond, Okla., was named NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Week. The right-handed reliever compiled a 3-0 record with two saves during 6 2/3 innings of work.

He appeared in each of the Lions’ six games last week and allowed only one run on seven hits, walked one and struck out 13.

Vaughn is 6-1 overall with a team-high seven saves and a 2.32 ERA over 42 2/3 innings. He is tied for most appearances (24) and is fourth in strikeouts (50).

Washington, a 6-foot sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., was named NJCAA Division I Player of the Week. The first baseman batted .360 with two doubles, two triples and three home runs during the six-game stretch.

He also walked twice and drove in seven runs as the No. 13 Lions went 5-1 to maintain a share of the Bi-State Conference lead with No. 12 Connors State College.

Washington is batting .347 and is tied for the lead in home runs (9) and triples (6).

UA Fort Smith will play Eastern Oklahoma State in one nine-inning game beginning at 3 p.m. at Wilburton, Okla.

After Wednesday’s rainout, UA Fort Smith was going to host Eastern Oklahoma State in a doubleheader today at Crowder Field, but the format and site were changed early this morning. The format, site and times for the remaining three games of the series have yet to be determined and will depend on the weather.

Seminole State beat No. 17 UA Fort Smith 6-3 in the opening game, but the Lions edged the Trojans 5-3 in the second game at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (42-10) won the series 3-1 and improved to 12-4 in league play with the final four-game conference series against Eastern Oklahoma State looming this week. The Lions ended the afternoon tied for first place in the conference with Connors State, which had four league losses going into Saturday night’s game at Eastern Oklahoma State.

Seminole State (29-16) slipped to 8-8 in conference play and is in a battle for third place with Eastern Oklahoma State.

With the second game tied at two runs apiece in the bottom of the eighth inning, Lions sophomore first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., doubled with one out and scored three batters later on an error to break the tie.

Freshman third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith drove in what turned into the winning runs with a two-out single that pushed across freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., who drew an intentional walk, and freshman left fielder Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., who reached on the error.

Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., who inherited a tie game from starter Trent Daniel of Bryant, Ark., in the seventh inning, gave up a leadoff double to Trojans first baseman David Chester and a RBI single to third baseman James Lavinskas in the ninth inning.

Chester, who has attracted NCAA Division I interest, was 4 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Trojans’ 11-hit barrage, while Lavinskas was 2 for 4 with one RBI.

Babcock got designated hitter Jerod Pepper to ground into a double play but walked pinch hitter Kyle Sisney. Lions closer Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla. relieved Babcock and struck out pinch hitter Mark Coachran to end the game.

Babcock (5-0) allowed one run on four hits, walked three and struck out one to earn the win, while Vaughn earned his team-leading seventh save. Vaughn, a freshman, ended the week with three wins and two saves in six games.

UA Fort Smith touched Seminole starter Dustin Andrews for five runs – two earned – on seven hits. Andrews walked three and struck out four in suffering the loss in 7 2/3 innings.

No Lions batter had multiple hits, but sophomore right fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 1 for 4 with a two-run home run and Young was 1 for 4 with two.

Seminole State 6, UA Fort Smith 3

GAME ONE – Trojans starter Blake Payne handcuffed the Lions for six complete innings, allowing only two runs – one earned – on four hits, walking one and striking out four, but the Trojans’ bullpen made it interesting.

UA Fort Smith scored one run off Seminole reliever Jordan Clark, who allowed two hits and walked one without recording an out in the seventh inning. Jon Ervin came on and extinguished the rally.

Ervin worked around a one-out, bases-loaded walk and got Barnes to hit into a game-ending double play to earn the save.

UA Fort Smith had six hits but left eight runners stranded. Sophomore shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4, sophomore left fielder Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 2 with a triple and Young was 1 for 3 with a double.

Seminole State had eight hits, including six off Lions starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., who suffered the loss in 6 1/3 innings. Pratt (5-3) allowed five runs – two earned – walked two and struck out five before giving way to Vaughn, who allowed one run on two hits, walked one and struck out one.

Chester was 2 for 5 with five RBIs and a three-run home run to spark the Trojans’ offense.

GAME ONE

SEMINOLE STATE 6, NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 3

Seminole State 003 000 3 — 6 8 2

UA Fort Smith 010 100 1 — 3 6 1

Payne, Clark (7), Ervin (7) and Burgess; Pratt, Vaughn (7) and Meyer. W – Payne. L – Pratt, 5-3. Sv – Ervin. HRs – Seminole, Chester.

GAME TWO

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 5, SEMINOLE STATE 3

Seminole State 010 010 001 — 3 11 3

UA Fort Smith 200 000 03X — 5 7 1

Andrews, D. Jackson (8) and Burgess; Daniel, Babcock (7), Vaughn (9) and Meyer. W – Babcock, 6-0. L – Andrews. Sv – Vaughn (7). HRs – Seminole, Chester; UA Fort Smith, Robertson (3).

After rallying to beat Seminole State College 8-6 in the opening game of Thursday’s league doubleheader, the No. 16 Lions rallied twice in the second game to win 11-8 and take control of the series.

UA Fort Smith (41-9, 11-3) and Seminole State will resume the four-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at Crowder Field. With the game tied at eight runs apiece in the top of the ninth inning, UA Fort Smith broke the game open for good with a three-run outburst.

Sophomore outfielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., put the Lions on top with a two-run infield single and a throwing error on the same play allowed sophomore first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., to score as well.

That was more than enough cushion for closer Derek Vaughn (6-1) of Edmond, Okla. The Lions freshmen, who earned the save in the first game, worked around a one-out hit and hit batter in the ninth inning to post his third win four days.

UA Fort Smith trailed 4-0 after three innings but took a 5-4 lead with a five-run uprising in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run single by sophomore Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., and a two-run home run by Washington.

Seminole regained the lead with two runs in the bottom half of the inning and added solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings to stretch its lead to 8-5.

The Lions tied the game in the top of the eighth inning with a solo home run by Washington, who was 3 for 5 with two home runs and three RBIs, and a two-run home run by designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., who was 2 for 5 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.

UA Fort Smith pounded out 12 hits and overcame an uncharacteristic seven errors to complete the sweep.

UA Fort Smith 8, Seminole State 6

GAME ONE – Barnes belted a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning as part a four-run rally that lifted the Lions past the Trojans, who squandered a 5-0 lead.

All four of the Lions’ seventh inning runs were charged to Seminole closer David Jackson, who gave up four hits in just 1/3 of an inning in suffering the loss.

It was Barnes’ eighth round-tripper of the spring and the third by the Lions against the Trojans’ staff. Barnes was 3 for 4 with four RBIs.

Robertson was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run, and Sallis was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run.

Lions starter Colin Fuller weathered a rocky start – six runs during the first three innings – to earn the win in six-plus innings. Fuller (6-2), who’s from Cabot, Ark., faced one batter in the seventh inning, giving up a single to Seminole’s Ky Burgess.

Vaughn faced three batters in the seventh, allowing one hit and striking out one. He got pinch hitter Kyle Sisney to ground into a double play to end the inning and post his team-leading sixth save.

Seminole pounded out 13 hits with 12 allowed by Fuller. First baseman David Chester was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run, and third baseman James Lavinskas was 2 for 3 with a home run.

GAME ONE

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 8, SEMINOLE STATE 6

UA Fort Smith 003 010 4 — 8 13 2

Seminole State 321 000 0 — 6 12 3

Fuller, Vaughn (7) and Meyer; Jackson, Ervin (6), Jackson (7), Williams (7) and Burgess. W – Fuller, 6-2. L – Jackson. Sv – Vaughn (6). HRs – UA Fort Smith, Sallis (1), Robertson (2), Barnes (8); Seminole, Chester, Lavinskas.

GAME TWO

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 11, SEMINOLE STATE 8

UA Fort Smith 000 500 033 — 11 12 7

Seminole State 004 201 100 — 8 13 2

Huchingson, Babcock (6), Vaughn (8) and Meyer; Pepper, Clark (4), Williams (6), Bacon (8), Ervin (9) and Rymel. W – Vaughn, 6-1. L – Bacon. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Washington (8,9), Barnes (9); Seminole, Jackson, Lavinskas.

First baseman Clay Washington crushed a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning off Raiders reliever Jim Miner to lift the No. 17 Lions to an improbable 12-10 win in the second game of the Bi-State Conference twinbill.

UA Fort Smith, which swept the four-game series with Rose State, scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the opener 9-6.

It was the Lions’ sixth game in five days. The doubleheader was a make-up of the April 9 doubleheader that was rained out at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (39-9) improved to 9-3 in conference play and will travel to Seminole, Okla., on Thursday for a doubleheader against the Seminole State College Trojans beginning at 1 p.m.

Washington, who’s from Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a triple, a home run and three RBIs. The sophomore’s round-tripper – his seventh of the season – helped the Lions erase a three-run deficit going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

The first baseman was one of three Lions with multiple hits and accounted for two of the Lions’ six extra-base hits. Shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 3 for 5 with a double, left fielder Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a home run, second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 1 for 4 with a double and centerfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 1 for 3 with a double.

Miner, the last of four Raiders pitchers, suffered the loss, allowing five runs – four earned – on three hits and walking two.

Much like it did in the opener, UA Fort Smith played with the pitching-by-committee philosophy, using three pitchers to beat the Raiders.

Freshman Derek Vaughn (5-1), who earned the win in relief in the first game, earned his second win of the day, allowing no runs on one hit, walking three and striking out four in two innings.

No. 17 UA Fort Smith 9, Rose State 6

GAME TWO – UA Fort Smith scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally and win the opening game.

With the game tied at six runs apiece, the Lions, who trailed 6-2 after 2 ½ innings, got a RBI double by right fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., and a RBI single by Huchingson, who scored on an error to take the lead in the pivotal inning.

The three-run outburst put Vaughn, the fourth of five Lions pitchers, in line for the win, and closer Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., did the rest. Fuller, who’s also one of the Lions’ conference starters, needed five pitches to get three quick outs and earn his third save.

UA Fort Smith pounded out 17 hits – three for extra bases. Five Lions batters had multiple hits. Robertson and Huchingson were each 3 for 4 with two RBIs, Washington was 2 for 4 with one RBI, third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 3 for 3 and West was 2 for 4.

Raiders starter Cory Miller suffered the loss. He allowed nine runs – eight earned – on 17 hits, walked one and struck out two in 5 2/3 innings.

GAME ONE

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 9, ROSE STATE 6

Rose State 015 000 0 — 6 9 2

UA Fort Smith 204 003 X — 9 17 1

Miller, Oler (6) and Butts; Huchingson, Bogard (3), Babcock (3), Vaughn (6), Fuller (7) and Meyer. W – Vaughn, 4-1. L – Miller. Sv – Fuller (3). HRs – Rose State, Blue, Carter.

GAME TWO

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 12, ROSE STATE 10

Rose State 140 230 0 — 10 10 6

UA Fort Smith 202 021 5 — 12 11 2

Henderson, Dominguez (3), Jack (5), Miner (6) and Butts; McKinney, Babcock (5), Vaughn (6) and Rawls. W – Vaughn, 5-1. L – Miner. HRs – Rose State, Blue, Mendel; UA Fort Smith, Huchingson (4), Washington (7).

After losing Saturday’s opening game 11-5 to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, the No. 17 Lions rallied to run-rule the Norsemen 16-6 in seven innings in the second game to give Harpenau his 400th career win as Lions head coach.

UA Fort Smith (37-9) won the Bi-State Conference series 3-1 and is 7-3 in league play, while NEO (21-19) slipped to 3-9 in conference play.

Harpenau, who reached the 700 career-win mark on Thursday against NEO, is 400-161 during his 11 seasons at UA Fort Smith and has had only one losing season during that span – a 28-29 finish in 2005.

The 22-year veteran coach, who coached 11 seasons at NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech prior to becoming Lions coach, now boasts a 702-346-4 career win-loss record.

UA Fort Smith led 4-1 before NEO erupted for five runs in the fifth inning off Lions starter Trent Daniel. Norsemen shortstop Wesley Starkes delivered the clutch hit with a two-out, two-run double to put NEO ahead 6-4.

Starkes was 2 for 2 with two RBIs.

The Lions rallied in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run uprising. Sophomore center fielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., tied the game with a one-out, two-run double, and sophomore third baseman Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., put the Lions ahead for good with a two-out, RBI single.

UA Fort Smith’s outburst chased Norsemen starter Taylor Ferguson, who suffered the loss in 4 2/3 innings. Ferguson allowed seven runs – four earned – on 12 hits, walked two and struck out four.

Daniel (6-2) lasted only five innings before giving way to closer Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., but earned the win. Daniel, who’s from Bryant, Ark., allowed six runs – four earned – on six hits, walked three and struck out seven.

Vaughn, who earned his team-high fifth save, allowed one hit and struck out four in two innings of relief.

UA Fort Smith added three insurance runs in the sixth inning and ended the game early in the seventh with a six-run effort.

The Lions had 19 hits – five for extra bases. First baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 5 for 6 with four RBIs, Sullivan was 3 for 4 with three RBIs and five other Lions had two hits apiece. Only two Lions batters did not collect at least one hit.

NEO 11, UA Fort Smith 5

GAME ONE – The Lions rallied from three-run and two-run deficits early, but they could not overcome a huge six-run outing by the Norsemen in the fourth inning in dropping the opening game.

Lions starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., struggled from the get-go and never found his groove in suffering the loss. Pratt (5-2) allowed nine runs – six earned – on eight hits, walked three and struck out one in 3 2/3 innings.

Reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., allowed two runs – one earned – on two hits, walked one and struck out two in 3 1/3 innings of relief.

Starkes, who was the first batter Babcock faced with two runners on and two outs in the fourth inning, delivered the knockout blow for the Norsemen with a home run to top off the pivotal inning. Starkes was 3 for 4 with five RBIs.

UA Fort Smith had eight hits – none for extra bases. Sullivan was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, sophomore second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 4 with one RBI and sophomore catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 3.

Norsemen starter J.F. Ricard allowed five runs – two earned – on eight hits, walked two and struck out eight in earning the complete-game win.

GAME ONE

NEO 11, UA FORT SMITH 5

NEO 301 600 1 — 11 10 1

UA Fort Smith 023 000 0 — 5 8 4

Ricard and Paz; Pratt, Babcock (4) and Meyer. W – Paz. L – Pratt, 5-2. HRs – NEO, Bonner, Starkes.

GAME TWO

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 16, NEO 6

NEO 000 150 0 — 6 7 2

UA Fort Smith 020 233 6 — 16 19 1

Ferguson, Molina (5), Carter (7), Poindexter (7) and Gaball; Daniel, Vaughn (6) and Rawls. W – Daniel (6-2). L – Ferguson. Sv – Vaughn (5). HRs – None.

After all, it was the Remsen, Iowa, native’s 700th career win as a college head coach. That was quickly followed by win No. 701 as UA Fort Smith won the second game of the Bi-State Conference doubleheader 10-2.

“That just says you’ve been around a long time,” Harpenau quipped. “I have really been fortunate and had a lot of things go my way. I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of good coaches and a lot of good administrators.

“I’ve been fortunate to have the great facilities to attract great student-athletes. I’ve had good players, and that’s the bottom line. It all comes down to having good players.”

The 22-year coaching veteran has compiled a 701-345-4 win-loss record during head coaching stints at his alma maters – UA Fort Smith and Arkansas Tech University. He has won an impressive 67 percent of his games.

Harpenau reached the milestone two years after earning his 600th career win – an 8-6 victory against Lon Morris College on March 10, 2007, in the North Texas Community College Tournament at Mount Pleasant, Texas.

“That’s a testament to coach Harpenau’s leadership and his ability to mold boys into great young men,” UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith said. “Reaching the 700-win mark speaks for itself as far as the success coach Harpenau has had during his coaching career, but with him, it’s about more than just wins and losses. Every young man who has played for coach Harpenau has come away a better player and, more importantly, a better overall person.”

Harpenau is only the fourth head coach in the 47-year history of baseball program and is the second-winningest Lions baseball coach behind NJCAA Hall of Fame coach Bill Crowder.

Crowder, whom Harpenau played catcher two seasons (1982, 1983) for at UA Fort Smith, is the Lions’ all-time winningest coach, compiling a 1,003-559 win-loss record during his 33-year career at the school.

Harpenau has compiled a 399-160 win-loss record during his 11 seasons at UA Fort Smith, during which time the Lions have posted 10 winning seasons. The Lions’ only losing season during the Harpenau era was in 2005, when the Lions finished 28-29 overall and sixth in the Bi-State Conference.

He has had only two losing seasons during his collegiate coaching career – the first coming during his second season at Tech (1988-89).

“I am proud to have Dale as a member of the Lions athletic family,” Smith said. “He represents this program and this institution with nothing but class, and he expects nothing less of all the student-athletes he has coached. The athletics world needs more people like Dale Harpenau.”

After finishing his collegiate playing career at Tech in the spring of 1985, Harpenau stayed on as a graduate assistant for Wonder Boys head coach Jim Franks. When Franks resigned after the 1987 season, there wasn’t an elaborate nationwide search for his successor.

Franks had been baseball coach and sports information director at the then-NAIA university, and when he resigned to go into private business, the university split the positions.

Most of Franks’ salary went toward hiring the new SID — CoSida Hall of Famer Larry Smith. That left only about $9,000 to hire a new baseball coach, so naturally there weren’t many coaches in hurry to throw their name in the hat, but Harpenau did. The 23-year-old former Wonder Boys catcher was eager for the chance to become a college head coach.

So much so that he didn’t sit around hoping then-athletic director Don Sevier would give him a call. No, Harpenau boldly came right out and asked Sevier to hire him, and Sevier took a chance on the young coach.

It turned out to be a smart move on Sevier’s part.

Harpenau compiled a 302-185-4 record while coaching the Wonder Boys, who made the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II during his tenure.

He is Tech’s all-time winningest baseball coach and is second all-time in winning percentage behind Raymond Burnett, who won 77 percent of his games (43-13) during a span of just four seasons (1948-51). Harpenau also holds the school record for most conference championships (3) in school history.

Harpenau resigned at Tech late in the spring of 1998 to succeed Crowder at UA Fort Smith. His tenure at UA Fort Smith has included not only his duties as head baseball coach but also as athletic director.

He served as athletic director for five seasons before relinquishing those duties last July to Smith, who was then the assistant athletic director. During Harpenau’s time as AD, the athletics program expanded to eight teams, adding men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s golf.

Harpenau also was instrumental in guiding the program through the early stages of its transition to NCAA Division II.

Sophomore Colin Fuller scattered six hits and allowed just one run in a complete-game effort Thursday afternoon as the Lions beat the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Norsemen 3-1 in the opening game of the Bi-State Conference doubleheader.

The Lions (36-8, 8-2) promptly gave Harpenau win No. 701 in the second game, beating the Norsemen 10-2 to complete the sweep. The two teams will finish the four-game series on Saturday at Crowder Field with 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Fuller (5-2), who’s from Cabot, Ark., walked two and struck out seven of the 31 batters he faced. Norseman designated hitter Ryan Bonner broke up Fuller’s shutout bid in the bottom of the seventh with a single that drove in center fielder Josh Botts, who doubled with one out.

Left fielder Trevor Bowden had half of the Norsemen’s hits, going 3 for 3, while Botts was 1 for 2 and Bonner was 1 for 4.

Norsemen starter Dan Reid was just as impressive, allowing three runs – two earned – on just three hits, walking two and striking out two in the complete-game loss. Lions first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 1 for 3, centerfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 1 for 3 and designated hitter Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., was 1 for 1.

Sullivan drove in what turned into the game-winning runs with a two-run home run in the fifth inning that put the Lions ahead 3-0.

UA Fort Smith 10, NEO 2

GAME TWO – UA Fort Smith needed one big inning to secure its sweep of NEO.

The Lions broke the game open in the third inning with an eight-run outburst, sending 12 batters to the plate in the pivotal inning. Third baseman Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., had two hits in the inning – a RBI double and a two-RBI single.

Lions starter Chase Huchingson (5-0) of Fayetteville, Ark., earned the win in six innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, walking five and striking out five before giving way to reliever Drew Babock of Gentry, Ark.

UA Fort Smith had seven hits off three NEO pitchers. Left fielder Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., was 3 for 5 and West was 2 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Lions.

GAME ONE

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 3, NEO 1

UA Fort Smith 010 020 0 — 3 3 3

NEO 000 000 1 — 1 6 2

Fuller and Meyer; Reid and Paz. W – Fuller, 5-2. L – Reid. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Sullivan (6).

GAME TWO

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 10, NEO 2

UA Fort Smith 008 002 000 — 10 7 3

NEO 001 001 000 — 2 5 2 Huchingson, Babcock (7) and Meyer; Guest, Smith (3), Armstrong (6) and Mann. W – Huchingson, 5-0. L – Guest. Sv – Babcock. HRs – None.

The Bi-State Conference doubleheader has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, April 20, at Crowder Field. The two teams will play two seven-inning games.

UA Fort Smith charged out to an early 6-0 lead en route to an 11-5 win against Carl Albert on Tuesday night at Crowder Field. The Lions (34-8) swept the series, having run-ruled the Vikings (19-23) 14-4 on March 3 at Poteau, Okla.

It was the final time the two baseball teams, which are separated by about 34 miles and a state line, will play each other as UA Fort Smith makes the jump to NCAA Division II next season.

Freshman Daniel McKinney (5-1) of Spiro, Okla., pitched three innings of scoreless, no-hit baseball to earn the win for the Lions, who, by design, used five pitchers during the nonconference game.

Carl Albert scored its five runs – all earned – on six hits. First baseman A.J. Acker was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Acker pelted a two-out, two-run home run off the left-field scoreboard in the sixth inning off Lions reliever Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., to briefly get the Vikings within 9-4.

Vikings starter Preston Guidry lasted only 2/3 of an inning and faced just five batters, Guidry, who was one of three Carl Albert pitchers, allowed four runs – two earned – on two hits and walked two in suffering the loss.

The No. 18 Lions had 13 hits – five for extra bases.

Sophomore first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 3 for 4 with a solo home run, sophomore second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 4 with one RBI, sophomore right fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 2 for 5 with two RBIs, freshman left fielder Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., was 2 for 4 and sophomore center fielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 1 for 3 with a solo home run.

NO. 18 UA FORT SMITH 11, CARL ALBERT STATE 5

Carl Albert 000 202 010 — 5 6 4

UA Fort Smith 420 030 11X — 11 13 0

Guidry, Severe (1), Cooper (6) and Schwandt; McKinney, Babcock (4), Bogard (5), Vaughn (7), Huchingson (9) and Meyer. W – McKinney, 5-1. L – Guidry. HRs – Carl Albert, Acker; UA Fort Smith, Washington (5), Sullivan (4).

UA Fort Smith rallied from a 5-4 deficit with two runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on to beat Rose State 6-5 in the first game of the Bi-State Conference doubleheader. The No. 18 Lions completed the sweep with a 9-2 win in the second game.

The Lions (33-8, 4-2) will still have to make up the first two games of the four-game series at a later date. The opening games of the series, which were scheduled for this past Thursday at Crowder Field, were postponed because of rain and no make-up date has been set.

UA Fort Smith trailed 1-0 after the first inning but rallied to lead 3-1 after 1 ½ innings after a three-run outburst that was triggered by a two-run double by sophomore Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., who scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla.

Rose State (10-20, 0-6) regained the lead (5-4) in the sixth inning on a RBI single by Brent Oler that scored Brian Carter, who reached on a two-out double.

Down to their last at-bats, the Lions took the game over for good in the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., had a leadoff double and freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., followed with a walk to put the go-ahead run on base.

West scored on a one-out single by sophomore Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., and Barnes scored what turned into the game-winning run when the Lions executed a textbook, leave-early double steal.

Sullivan was 3 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Lions’ 14-hit effort, while Washington was 2 for 3 with a solo home run.

Lions ace Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., allowed a one-out walk and an error – the last of four miscues by the Lions – put the go-ahead runner on base in the seventh inning , ending the afternoon for Pratt. Pratt (5-1) allowed five runs – three earned – on four hits , walked five and struck out one before giving way to Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark.

Fuller issued a leadoff walk but got Carter to ground into a fielder’s choice and Oler to strikeout to earn his second save.

No. 18 UA Fort Smith 9, Rose State 2

GAME TWO – UA Fort Smith charged out to a 4-0 lead after the first two innings and was never threatened on its way to the lopsided win.

West was 4 for 6 with a double and four RBIs to lead the Lions’ 12-hit performance. Sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a double, and freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a home run.

Freshman Trent Daniel (5-2) of Bryant, Ark., allowed two earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out eight in six innings to earn the win before giving way to freshman reliever Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla.

Vaughn pitched the final three innings of the scheduled nine-inning game, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out four in earning a no-decision.

GAME ONE

NO. 18 UA FORT SMITH 6, ROSE STATE 5

UA Fort Smith 031 000 2 — 6 14 4

Rose State 112 001 0 — 5 4 0

Pratt, Fuller (7) and Meyer; Hey, Miller (7) and Butts. W – Pratt, 5-1. L – Hey. Sv – Fuller (2). HRs – UA Fort Smith, Washington (5).

GAME TWO

NO. 18 UA FORT SMITH 9, ROSE STATE COLLEGE 2

UA Fort Smith 041 110 110 — 9 12 0

Rose State 000 002 000 — 2 7 1

Daniel, Vaughn (7) and Rawls; Oler, Dominguez (3), Johnson (5), Miner (8) and Butts. W – Daniel, 5-2. L – Oler. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Young (2)

The doubleheader will be made up at a later date yet to be determined.

UA Fort Smith (31-8, 2-2) will resume conference play on Saturday when the No. 18 Lions travel to Midwest City, Okla., to play Rose State (10-18, 0-4) in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

It wasn’t quick or easy … or pretty for that matter.

Connors State outscored UA Fort Smith 19-4 over the last seven innings en route to a 20-11 win in the Bi-State Conference series finale.

The No. 12 Cowboys, who gave the Lions their only two home losses this season, forced a split in the four-game league series. UA Fort Smith (31-8, 2-2) won the first two games 6-4 and 6-1, respectively, at Biff Thompson Field in Warner, Okla., but lost the final two games at Crowder Field.

Not only did the Cowboys (28-7, 2-2) snap the Lions’ 23-game home winning streak with their 8-7, 11-inning win on Saturday night, they also gave the No. 17 Lions their second worst loss of the season on Sunday. The Lions’ worst loss was a 12-1 run-rule against the Panola College Ponies on March 1 at Carthage, Texas.

The Cowboys’ 20 runs were the most any team has scored against the Lions this season, surpassing the 19 runs scored by Panola College during a 19-11 loss on Feb. 28.

UA Fort Smith bolted to a 7-1 lead after two innings and still held a narrow 8-6 advantage going into the top of the sixth inning before Connors State delivered the knockout blow with a eight-run outburst.

The Cowboys sent 14 batters to the plate during the tumultuous inning, during which four Lions pitchers combined for three hits, five walks and three hit batters.

Lions starter Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., started the inning and walked Kyle Fillier and hit Brad Shankle before recording an out. Fillier and Shankle eventually both scored to tie the game at eight runs apiece.

Fuller, who earned a no-decision, allowed eight earned runs on five hits, walked five and struck out four in 5 1/3 innings.

After the out, reliever Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., took over for Fuller and received a rough welcome from the Cowboys. Connors State touched Bogard for five runs – all earned – on just two hits. Bogard (2-1), who suffered the loss, faced only six batters, walked three and only recorded one out before being relieved by Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark.

Babcock faced four batters and didn’t record an out, allowing one earned run on one hit, walking one and hitting two before being relieved by Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla. Vaughn retired the only batter he faced in the sixth inning on a groundout to end the inning.

Jordan Castaldo and Fillier delivered the clutch hits in the inning with each ripping two-RBI singles. Diomedes Gonzales had an RBI single and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in a run, and James Kottaras and Brock Feldmann each drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs.

Fillier was 2 for 4 with four RBIs, Castaldo was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, Gonzales was 2 for 5 with three RBIs, Feldmann was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and Brandon Smith was 2 for 5 with two RBIS and a home run.

Connors State added four more runs in the seventh inning to push its lead to a comfy 18-8, but UA Fort Smith avoided the run-rule with a three-run outing in the bottom of the seventh inning to keep their slim hopes alive.

The Cowboys had 11 hits and, surprisingly, were out-hit by the Lions, who collected 13 hits off two of the three Connors State hurlers. Middle reliever Michael Martinez earned the win for the Cowboys in 5 2/3 innings of work in relief of starter George Navarrete and allowed four earned runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out eight.

Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 3 for 4 with a triple and one RBI to lead the Lions, while Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI, Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 5 with a triple and two RBIs, Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 2 for 5 with a double and a triple and Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark., was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

NO. 12 CONNORS STATE 20, NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 11

Connors State 010 328 402 — 20 11 2

UA Fort Smith 340 010 300 — 11 13 2

Navarrete, Martinez (2), Muchmore (8) and Shankle; Fuller, Bogard (6), Babcock (6), Vaughn (6) and Rawls. W – Martinez. L – Bogard, 2-1. HRs – Connors State, Smith.

The No. 12 Cowboys pounded out 18 hits and clubbed two home runs on their way to beating the No. 17 Lions 8-7 in 11 innings.

Connors State’s win snapped a string of 23 consecutive home wins by the Lions to start the season and ended an overall seven-game winning streak by UA Fort Smith, which hadn’t lost since March 21 against Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo.

Most importantly, the Cowboys temporary kept the Lions from winning the first conference series of the spring. UA Fort Smith (31-7, 2-1) beat Connors State (27-7, 1-2) on the road 6-4 on Wednesday night and 6-1 on Friday night.

The Lions will try again to win the series with the Cowboys at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith rallied for deficits of three and four runs, respectively, to tie the game at seven runs apiece in the bottom of the ninth inning on a RBI single by sophomore Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark.

Connors State threatened in the top of the 10th inning with one out and runners at first and second. Jordan Castaldo grounded to second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., who flipped the ball to first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., for the second out.

Washington spotted Connors State’s Diomedes Gonzales, who singled with one out, rounding third and heading home and threw a strike to catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., who tagged Gonzales out at the plate for the third out.

The Cowboys, however, didn’t miss another opportunity to regain the lead for good.

Victor Aracena drew a one-out walk from Lions reliever Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla. – the third of four Lions pitchers – in the top of the 11th inning and stole second. James Kottaras followed with a double to drive in Aracena for the game-winning run.

UA Fort Smith’s Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., relieved Vaughn and retired two of the three batters he faced to end the threat, but the damage had been done.

Connors State reliever Chris Nagorski, who pitched five innings of relief, retired the side in order in the bottom of the 11th inning to earn the win. Nagorski, who was the last of three Cowboys pitchers, allowed one run on six hits, walked one and struck out three.

UA Fort Smith, which trailed 3-0 after the top of the first inning and 7-3 after 3 ½ innings, had 15 hits – three for extra bases – but never got the big clutch hit it needed and left 14 runners stranded – eight in scoring position.

Washington was 4 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Lions, while sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 3 for 4 with one RBI. Only three Lions batters did not have at least one hit.

Connors State roughed up Lions starter Trent Daniel of Bryant, Ark., collecting seven earned runs on 10 hits in just three innings. The Cowboys had just one run on eight hits against the three Lions relievers.

Daniel Meeley was 3 for 5 with three RBIs and a home run, Kottaras was 3 for 6 with one RBI, Brad Shankle was 3 for 6 with a home run and Castaldo was 2 for 4 with two RBIs for the Cowboys, who left 13 runners stranded.

NO. 12 CONNORS STATE 8, NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 7 (11)

Connors State 300 400 000 01 — 8 18 3

UA Fort Smith 300 200 101 00 — 7 15 2

Caceres, Wenaas (7), Nagorski (7) and Shankle; Daniel, Babock (4), Vaughn (9), McKinney (11) and Meyer. W – Nagorski. L – Vaughn, 3-1. HRs – Connors State, Meeley, Shankle.

Doty got more than he anticipated.

Huchingson allowed just one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings of work to lead the No. 17 Lions to a 6-1 win against the No. 12 Cowboys here at Biff Thompson Field.

The Lions (31-6) beat the Cowboys (26-7) for the second time in three days and will look to win the four-game series on Saturday when they host the Cowboys at 5:30 p.m. at Crowder Field. The series finale will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Crowder Field.

Huchingson, who’s a part-time starter from Fayetteville, Ark., pitched no-hit baseball for 3 1/3 innings. He gave up back-to-back, one-out singles in the fourth inning, when he allowed the game’s only run on a RBI single by Kyle Fillier.

The sophomore left-hander allowed consecutive one-out singles in the eighth inning and was lifted for sophomore left-hander Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark. Babcock got two quick outs to end the Cowboys’ threat.

Huchingson walked only three and struck out seven in his fifth start and improved to 4-0. Babcock worked around a leadoff error and a single in the bottom of the ninth to retire the final two batters he faced – the last of whom he coaxed into hitting into a double play to end the game.

The Lions gave their hurlers plenty of run support, battering three Cowboys pitchers with 13 hits. Connors State starter Garret Graziano suffered the loss in 7 1/3 innings, allowing all six runs on 12 hits, walking one and striking out three.

Freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., shook off a hitless effort against Cowboys during Thursday night’s 6-4 win by the Lions and was 5 for 5 with a triple, a home run and three RBIs.

Barnes, who leads the team with seven home runs, was a double shy of hitting for the cycle.

Sophomore Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 4 with a double. He and Barnes were the only Lions with multiple hits.

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 6, NO. 12 CONNORS STATE 1

UA Fort Smith 002 110 110 — 6 13 1

Connors State 000 100 000 — 1 5 1

Huchingson, Babcock (8) and Meyer; Graziano, Muchmore (8), Martinez (8) and Shankle. W – Huchingson, 4-0. L – Graziano. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Barnes (7).

UA Fort Smith (30-6) will now play Connors State College (26-6) at 5 p.m. on Friday at Biff Thompson Field in Warner, Okla. The No. 17 Lions will then host the No. 12 Cowboys at Crowder Field at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday to wrap-up the series.

The Lions won the opening game of the conference series 6-4 on Thursday night at Biff Thompson Field.

Fuller struck out Smith, the Cowboys’ home run threat, swinging on a fastball down the middle of the plate to earn the save on Wednesday night at Biff Thompson Field and give the Lions the early lead in the four-game Bi-State Conference series.

The two longtime rivals will resume play on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Crowder Field, weather permitting.

Sophomore Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., earned the win in two innings of relief of starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., who earned a no-decision. Freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., started the ninth inning and left with the two runners on and two outs before giving way to Fuller.

Connors State had but four hits off the four Lions hurlers.

UA Fort Smith led 3-1 after 1 ½ innings but Connors State rallied with single runs in the second and third innings to tie the game. The Lions regained the lead 4-3 seventh inning on a RBI single by sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark.

Connors State tied the game again on a RBI fielder’s choice by Daniel Meeley in the bottom of the seventh.

The Lions roughed up Cowboys reliever Chris Nagorski, who suffered the loss, in the top of the eighth inning with a pair of runs. Sophomore Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., singled and scored on an error and sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith.

UA Fort Smith had 10 hits. Washington was 4 for 5, and sophomore Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a two-run home run.

BI-STATE CONFERENCE

NO. 17 UA FORT SMITH 6, NO. 12 CONNORS STATE 4

UA Fort Smith 120 000 120 — 6 10 4

Connors State 111 000 100 — 4 4 4

Pratt, McKinney (7), Vaughn (9), Fuller (9) and Meyer; Eidt, Nagorski (8) and Shankle. W – McKinney. L – Nagorski. Sv – Fuller. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Meyer.

It was the fifth win in a row for the Lions (29-6), who are ranked No. 36 in the latest Perfect Game Top 50 rankings. The win also kept UA Fort Smith undefeated at home (23-0).

Sullivan was one of three Lions to hit a home run against the Roughriders (22-12), who were scheduled to play the Lions on Friday but didn’t because of inclement weather. It was the only hit for the Maumelle, Ark., product, but his long ball provided the spark the Lions needed to regain control of the game.

Trailing 1-0, Crowder College took its only lead in the top of the third inning with a four-run explosion off Lions starter Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark. Bogard allowed all four runs – three earned – on five hits and walked two before giving way to middle reliever Drew Babcock with one out.

Babcock, who’s from Gentry, Ark., got out of the inning and gave up just one run in the frame, which was charged to Bogard. The sophomore reliever worked the next 5 2/3 innings to earn his fifth win this season, allowing one unearned run on six hits, walking one and striking out six.

Freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., pitched the ninth inning and gave up one unearned run on one hit and struck out two.

Once Babcock extinguished the Roughriders’ rally in the top of the third inning, UA Fort Smith’s hitters went to work. After regaining the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the third inning, the Lions added a game-breaking, three-run jolt in the fourth inning.

Sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., delivered at two-run single in the inning, and sophomore Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., walked and scored on a double-steal.

The Lions added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings on solo home runs by sophomores Garret Meyer and Chase Huchingson, both of Fayetteville, Ark.

UA Fort Smith pounded out 11 hits off three Crowder College pitchers, including four for extra bases. West was 2 for 5 with two RBIs, sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 3 for 5 with a double and one RBI and Meyer was 2 for 3 with one RBI.

Roughriders starter Matt Sample suffered the loss. Sample allowed five earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out three in just three innings.

Crowder College actually out-hit UA Fort Smith 12-11, but the Roughriders couldn’t get the same timely hits like the Lions. Four Roughriders had two hits apiece led by Sam Bates, who was 2 for 5 with two RBIs.

UA Fort Smith will open Bi-State Conference play on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against the Connors State Cowboys (26-5) at Warner, Okla. The Cowboys are ranked No. 15 in the latest Perfect Game Top 50 rankings.

UA FORT SMITH 10, CROWDER COLLEGE 6

Crowder College 004 000 011 — 6 12 3

UA Fort Smith 104 310 10X — 10 11 2

Sample, Brock (4), Kickham (7) and Williams; Bogard, Babcock (3), Vaughn (9) and Meyer. W – Babcock, 5-0. L – Sample. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Sullivan (4), Meyer (2), Huchingson (3).

This game was originally scheduled for this past Friday but had to be postponed because of inclement weather.

Still, the Lions were able to come away with a doubleheader sweep of the Buffaloes at Crowder Field. UA Fort Smith (28-6) eked out a 4-3 win in the opening game and completed the sweep with a 6-1 win in the second game.

UA Fort Smith, whose last game before Sunday was a 6-4 win against Mineral Area Community College on March 23 at Park Hills, Mo., extended its winning streak to four games and will begin Bi-State Conference play on Wednesday against Connors State College at Warner, Okla.

The nearly week-long layoff was evident in the opening game.

Lions sophomore Adam Robertson doubled to lead off the fifth inning and scored on a triple by sophomore Chase Huchingson to put the Lions ahead 4-3 after they had squandered a 3-1 advantage.

Robertson, who is from Searcy, Ark., was 1 for 2; Huchingson, who is from Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 3 and freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 1 for 2 with one RBI to highlight the Lions’ four-hit performance.

Buffaloes starter Garry Thomas suffered the complete-game loss but kept the Lions off-balanced at times. Thomas allowed all four runs – two earned – on four hits, walked six and struck out 11.

Freshman reliever Ross Bogard earned the win for the Lions in relief of freshman starter Daniel McKinney. McKinney, who’s from Spiro, Okla., allowed three runs – one earned – on four hits, walked one and struck out two before giving way to Bogard with two outs in the fifth inning.

Bogard (2-0), who is from Sherwood, Ark., walked one and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings before being relieved by freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., with one out in the seventh inning. Vaughn retired the two batters he faced to earn his third save.

Josh Graves was 1 for 3 with one RBI to lead Arkansas Baptist, which had only four hits with none for extra bases.

UA Fort Smith 6, Arkansas Baptist 1

GAME TWO – The Lions wiped away any hope the Buffaloes had of forcing a split with a four-run outburst in the first inning and a two-run jolt in the third inning for a commanding 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough of a lead for Huchingson, a part-time starter in the Lions’ rotation.

Huchingson (3-0) allowed one unearned run on just two hits, walked one and struck out nine before giving way to Vaughn in the seventh inning. Vaughn, who earned the win against Mineral Area Community College in relief last week, faced five batters in the seventh, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out two.

Cody Hill (1 for 4), Matt Epperson (1 for 4) and Daniel Short (1 for 3) accounted for all of the Buffaloes’ hits, none of which were for extra bases.

UA Fort Smith touched Arkansas Baptist starter Cody Riley for eight hits – three for extra bases. Riley allowed just two earned runs in the complete-game effort and walked two and struck out six.

Sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 3 with a solo home run – his second round-tripper. Freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., was 2 for 3 with a triple and one RBI, Robertson was 2 for 2 with one RBI and sophomore Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 3.

GAME ONE

UA FORT SMITH 4, ARKANSAS BAPTIST 3

Arkansas Baptist 001 110 0 — 3 4 1

UA Fort Smith 111 010 X — 4 4 3

Thomas and Hill; McKinney, Bogard (5), Vaughn (7) and Rawls. W – Bogard, 2-0. L – Thomas. Sv – Vaughn (3).

GAME TWO

UA FORT SMITH 6, ARKANSAS BAPTIST 1

Arkansas Baptist 000 001 0 — 1 3 3

UA Fort Smith 402 000 X — 6 8 3

Riley and Hill; Huchingson, Vaughn (7) and Meyer. W – Huchingson, 3-0. L – Riley. HRs – UA Fort Smith, West (2).

No make-up date has been set.

The Lions (26-6) will resume action on Sunday when they host the Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith will now host Arkansas Baptist College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Crowder Field. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday, but there is a 30 percent chance of rain/snow showers forecasted for Saturday.

After starting their spring break Missouri road trip with consecutive losses, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions left the “Show Me” state with a series split on Monday afternoon thanks to a 6-4 win against Mineral Area Community College here at Harold Loughary Field.

The Lions (26-6) lost to the Jefferson College Vikings 8-3 and 10-3 on Saturday and beat the Vikings 5-2 on Sunday during the first leg of the road junket.

UA Fort Smith will take a three-game respite before resuming regular-season play on Friday against Crowder College at Crowder Field.

Freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., inherited a 6-4 lead from Lions starter Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., after four innings and pitched five innings of no-hit baseball, walking two and striking out six of the 18 batters he faced to improve to 3-0.

Mineral Area had eight hits off Bogard, who earned a no-decision, but only Bobby Tatum (2 for 4) and Mike Bigogno (2 for 5) had multiple hits. Mineral Area scored two earned runs in the first off Bogard and added a pair of unearned runs off the freshman in the third inning – UA Fort Smith committed four errors.

UA Fort Smith, which led 1-0 after the first half-inning, trailed 4-1 going into the top of the fourth inning before rallying. The Lions, who played through blustery conditions with wind gusts up to 57 miles per hour, scored three runs in the fourth on a two-RBI single by freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., and a RBI single by sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark.

Sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., gave the Lions the lead in the top of the fifth inning with a one-out, two-run single.

UA Fort Smith had 13 hits off two of the three Mineral Area hurlers. Barnes was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, West was 2 for 5 with two RBIs, Robertson was 2 for 5 with two RBIs, freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 2 for 5 and sophomore Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 2 for 3.

Mineral Area reliever Dustin Hartsgrove suffered the loss, allowing two runs – one earned – on four hits, walking one and striking out two in three innings.

UA FORT SMITH 6, MINERAL AREA CC 4

UA Fort Smith 100 320 000 — 6 13 4

Mineral Area 202 000 000 — 4 8 2

Bogard, Vaughn (5) and Rawls; Hunter, Hartsgrove (5), McMillen (8) and Pixley. W – Vaughn (3-0). L – Hartsgrove. HRs – None.

Sophomore Colin Fuller answered the call.

The Cabot, Ark., product scattered seven hits and allowed just one earned run in gutsy nine-inning, complete-game effort as the Lions beat the Vikings 5-2 to wrap-up the three-game series.

Jefferson College (13-12) won the first two games of the series 8-3 and 10-3 on Saturday. UA Fort Smith (25-6) will look to close its spring break Missouri road trip with a .500 mark on Monday when it plays one nine-inning game against Mineral Area Community College at Park Hills, Mo.

It was Fuller’s first complete-game outing in seven starts and pushed his team-leading innings pitch total to 44 1/3 innings. Fuller (4-2) walked only one of the 36 batters he faced and struck out six.

Fuller leads the team with 52 strikeouts.

The right-hander gave up an unearned run in the first inning when Luke Schlecte singled and scored on a throwing error and gave up his only earned run in the sixth inning when Schlecte drew a leadoff walk and scored on a fielder’s choice by Jordan May.

May, who was 2 for 3, and Brandon Gargus, who was 2 for 4, were the only Vikings with multiple hits off Fuller.

UA Fort Smith gave Fuller just enough offensive support with eight hits off three Vikings hurlers. Sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, freshman Cameron Young was 2 for 2 and freshman Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., was 1 for 5 with two RBIs.

Vikings starter Kyle Marler suffered the loss in six complete innings of work. He allowed three runs – two earned – on five hits, walked two and struck out one.

Young was hit by Marler to lead off the third inning and Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark., drew a walk from Marler. Young scored on a single by West, and Rawls scored on a fielder’s choice by Brown.

Young, who scored three times, scored the what turned into the winning run in the fifth inning when he singled to lead off the inning and scored on an error – the Vikings committed three errors total.

UA Fort Smith added a pair of insurance runs on a RBI single by Brown in the seventh inning and a RBI single by West in the ninth inning.

UA FORT SMITH 5, JEFFERSON COLLEGE 2

UA Fort Smith 002 010 101 — 5 8 2

Jefferson College 100 001 000 — 2 7 3

Fuller and Rawls; Marler, Jackson (7), Hudelson (7) and Gargus. W – Fuller, 4-2. L – Marler. HRs – None.

Jefferson College won the opener 8-3 and took the second game 10-3.

UA Fort Smith (24-6) will play Jefferson County (13-11) in one nine-inning game on Sunday at 2 p.m. to close out the series. The Lions will wrap up their road trip on Monday with one nine-inning game against Mineral Area Community College at Park Hills, Mo.

The Vikings pounded out nine hits off Lions starter Jordan Pratt (4-1) of Harrison, Ark., and reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., including four for extra-bases. The Vikings belted three home runs off Pratt, including back-to-back home runs in the second inning that pushed their lead to 4-0.

UA Fort Smith rallied back to within 4-3 with two runs on a two-run double by freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith in the third inning and a solo home run by sophomore Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., in the fourth inning.

The Vikings broke the game open, though, in the sixth inning with a four-run outburst that included four unearned runs on four hits. Jeremy Patton delivered the big blow in the inning with a three-run double off the fence in the sixth inning.

UA Fort Smith committed three errors in the opener.

The Lions had seven hits but only sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., had multiple hits, going 3-for-3. Vikings starter Corey Kyle earned the win in five innings of work, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out three before giving way to closer Cody Stites, who earned the save.

Jefferson College 10, UA Fort Smith 3

GAME TWO – UA Fort Smith bolted to an early 3-0 lead, but again the Vikings rallied for the lopsided win.

The Lions pounded out seven hits – two for extra-bases – but no Lion had multiple hits as three Vikings pitchers limited UA Fort Smith’s offense. Middle reliever Mike Grace earned the win in two innings of work, while closer Sean Schaffer earned the save.

Sophomore Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., singled and scored on an error in the second inning and sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., crushed a two-run homer in the third inning to put the Lions ahead 3-0.

The Vikings answered with three runs in the bottom of the third on a RBI single by Preston Aldridge and two-run double by Garrett Yates. Jefferson College took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the fourth and added another run in the fifth inning.

Jefferson College broke the game open for good with four runs in the sixth inning.

Lions starter Trent Daniel suffered the loss in four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out five. Babcock allowed five runs on four hits, walked four and struck out two in two innings of relief.

GAME ONE

JEFFERSON COUNTY 8, UA FORT SMITH 3

UA Fort Smith 002 100 0 — 3 7 3

Jefferson County 220 004 X — 8 9 0

Pratt, Babcock (6) and Meyer; Kyle, Stites (6) and Sorrells. W – Kyle. L – Pratt, 4-1. Sv – Stites. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Washington (4).

GAME TWO JEFFERSON COUNTY 10, UA FORT SMITH 3

UA Fort Smith 012 000 0 — 3

1. 3

Jefferson County 003 214 X — 10 12 1

Daniel, Babcock (5) and Rawls; Jaeger, Grace (4), Schaffer (6) and Gilkerson. W – Grace. L – Schaffer. HRs – UA Fort Smith, West (1).

UA Fort Smith extended its home unbeaten streak to 20-0 with a pair of run-rule victories against NCAA Division III Ozarks. The Lions won the opener 9-0 and completed the sweep with an 8-0 win.

The Lions (24-4), who have won eight in a row, will return to action on Saturday when they begin a two-day, three-game series against Jefferson College at Hillsboro, Mo. UA Fort Smith conclude the road trip with one game against Mineral Area Community College on Monday at Park Hills, Mo.

UA Fort Smith freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., tossed a two-hit shutout in the second game. Vaughn (2-0) struck out five of the 18 batters he faced and did not walk a batter in the complete-game effort.

Travis Apel and Michael Prusator had the only hits for the Eagles with each going 1 for 2 with singles.

The Lions had six hits off two of the three Eagles pitchers with starter Travis Conner suffering the loss in just two innings of work. Conner allowed eight runs – five earned – on five hits, walked three and struck out four.

No Lion had multiple hits as Lions coach Dale Harpenau substituted often in the later innings of the shortened game. Sophomore Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 1 for 2 with two RBIs, sophomore Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 2 with a triple and one RBI and sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 1 for 1 with a double and one RBI.

UA Fort Smith 9, Ozarks 0

GAME ONE – UA Fort Smith hurler Ross Bogard tossed a one-hit shutout as the Lions eased past the Eagles in the opener.

Bogard (1-0), who is from Sherwood, Ark., struck out seven and did not walk a batter in the quick outing. Randon Webb had the only hit for the Eagles, going 1 for 2 with a single.

UA Fort Smith touched Eagles starter Bill Smith for seven earned runs on 10 hits. Smith walked one and struck out two in the complete-game effort. Two Lions had multiple hits off Smith with sophomore Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., going 2 for 3 with one RBI and Washington going 2 for 2 with one RBI.

Huchingson was 1 for 2 and crushed a three-run home run as part of the Lions’ seven-run, first-inning onslaught.

GAME ONE

UA FORT SMITH 9, UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS JV 0

Ozarks 000 00 — 0 1 3

UA Fort Smith 711 0X — 9 10 1

B. Smith and Mitchell; Bogard and Rawls. W – Bogard, 1-0. L – B. Smith. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Huchingson (2).

GAME TWO

UA FORT SMITH 8, UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS JV 0

Ozarks 000 00 — 0 2 3

UA Fort Smith 530 0X — 8 6 0

Conner, Phillips (3), Kenna (4) and Prusator; Vaughn and Meyer. W – Vaughn, 2-0. L – Conner. HRs – None.

Needless to say, the freshman first baseman made the most of his second chance.

With one out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning, Barnes just cleared the left-field fence with an opposite-field shot to highlight the No. 21 Lions’ 20-8 win against the Eagles at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (22-4) remained unbeaten at home this spring, stretching its streak to 18 consecutive games. The Lions won their sixth game in a row while scoring their most runs in a game this season.

The Lions will host the University of the Ozarks junior varsity team in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Crowder Field.

It will serve as a prelude to the Lions’ spring break road series that begins on Saturday. UA Fort Smith will play a three-game series at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo., on Saturday and Sunday and one game at Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills, Mo., on Monday.

Barnes, who went 8 for 8 during Sunday’s sweep of Allen County Community College, was 3 for 4 against the Eagles with five RBIs and a stolen base. The Yukon, Okla., product, who was walked twice, leads the Lions in average (.456), home runs (6), doubles (7) and RBIs (32).

The left-handed first baseman, who was the Oklahoma High School Player of the Year, was one of four Lions with multiple hits during the 17-hit barrage, which included six extra-base hits.

Sophomore Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 4 for 5 with four RBIs and a triple, sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 3 for 6 with one RBI and a double and freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a double.

Eagles starter Jordan Langel, who was one of four Kirkwood pitchers, suffered the loss in a brief 2 1/3 inning performance. Langel allowed seven runs – all earned – on just three hits, walked five and struck out four.

Neither Langel nor the other three Eagles hurlers got much defensive help. Kirkwood (3-3) committed eight errors, which led to 10 unearned runs. All seven of the Lions’ runs were unearned during the decisive eighth inning, during which UA Fort Smith turned a five-run lead into a 12-run cushion.

Lions starter Daniel McKinney overcame a couple of bad innings to earn the win in five complete innings. McKinney (3-1), who is from Spiro, Okla., allowed five runs – four earned – on seven hits and struck out four before giving way to Huchingson.

Huchingson earned his first save with four innings of extended relief. The southpaw allowed three earned runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three.

Only two Kirkwood batters collected multiple hits. Luis Roman was 2 for 5 with a double and four RBIs, and Jeremy Weih was 2 for 4 with one RBI and a double.

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 20, KIRKWOOD CC 8

Kirkwood 103 013 000 — 8 11 8

UA Fort Smith 205 201 37X — 20 17 1

Langel, Jorgenson (3), Lala (5), Albitez (8) and Schuver; McKinney, Huchingson (6) and Meyer. W – McKinney, 3-1. L – Langel. Sv – Huchingson (1). HRs – UA Fort Smith, Barnes (6).

The first pitch in the one nine-inning game will be at 1 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.

Barnes was 8 for 8 against the Red Devils and powered the No. 21 Lions to the doubleheader sweep at Crowder Field. UA Fort Smith won the opener 10-6 and took the second game 8-4.

UA Fort Smith (21-4) swept the three-game weekend series against Allen County, winning Saturday’s opener 11-0 via run-rule.

Barnes, who originally signed with Oklahoma State, drove in six of the Lions’ 18 runs. The Yukon, Okla., product had three doubles and stole one base to top off his stellar afternoon.

He raised his average to a team-leading .438 and leads the team in RBIs (27), doubles (7) and home runs (5).

Barnes had four of the Lions’ 11 hits in the second game as UA Fort Smith pummeled three Allen County pitchers. He and freshman Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark., were the only Lions with multiple hits – Rawls was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs.

UA Fort Smith batted .385 against the trio of Red Devil hurlers with starter Zach Dodson suffering the loss. Dodson allowed five runs on five hits, walked two and struck out two in just two-plus innings.

The Lions trailed 3-0 after the first inning but tied the game in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run double by Rawls and a sacrifice fly by sophomore Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark.

UA Fort Smith took the lead for good in the third inning on a two-run double by Barnes – the first of his two doubles in the game. The Lions extended their lead to 7-3 in the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark. – his third home run and second in three games.

A RBI single by William Reddick in the sixth inning got the Red Devils within 7-4, but the Lions returned the favor in the bottom of the frame on a one-run double by Barnes.

Lions sophomore Colin Fuller shook off a rough three-run first inning and earned the win in six innings of work. Fuller (3-2), who is from Cabot, Ark., allowed four runs on six hits, walked two and struck out 10 before giving way to reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., in the seventh inning.

UA Fort Smith 10, Allen County 6

GAME ONE – Barnes opened his barrage of the Red Devils with four hits and drove in three runs as the Lions held off a late surge to win the opening game.

UA Fort Smith collected 11 hits off two Red Devils hurlers with starter Matthew Stalcup suffering the loss in three innings. Stalcup allowed seven runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out six.

Lions sophomore Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 4, and Washington was 2 for 4 with one RBI. Sullivan was 1 for 3 with a pair of RBIs.

Freshman Trent Daniel (4-1) allowed three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out six in six complete innings to earn the win.

Marcus Peavler was 3 for 4 with one RBI to spark the Red Devils’ 11-hit performance.

GAME ONE

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 10, ALLEN COUNTY CC 6

Allen County 000 201 3 — 6 11 2

UA Fort Smith 304 102 X — 10 11 1

Stalcup, Pearson (4) and Reddick; Daniel, Babcock (7), Bogard (7) and Meyer. W – Daniel, 4-1. L – Stalcup. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 8, ALLEN COUNTY CC 4

Allen County 300 001 0 — 4 7 1

UA Fort Smith 032 021 X — 8 10 1

Dodson, Ormiston (3), Moore (6) and Reddick; Fuller, Babcock (7) and Rawls. W – Fuller, 3-2. L – Dodson. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Washington (3).

UA Fort Smith pounded out 13 hits on its way to an 11-0 run-rule of the Allen County Community College Red Devils in the opening game of the three-game series. The opener was delayed three hours because of early morning rain and was switched from a doubleheader to one nine-inning game.

The two teams will wrap-up the series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

All but two Lions had at least one hit off two of the three Red Devils pitchers. Sophomore Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 3 for 4 with one RBI, freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 2 for 4 with a triple, sophomore Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run and sophomore Dillan Black of Greenwood, Ark., was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Sophomore Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a double.

Red Devils starter Mark Thompson suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits, walking two and striking out three in a brief 2 1/3 inning appearance.

Sophomore Jordan Pratt (4-0) scattered six hits, walked two and struck out five in a complete-game effort for the Lions. Only Red Devils left fielder Marcus Peavler had multiple hits off the Harrison, Ark., native, going 2 for 3.

UA Fort Smith (19-4) gave Pratt all the run support he needed in the first inning with a four-run outburst that Washington topped off with his second round-tripper of the year.

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 11, ALLEN COUNTY CC 0

Allen County 000 000 0 — 0 6 1

UA Fort Smith 403 130 X — 11 13 1

Thompson, Rister (3), Pearson (6) and Reddick; Pratt and Meyer. W – Pratt, 4-0. L – Thompson. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Washington (2).

Early morning rain forced the start time, which was originally 1 p.m., to be changed and also forced a change in the format, too. UA Fort Smith and Allen County will now tentatively play one nine-inning game on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

The two-game, two-day series will not be rescheduled.

UA Fort Smith (18-4) went 2-1 during this past weekend at Murray State College in Tishomingo, Okla. The Lions lost to host Murray State 5-4 and run-ruled No. 10 Iowa Western Community College 12-3 on Saturday. The Lions run-ruled Redlands Community College 15-6 on Sunday afternoon.

The No. 21 Lions will resume regular-season play this weekend when they host the Allen County Community College Red Devils in a two-day, three-game series at Crowder Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday and one nine-inning game on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

UA Fort Smith pounded out 16 hits off four Carl Albert State College pitchers on Tuesday afternoon as the Lions run-ruled their border rival 14-4 in eight innings here in nonconference play.

The Lions (16-3) snapped a three-game losing skid – their first losing streak of the season.

Five Lions had multiple hits and five drove in two runs apiece during the offensive uprising. Sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 3 for 5 with one RBI, sophomore Dillan Black of Greenwood, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., was 2 for 5 with two RBIs to lead the Lions, who batted .400 as a team.

Vikings starter Trevor Cook suffered the loss in three-plus innings of work. Cook allowed seven runs – five earned – on seven hits, walked one and struck out one.

Carl Albert had seven hits off two Lions pitchers and scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, which was aided by the second of two Lions’ errors. A.J. Acker, who was 2 for 3, highlighted the inning with a two-out, three-run home run.

Lions starter Chase Huchingson (2-0) of Fayetteville, Ark., allowed four runs – none earned – on seven hits, walked two and struck out three in five innings to earn the win. Freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., pitched three scoreless innings of relief to earn his second save.

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 14, CARL ALBERT 4

UA Fort Smith 202 520 12 — 14 16 2

Carl Albert 000 040 00 — 4 7 4

Huchingson, Vaughn (6) and Meyer, Rawls (6); Cook, Guidry (4), Cooper (5), Garner (7) and Kennedy, Schwandt (5), King (7). W – Huchingson, 2-0. L – Cook. Sv – Vaughn (2). HRs – Carl Albert, Acker.

Athletic director Dustin Smith announced on Monday that UA Fort Smith has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Heartland Conference, a now 10-member league based in Waco, Texas.

UA Fort Smith will begin play in the Heartland Conference with the start of the 2009-10 season.

“It’s a historic day for UA Fort Smith athletics as we continue our transition to NCAA Division II status,” Smith said. “We are thankful to now have a home, and we feel the Heartland Conference fits the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department.”

UA Fort Smith, which is in its final year as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, is currently in the second year of the three-year Division II membership process.

UA Fort Smith will be a provisional Division II member next season while competing in the Heartland Conference. UA Fort Smith’s teams, however, will not be eligible to compete in postseason play until the 2010-11 season, when it becomes a full-fledged member of Division II.

“We are excited about beginning play in Division II next year and being a member of the Heartland Conference,” UA Fort Smith chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran said. “We will be playing schools that will be on par with us. … This is a great moment.”

The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

“We look forward to establishing ourselves at the Division II level, and the Heartland Conference will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our program – athletically and academically,” Smith said.

The Heartland Conference sponsors six men’s sports – cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and seven women’s sports – cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, softball and tennis.

UA Fort Smith currently competes in four men’s sports – basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and four women’s sports – volleyball, basketball, golf and tennis. Next season, it also will field men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Smith said the Heartland Conference not only is a great fit for UA Fort Smith athletically but academically as well.

Universities in the Heartland Conference offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The strength of the student-athlete concept is well supported by the many NCAA scholar-athletes in each school, the high cumulative GPA of the student-athletes in each school and the high number of student-athletes who graduate from each institution in the Heartland Conference.

“We are proud of their commitment to academics at the conference level,” Smith said. “That’s what we expect of our student-athletes.”

Smith said he is looking forward to a long relationship with the Heartland Conference.

“We are excited about being a member of the Heartland Conference and look forward to playing in the conference for many years to come,” Smith said.

Designated hitter Josh Ezell hit a grand slam as part of the Ponies 11-hit barrage as Panola run-ruled the Lions 12-1 here on Sunday afternoon.

That topped a three-game sweep by Panola (11-2), which beat No. 21 UA Fort Smith 19-11 and 14-6 on Saturday.

Ponies starter Cam Sokalski tossed six innings of two-hit shutout baseball to earn the win before giving way to closer Daniel Cloteaux in the seventh. Sokalski struck out six and walked only one.

Sophomore Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., and sophomore Dillan Black of Greenwood, Ark., had the only hits off Sokalski. The Lions (15-3) added three hits off Cloteaux in the seventh – UA Fort Smith had only five hits total – with Sullivan driving the Lions’ only run with a single.

Sullivan was 2 for 3 with one RBI to lead the Lions.

Freshman Trent Daniel (2-1) of Bryant, Ark., suffered the loss for the Lions, allowing seven runs on seven hits, walking five and striking out six.

PANOLA COLLEGE 12, UA FORT SMITH 1

UA Fort Smith 000 000 1 — 1 5 3

Panola 010 245 0 — 12 11 0

Daniel, Babcock (5), Vaughn (6) and Meyer; Sokalski and Sokalski, Cloteaux (7) and Choate. W – Sokalski. L – Daniel (2-1). HRs – Panola, Ezell (grand slam).

Panola belted three home runs as part of a 13-hit barrage that powered the Ponies to a 14-6 win against the No. 21 University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions here in the second game of a doubleheader.

The Ponies (10-2) swept the twinbill, winning the opening game 19-11. The two teams will wrap-up the three-game series on Sunday with a nine-inning game beginning at 1 p.m.

All but one Panola batter had at least one hit in the second game with Jared Myrick, Greg Appleton and Diego Morales each hitting home runs. Bobby Wagner was 3 for 3 with three RBIs, and Appleton was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and Morales was 2 for 3 with three RBIs to lead the Ponies.

Lions starter Colin Fuller (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing 11 runs on 10 hits, walking three and striking out two.

UA Fort Smith (15-2), which suffered its first losses of the season, had 10 hits of its own with sophomores Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., and Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., and freshman Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark., each hitting home runs.

Aaron Wilkerson, who has signed with Arkansas, earned the win in five complete innings. Wilkerson allowed five runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out five.

Sophomore Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 4 with one RBI, Sullivan was 2 for 3 with one RBI, Robertson was 2 for 3 with one RBI and Rawls was 2 for 2 with one RBI to lead the Lions.

UA Fort Smith rallied within 6-5 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Ponies broke the game open with eight runs. The Lions never recovered.

Panola 19, No. 21 UA Fort Smith 11

GAME ONE – The Ponies took full advantage of a short outfield fence and a stiff wind to crush four home runs and benefitted from five Lions errors to win the opening game of the three-game series.

Panola pounded out 16 hits off three Lions pitchers with middle reliever Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., suffering the loss. Myrick, Matt Juengel, Appleton and Travis Reagan each had home runs for the Ponies.

Myrick and Reagan were each 3 for 5 to spark the Ponies’ offense.

Freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., had the Lions’ only home run – his fourth of the season – in the slugfest. UA Fort Smith had 11 hits off three Panola pitchers with Reagan earning the win in middle relief.

Sophomore Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, sophomore Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and sophomore Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with one RBI.

GAME ONE

PANOLA 19, UA FORT SMITH 11

UA Fort Smith 521 020 1 — 11 11 5

Panola 401 572 X — 19 16 2

Pratt, McKinney (4), Bogard (5) and Meyer; Denson, Reagan (5), Cloteaux (7) and Choate. W – Reagan. L – McKinney, 1-1. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Barnes (4); Panola, Myrick, Juengel, Appleton, Reagan.

GAME TWO

PANOLA 14, UA FORT SMITH 6

UA Fort Smith 002 301 0 — 6 10 2

Panola 114 080 X — 14 13 0

Fuller, Babcock (5) and Rawls; Wilkerson, Emmott (6), Stringer (7) and Choate. W – Wilkerson. L – Fuller (2-1). HRs – UA Fort Smith, Rawls (1), Robertson (1); Panola, Myrick, Appleton, Morales.

Freshman Justin Barnes crushed his third home run of the season as part of an 11-hit outburst by the Lions, who run-ruled the University of the Ozarks Eagles junior varsity team 15-5 in six innings on Wednesday afternoon at Lonnie R. Qualls Field in Clarksville, Ark.

The win topped off a doubleheader sweep by UA Fort Smith, which won the opener 9-1.

It was the second home run of the afternoon for Barnes, who is from Yukon, Okla. Barnes, the Oklahoma High School Player of the Year, also crushed a round-tripper in the first game of the doubleheader.

UA Fort Smith scored in all but one inning and led 13-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning before Ozarks rallied with three runs off Lions reliever Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark. The Lions, who committed three errors, added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, and Fuller shut the Eagles down in the home half of the inning to end the game early.

Lions starter Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., recovered quite well from a shaky relief appearance on Sunday against McHenry County College and earned his first win in four innings of work.

The Lions (15-0) will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Carthage, Texas, to play host Panola College in a three-game, two-day series. The two clubs will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and one nine-inning game beginning on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.

UA Fort Smith 9, Ozarks JV 1

GAME ONE – Sophomore Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., and Barnes each belted home runs as part of a 13-hit barrage that sparked the Lions to the opening-game win.

UA Fort Smith scored three runs in the first inning and that was more than enough offense for the trio of Lions pitchers.

Lions freshman Mackenzie Been of Greenwood, Ark., earned the win in five complete innings, allowing only one run. Freshman Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., and sophomore Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., each pitched one inning of relief.

GAME ONE

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 9, OZARKS JV 1

UA Fort Smith 302 220 0 — 9 13 1

Ozarks JV 100 000 0 — 1 5 1

Been, Bogard (6), Pratt (7) and Meyer; Turner, Flores (5) and Prusator. W – Been, 1-0. L – Turner. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Sullivan (2), Barnes (2).

GAME TWO

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 15, OZARKS JV 5

UA Fort Smith 230 532 — 15 11 3

Ozarks JV 021 130 — 5 6 3

Vaughn, Fuller (5) and Rawls; McNeil, Wiseman (5) and Turner. W – Vaughn, 1-0. L – McNeil. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Barnes (3).

The No. 21 Lions (13-0) won the second game 5-2 to sweep the doubleheader at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith will make its first road trip of the spring on Wednesday afternoon when it travels to Clarksville, Ark., to play the University of the Ozarks junior varsity team in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Rawls, a catcher from Marion, Ark., was 1 for 3 with a two-run home run, and Washington, a first baseman from Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run. Sophomore second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 3 with a double.

Pirates starter Casey Pierce suffered the loss in four complete innings, allowing six runs – four earned – on seven hits, walking two and striking out two. Brody Harper of Alma, Ark., pitched two innings of relief for the Pirates, allowing two runs on one hit, walking one and striking out two.

Lions sophomore Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., allowed only one earned run on four hits, walked one and struck out eight in six complete innings to earn his first win in as many starts. Freshman Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., gave up one earned run on two hits, walked one and struck out two in one inning of relief.

Centerfielder Logan Collins was 1 for 3 with one RBI and shortstop Sam McGill was 1 for 3 with one RBI to lead the Pirates’ six-hit performance.

UA Fort Smith 5, Independence CC 2

GAME TWO – The Lions took a 4-0 lead after the first inning and that was more than enough of a cushion as they completed the doubleheader sweep.

UA Fort Smith pounded out nine hits with four players collecting multiple hits. Shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, centerfielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 3, Sallis was 2 for 4 and right fielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 2 for 2.

Pirates starter Ryan Moss suffered the loss in five complete innings of work, allowing five runs – two earned – on seven hits, walking three and striking out three. Reliever Dereck Pledger of Clarksville, Ark., allowed two hits during one shutout inning of relief.

Lions freshman Trent Daniel (2-0) of Bryant, Ark., scattered five hits in six innings, allowed two earned runs, walked four and struck out 11. Sophomore Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., allowed one hit in one scoreless inning of relief to earn his second save in as many chances.

Third baseman Cade McKewon was 2 for 2 and second baseman Zach Smith was 2 for 3 to lead the Pirates.

GAME ONE

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 8, INDEPENDENCE CC 3

Independence 110 000 1 — 3 6 2

UA Fort Smith 203 102 X — 8 8 3

Pierce, Harper (5) and Danials; Huchingson, Bogard (7) and Rawls. W – Huchingson, 1-0. L – Pierce. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Rawls (1), Washington (1).

GAME TWO

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 5, INDEPENDENCE CC 2

Independence 011 000 0 — 2 6 3

UA Fort Smith 401 000 X — 5 9 1

Moss, Pledger (6) and Spillman, Danials (6); Daniel, Babcock (7) and Rawls. W – Daniel, 2-0. L – Moss. Sv – Babcock (2). HRs – None.

The win helped the No. 21 Lions (11-0) sweep the doubleheader with the Fighting Scots (0-7), who lost the opener 8-5. UA Fort Smith also swept the two-day, four-game series, winning 7-2 and 10-3 on Saturday.

It was an afternoon of comebacks for the Lions, who struggled on the mound for the first time this season.

Lions freshman Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., earned the complete-game win in the second game, allowing five earned runs on six hits, walking one, hitting two and striking out five.

McKinney (2-0) gave up all five runs in the third and fourth innings as UA Fort Smith trailed 5-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

McHenry centerfielder Levi Pippenger was 2 for 4, right fielder Paul Vargas was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and third baseman Kenny Kahle was 1 for 3 with two RBIs to account for all of the Fighting Scots’ offense.

Much like they did in the opener, the Lions rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning to rescue McKinney’s winning bid, scoring four runs on four hits.

UA Fort Smith opened the frame with four consecutive hits – a single by catcher Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark.; a RBI single by third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith; a single by centerfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark.; and a two-RBI double by second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla.

Designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., also drove in a run on a ground out to top off the big inning.

UA Fort Smith had seven hits off McHenry starter Sean Wilson, who allowed five earned runs, walked three and struck out two in the complete-game loss. Sallis was 2 for 2 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Lions, while Rawls was 2 for 3.

UA Fort Smith 8, McHenry County CC 5

GAME 1 – The Lions rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to win the opening game against the Fighting Scots.

Lions starter Trent Daniel of Bryant, Ark., was sharp, retiring the first four batters he faced. However, he left the game after facing just one batter in the second inning when he took a line drive off the arm.

With one out, reliever Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla., struggled after a quick call from the bullpen. He walked all five batters he faced and uncorked four wild pitches, leading to four earned runs.

Reliever Mackenzie Been of Greenwood, Ark., got the Lions out of the inning and pitched 3 1/3 innings of solid relief, allowing one earned run on two hits, walking two and striking out two.

Trailing 5-0, the Lions rallied with four runs in the bottom of the third inning, including a two-run home run by Young. UA Fort Smith took its only lead with a three-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning, capitalizing on an error and RBI singles by designated hitter Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., and catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark.

Reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., spelled Been in the fifth inning and worked 2 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball to earn the win. The big left-hander is 4-0 with one save in five appearances.

The Fighting Scots had only three hits with shortstop Victor Melesio (1 for 3), left fielder Sean Wilson (1 for 3) and right fielder Paul Vargas (1 for 2) collecting all of the hits.

UA Fort Smith collected nine hits off McHenry starter Chad Staudt, who suffered the loss in 5 2/3 innings. Staudt gave up eight runs – five earned – walked five and struck out three before giving way to reliever Tyler Funke.

Centerfielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 4; Washington was 2 for 4 with two RBIs; and Young was 2 for 3 with two RBIs to lead the Lions.

GAME 1

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 8, MCHENRY COUNTY CC 5

McHenry 041 000 0 — 5 3 2

UA Fort Smith 004 031 X — 8 9 2

Staudt, Funke (6) and Walsh; Daniel, Vaughn (2), Been (2), Babcock (5) and Meyer. W – Babcock, 4-0. L – Staudt. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Young (1).

GAME 2

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 6, MCHENRY COUNTY CC 5

McHenry 002 300 0 — 5 6 2

UA Fort Smith 011 040 X — 6 7 0

Wilson and Robins; McKinney and Rawls. W – McKinney, 2-0. L – Wilson. HRs – None.

The win propelled the Lions (9-0) to the doubleheader sweep of the winless Fighting Scots (0-5), who lost the second game 10-3.

Babcock relieved Lions starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., after four innings with the game tied at two runs apiece. The big left-hander from Gentry, Ark., allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two.

The Lions gave Babcock the offensive support he needed to post the win with a four-run surge in the bottom of the fifth inning. UA Fort Smith capitalized on a single by centerfielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., and a double by left fielder Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., and three errors.

McHenry committed five errors for the game.

Winiecki was 2 for 3, first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 3 with one RBI and Huchingson and right fielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., were each 1 for 3 with one RBI.

The Lions had seven hits off McHenry starter Brent Breakiron, who suffered the complete-game loss. Breakiron allowed five earned runs, walked four and struck out five.

UA Fort Smith 10, McHenry County CC 3

GAME TWO – The Lions pounded out nine hits and took advantage of seven errors by the Fighting Scots in posting the lopsided win in the second game.

Designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., was 2 for 3, third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith as 2 for 3 with one RBI and shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with one RBI.

Eight different Lions had at least one RBI. McHenry starter Tom Lawton suffered the complete-game loss, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out five.

Sophomore Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., earned the win for the Lions in six complete innings. Fuller (2-0), who retired the first nine batters he faced, allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out two before giving way to Huchingson.

Second baseman Ryan Kelley was 2 for 3 and first baseman Karl DeMarco was 2 for 4 to lead the Fighting Scots.

UA Fort Smith set the tone early in the bottom of the first inning with a four-run outburst and tacked on four more runs in the third inning to lead 8-0.

GAME 1

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 7, MCHENRY COUNTY CC 2

McHenry County 000 200 0 — 2 6 5

UA Fort Smith 110 041 X — 7 8 1

Breakiron and Walsh; Pratt, Babcock (5) and Meyer. W – Babcock, 3-0. L – Breakiron. HRs – None.

GAME 2

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 10, MCHENRY COUNTY CC 3

McHenry 000 200 1 — 3 8 7

UA Fort Smith 404 020 X — 10 9 0

Lawton and Robins; Fuller, Huchingson (6) and Rawls. W – Fuller, 2-0. L – Lawton. HRs – None.

It took a while, but the Lions finally got their bats going.

The No. 21 Lions peppered four North Central Missouri pitchers with 12 hits on their way to a 12-0 win Sunday afternoon at Crowder Field. The win helped the Lions (7-0) sweep the doubleheader and the weekend series against the Pirates.

UA Fort Smith won Sunday’s opening game 2-0. The Lions won Saturday’s doubleheader against the Pirates 2-1 and 4-2.

It was the second-most runs and second-most hits for the Lions this season. UA Fort Smith scored 13 runs on 13 hits in the three-game series finale against North Arkansas College during last weekend’s three-game season-opening series.

Seven Lions had at least one hit with five players collecting multiple hits. Sophomore center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Sophomore first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a stolen base, sophomore outfielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., was 2 for 4 with one RBI, sophomore outfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 2 for 4 with one RBI and freshman catcher Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

Freshman designated hitter Marty Pick of Ames, Iowa, was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

UA Fort Smith erupted for nine runs off North Central Missouri starter Dakota Bright (0-1) during a 13-batter first inning that led to an early exit for Bright after just 2/3 of an inning. All but one of the Lions’ runs was unearned.

The Lions added three more insurance runs in the third inning off Josh Reeves, the Pirates’ third pitcher.

Freshman Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., tossed a two-hit shutout, walked only one and struck out three in earning the win in his collegiate debut. Sophomore Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., tossed three shutout innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out five.

North Central Missouri’s Adam Dubuque was the only Pirate with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 from the leadoff spot.

UA Fort Smith 2, N.C. Missouri College 0

GAME ONE – Freshman Trent Daniel tossed a four-hit shutout as the Lions overcame a sluggish offensive performance to win the opening game. Daniel, a left-hander from Bryant, Ark., walked two and struck out nine in six complete innings before giving way to closer Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla. Vaughn allowed one hit and was the benefactor of the Lions’ only double play in earning his first save in as many chances.

No North Central Missouri batter had multiple hits, and the Pirates left eight runners stranded.

UA Fort Smith had only four hits and left six runners stranded.

Sophomore second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 3 with one RBI, freshman third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith was 1 for 2 and Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 1 for 3.

GAME ONE

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 2, N.C. MISSOURI COLLEGE 0

N.C. Missouri 000 000 0 — 0 5 3

UA Fort Smith 110 000 X — 2 4 0

Parrish and Bliss; Daniel, Vaughn (7) and Meyer. W – Daniel, 1-0. L – Parrish, 0-1. Sv – Vaughn (1). HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 12, N.C. MISSOURI COLLEGE 0

N.C. Missouri 000 000 0 — 0 4 2

UA Fort Smith 900 300 X — 12 12 1

Bright, Pryor (1), Reeves (4), Murphy (5) and Alexander; McKinney, Huchingson (5) and Rawls. W – McKinney, 1-0. L – Bright, 0-1. HRs – None.

Barnes’ round-tripper – his first of the season – helped the No. 21 Lions complete their doubleheader sweep of the Pirates, who lost 2-1 to the Lions in the opener earlier in the day.

The Yukon, Okla., product was 2 for 3 and drove in all but one of the Lions’ runs in the second game. His biggest blow came in the bottom of the seventh inning with the game tied at two runs apiece.

After designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., led off the inning with a double down the right field line off Pirates reliever Keegan Graves, Barnes delivered his biggest hit of his three-game collegiate career, crushing Graves’ offering well over the left field fence.

Barnes’ last-inning heroics helped give Lions reliever Drew Babcock his second win in as many opportunities. The big left-hander from Gentry, Ark., allowed no runs on no hits, walked three and struck out two in 1 2/3 innings.

Babcock (2-0), who also has converted his only save opportunity, worked out of a jam he inherited from Lions middle reliever Ross Bogard of Sherwood, Ark., in the sixth, allowing only one unearned run, which was charged to Bogard.

With the game tied at two runs apiece, Babcock, who was making his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury in last weekend’s series against North Arkansas College, got Pirates catcher David Bliss to ground out to start the seventh inning but walked the bases loaded to create another jam.

In typical Babcock fashion, he struck out the last two batters he faced to give the Lions a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh.

UA Fort Smith 2, N.C. Missouri College 1

GAME ONE – Sophomore Jordan Pratt scattered four hits, walked one and struck out 12 to earn his second win in as many starts for the Lions in the opening game.

The right-hander from Harrison, Ark., pitched six complete innings and left with a one-run lead, and Bogard retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to earn his first save in as many chances.

Sophomore left fielder Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 2 and had half of the Lions’ hits. Freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith had one RBI, and sophomore Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., had one RBI, driving in the go-ahead run with a groundout in the bottom of the fifth inning.

GAME ONE

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 2, N.C. MISSOURI 1

N.C. Missouri 000 100 0 — 1 4 0

UA Fort Smith 001 010 X — 2 4 1

Sturdefant, Burns (5) and Bliss; Pratt, Bogard (7) and Meyer. W – Pratt, 2-0. L – Sturdefant, 0-1. Sv – Bogard (1). HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 4, N.C. MISSOURI 2

N.C. Missouri 010 001 0 — 2 7 1

UA Fort Smith 000 011 2 — 4 8 2

Green, Graves (6) and Bliss; Fuller, Bogard (6), Babcock (6) and Rawls, Meyer (6). W – Babcock, 2-0. L – Graves, 0-1. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Barnes (1).

A day after picking up his first save, Babcock pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief to earn his first win of the season Sunday afternoon as the No. 21 Lions rallied for a 13-5 win against the North Arkansas College Pioneers at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (3-0) swept the season-opening, three-game series, winning Saturday’s doubleheader 5-1 and 6-3.

Babcock relieved Lions middle reliever Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla., with the Lions leading 4-3 in the seventh with two outs and runners at first and third. He gave up a RBI single to Pioneers center fielder Cory Beeler to tie the game – the run was charged to Carlin, who allowed three runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings.

The sophomore left-hander from Gentry, Ark., got Pioneers first baseman Chase Ledyard to fly out to right field to end the threat.

Babcock was almost flawless the rest of the way, allowing only one unearned run on two hits and striking out two over the final two frames. The last hit the Pioneers got off of Babcock was a hard shot from Beeler that ricocheted off Babcock’s ankle leading to an infield single.

Babcock (1-0) shook off the injury and struck out Ledyard to end the game.

North Arkansas (4-3) had eight hits off the three Lions pitchers. Beeler had half of the Pioneers’ hits, going 4 for 5 with one RBI. Lions freshman starter Trent Daniel from Bryant, Ark., was solid in his collegiate debut, allowing one run on two hits, walking one and striking out five in four innings.

UA Fort Smith pounded out 13 hits with four extra-base hits off four of the Pioneers’ five pitchers. Nathan Roberts, the second Pioneers pitcher, suffered the loss, allowing six runs on six hits with one walk in one inning.

Freshman designated hitter Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla., the Oklahoma High School Player of the Year last year, was 3 for 4 with a triple and one RBI in his collegiate debut; sophomore center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 4; sophomore shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs; and sophomore first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 5 with one RBI.

Lions sophomore catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., delivered the biggest hit of the game, belting a three-run home run during the Lions’ six-run seventh inning that pushed them ahead for good. Meyer was 1 for 3.

Sophomore left fielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., crushed the Lions’ second home run – a solo shot – to lead off the eighth inning and trigger at three-run outburst. Sullivan was 1 for 3.

UA Fort Smith will return to action on Feb. 14 when it hosts North Central Missouri College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 13, NORTH ARKANSAS COLLEGE 5

North Arkansas 010 000 301 — 5 8 1

UA Fort Smith 021 100 63X — 13 13 1

Coleman, Roberts (7), Filler (8), Singer (8) and Chwalinski; Daniel, Carlin (5), Babcock (7) and Meyer. W – Babcock, 1-0. L – Roberts. HRs – North Arkansas, Grubbs; UA Fort Smith, Meyer (1), Sullivan (1).

Babcock, a 6-foot-4 left-hander from Gentry, Ark., faced only one batter in the seventh inning of the second game, entering in relief of Lions reliever Derek Vaughn with two outs and the bases loaded.

He got Pioneers designated hitter Matt Chwalinski to ground out to second base to end the threat and preserve the Lions’ 6-3 win.

UA Fort Smith (2-0), which is ranked No. 21, won the opening game 5-1 and will look for the three-game series sweep on Sunday when it hosts North Arkansas College (4-2) for one nine-inning game at noon at Crowder Field.

Sophomore Colin Fuller allowed two runs – both earned – on six hits, walked one and struck out nine in six complete innings to earn the win. He allowed a solo run in the first inning on an RBI single by first baseman Chase Ledyard and another run in the sixth inning on a RBI double by catcher Lee Harris (2 for 3).

Harris and second baseman Cory Duke (2 for 3) were the only Pioneers with multiple hits. North Arkansas added another run in the seventh inning on a RBI groundout by Cory Beeler.

UA Fort Smith touched two of North Arkansas’ three pitchers for seven hits with starter Travis Bearden suffering the loss in three innings of work. Bearden allowed five runs – three earned – on six hits, walked two and struck out one.

Pioneer middle reliever Kyle Mathis allowed one earned run on one hit, walked one and struck out one in two innings.

Second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., and third baseman Cameron Young of Fort Smith were each 2 for 3 with one RBI for the Lions, while shortstop Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and first baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 1 for 3 with one RBI.

Washington had an RBI triple as part of the Lions’ four-run third inning that pushed them ahead for good 5-1.

UA Fort Smith 5, North Arkansas 1

GAME ONE – Sophomore Jordan Pratt allowed just one run in a complete-game effort as the Lions took the opening game, which took about an hour and a half to play.

The 6-2 right-hander, who has signed with the University of Arkansas, gave up just three hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter. Duke (1 for 3), Beeler (1 for 3) and shortstop Mark Turpin (1 for 2) were the only Pioneers to get a hit off Pratt.

Beeler drove in the Pioneers’ only run with a two-out single in the third inning.

UA Fort Smith touched Pioneers starter Davin Houser for five runs – two earned – in the complete-game effort.

Houser allowed six hits, walked two and struck out two. Sophomore center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 3, Sallis was 1 for 3 with one RBI, freshman designated hitter Marty Pick of Ames, Iowa, was 1 for 3 with one RBI, sophomore catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., was 1 for 2 and second baseman Matt Brown of Harrison, Ark., was 1 for 3 for UA Fort Smith.

GAME ONE

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 5, NORTH ARKANSAS 1

North Arkansas 001 000 0 - 1 3 2

UA Fort Smith 200 201 X - 5 6 0

Houser and Chwalinski; Pratt and Meyer. W – Pratt, 1-0. L – Houser. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 21 UA FORT SMITH 6, NORTH ARKANSAS 3

North Arkansas 100 001 1 — 3 7 1

UA Fort Smith 104 100 X — 6 7 0

Bearden, Mathis (4), Singer (6) and Harris; Fuller, Vaughn (7), Babcock (7) and Rawls. W – Fuller, 1-0. L – Bearden. Sv – Babcock (1). HRs – None.

UA Fort Smith, which won the region tournament in 2007 and was runner-up in 2008, is competing in its final season as member of the NJCAA before joining the NCAA Division II ranks.

The Lions will open the season on Saturday when they host the North Arkansas College Pioneers in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field. The three-game weekend series will conclude on Sunday at noon with one nine-inning game.

Already, the Lions are garnering national attention. UA Fort Smith is ranked No. 21 in the NJCAA Division I preseason Top 30 and is one of three Bi-State Conference teams to earn a spot in the rankings. The Lions are No. 39 in the Perfect Game Crosschecker Top 50.

UA Fort Smith will return experience at eight defensive positions, including a preseason NJCAA Division I second team All-American in the outfield in sophomore Joey Winiecki.

Winiecki, who’s from Bryant, Ark., had 100 hits a year ago (86 singles, seven doubles, two triples and five home runs) while batting leadoff in the lineup. The speedy centerfielder batted .444 with 57 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in earning All-Region honors.

He has already signed with NCAA Division I Oral Roberts University.

Joining Winiecki in the outfield will be sophomore Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., who will move from left field to right field, and sophomores of Dillan Black of Greenwood, Ark.; Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark.; and Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., who could share time in left field.

Robertson, who has already signed with NCAA Division II Harding University, batted .358 with 11 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 39 RBIs.

Black, who saw time as a utility player a year ago, batted .267 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Sullivan batted .397 with eight doubles, one triple, one home run and nine RBIs last year while playing exclusively in the outfield. Huchingson was a spot starter last year in the Lions’ pitching rotation and did not log an official at-bat.

“Those three guys will battle for playing time in right,” said UA Fort Smith coach Dale Harpenau, who begins his 11th season.

There will be a bit of a shake-up on the infield where sophomore Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., will move from third base to shortstop, which was the position he played in high school while playing for the Greenland Pirates.

West, who will likely bat third in the lineup, batted. .317 last year with 12 doubles, 10 triples, two home runs and 41 RBIs. Freshman Cameron Young of Fort Smith, Ark., will start at third base. Young was a starting infielder for the Southside Rebels a year ago.

“Being able to move Cameron (to third) gave us a little bit of a presence at short with a guy (West) who has played there and is also a returning player from a year ago,” Harpenau said.

Sophomore Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., will return at second base. Sallis, who batted second for most of last season, batted .367 with five doubles, three triples, one home run and 27 RBIs.

The speedy infielder also stole 27 bases.

“There is no replacement for the speed,” said Harpenau of Sallis and Winiecki. “That’s obviously a luxury we enjoyed a year ago, and hopefully, we will be able to experience the same luxury again this year.”

Sophomore Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., and freshman Justin Barnes of Yukon, Okla. will split time at first base and designated hitter.

Washington, who was an infielder and designated hitter a year ago, batted .387 with four doubles, one triple, one home run and 19 RBIs. Barnes batted .447 with 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 39 RBIs for Yukon High school in earning Oklahoma Coaches Association Player of the Year honors.

He originally signed with Oklahoma State University.

“Early on, (Barnes) seems to be a guy who is going to be a threat to hit the ball out of the park with each at-bat,” Harpenau said. “He’s exhibited that in intrasquad and batting practice, but we haven’t taken it to game day yet. We don’t want to put too many expectations on him. He’s new, and it’s going to take him a while to settle in. But, he definitely possesses the power to do it.”

Sophomore Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., split time at catcher a year ago and will share time with redshirt freshman Austin Rawls of Marion, Ark. Meyer batted .328 with three doubles and 14 RBIs.

“Meyer is a better offensive player than Rawls, and Rawls could be a little better defensively with a better arm strength,” Harpenau said.

The Lions’ projected lineup will boast speed at the top with Sallis and Winiecki and some punch in the middle with West, Barnes, Washington and Robertson.

“We think we’ve got a good balance,” Harpenau said. “We have some speed up top. We hope we have some bangers in the middle, some guys who will handle fastballs and some guys who will hit for average and handle a bat and do some things for us – bunt and hit and run – towards the bottom of the lineup.”

The Lions’ pitching staff will be anchored by sophomores Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., and Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla. The two were the Lions’ Nos. 3 and 4 pitchers in the rotation a year ago, but pitching coach Shohn Doty said they have worked their way into the top two spots in the rotation.

Both were recently named among the top returning pitchers in the NJCAA South Central District.

“Both of those guys should be front-end guys in our league,” said Doty, who begins his fifth season. “They will be as good as anybody we face. We will probably split those guys. I doubt if they will pitch on the same day. It would be nice to have two proven guys going out every conference game.

“So instead of throwing them both at home or both on the road, we’ll throw one at home and one on the road. That gives you an advantage for the other two guys.”

Pratt was 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA a year ago with 12 starts and 13 appearances. The 6-2 right-hander, who has signed with the University of Arkansas, walked 32 and struck out 62 during 54 1/3 innings.

“Jordan had a good fall and kind of proved himself to be our most reliable starter,” Doty said. “He probably has the best stuff on the team as far as the ability to get strikeouts.”

Carlin was 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA last spring with 11 starts and 13 appearances and pitched two complete games. The 6-4 right-hander walked 26 and struck out 69 during 61 1/3 innings.

“Steve obviously didn’t have the kind of fall he would have liked, and that’s due to injury more than anything else,” Doty said. “His work habits are good, and he’ll get back. … Steve’s more of a strike-thrower and a ground-ball kind of guy. He works fast and does all the right things.”

Doty said sophomore Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., and freshman Trent Daniel of Bryant, Ark., will likely round out the Lions’ four-man conference rotation.

Fuller was 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA last spring with four starts and seven appearances. The 5-11 right-hander walked 13 and struck out 25 during 18 1/3 innings.

“Colin Fuller had a great fall and is a returning guy who saw some action last year but probably not as much as he would have wanted,” Doty said. “He really matured over the summer and challenged Jordan for the No. 1 spot all fall. He did a great job.

“He throws three pitches for strikes and commands the zone. We’ve just seen a big leap in his maturation and his ability to keep us in games.”

Daniel, a 6-foot left-hander, was a three-year letterman for Bryant High School and was named All-County, All-Conference and All-State. He also was named an AHSCAA All-Star.

“The other guys are right-handed, so it would be nice to have a left-handed starter,” Doty said. “Trent gives us quality. He’s a change-up, fast ball, change-up guy, and he’s tough against left-handed hitters. He enables us to do some things instead of going all right. He had a good fall but not a great fall, but he’s been much, much better this spring.”

The Lions return a considerable amount of experience in the bullpen with the likes of sophomores Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., and Huchingson.

Babcock was 2-0 with a 2.46 ERA with 21 relief appearances. The 6-4 left-hander walked 11 and struck out 41 during 37 innings.

“Drew’s been here it seems like longer than I have,” said Doty of the redshirt sophomore. “Last year, he only had 37 innings but he appeared in 21 games. He knows his role, and he knows what he’s capable of doing. He doesn’t ever try to do more than he’s able to do. He maybe had one bad outing a year ago.

“When you put him in a game, you know what you’re going to get. He energizes us. He’s a high-energy guy out of the pen. Guys like playing behind him because they know they’re going to get ground balls and he’s going to throw strikes and give the defense a chance to make plays.”

Huchingson was 4-5 with a 2.57 ERA with eight starts and 16 appearances as a spot starter a year ago. The 6-5 left-hander, who was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 23rd round of this past June’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, walked 28 and struck out 64 during 49 innings.

His role will change this spring as he will not only be pitching in relief but also seeing some time in the outfield.

“He’s going to start in the bullpen, but he’ll get some spot starts here and there,” Doty said. “There’s a couple of reasons for that. He’s going to play a role for us offensively some, and because of that, it’s hard for him to get into the rotation.

“The second thing is that he presents match-up problems out of the bullpen. He’s a 6-5 left-hander who is long and lanky. He can do some things for us.”

Redshirt freshman Daniel McKinney of Spiro, Okla., freshman Mackenzie Been of Greenwood, Ark., and freshman Derek Vaughn of Edmond, Okla. will also log innings out of the bullpen.

Doty is looking forward to the return of McKinney, a 6-2 right-hander who missed last spring after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“He’s done nothing but get better since we’ve gotten him back,” Doty said. “He’s proven to have an above-average out-pitch with his curve ball. His velocity comes and goes right now, which is always the case with an injury.

“The biggest thing is to get him on a pitch count and by the middle of March get him to where he needs to be. He’s going to be really limited early as far as the amount that he throws, but we’re going to get him his innings and make sure he’s ready to go.”

Been, a 6-2 right-hander, was a three-year letterman for Greenwood High School, and Doty said the local product had a really good fall.

“He’s kind of been plagued a little bit by arm injuries here early, but we expect him to be full speed within the week,” Doty said. “He’s a 85 to 88 mile-an-hour right-hander who is a strike-thrower. He really has a chance to help us in the middle.”

Vaughn, a 6-0 right-hander, was a four-year starter for Deer Creek High School, was named team MVP and All-City and was honorable mention All-State. He originally signed with the University of Oklahoma.

“He’s a guy who’s kind of the X-factor a little bit,” Doty said. “He hasn’t put it together, but if he does – and I think he will – he could be a dominant-type guy out of the bullpen. He has the ability to throw the ball by guys. For whatever reasons, guys don’t seem to get good swings off of him.

“With Derek, it’s all about consistency. He’s got to throw more strikes. He’s working hard on it. It’s a little bit mental, a little bit physical and a little bit mechanical. He knows right now that he’s not ready, but it’s a marathon and not a sprint. I need him to be ready in May and not necessarily the first weekend.”

UA Fort Smith is ranked No. 21 and is one of three Bi-State Conference teams ranked in the poll. Defending NJCAA Region II tournament champ Connors State is No. 11, and Eastern Oklahoma State is No. 27.

The Lions, who finished 43-18 a year ago and were the Region II tournament runner-ups, will open the season on Saturday, Feb. 7, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against North Arkansas College at Crowder Field.

Sophomore outfielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was named a preseason second team All-American. Winiecki is one of only three Bi-State Conference players to earn All-American honors, joining utility player Brandon Smith of Connors State (first team) and infielder David Chester of Seminole State College (third team).

Winiecki had 100 hits a year ago and batted .444 with five home runs, 57 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in earning All-Region II honors.

He also was named as one of the top returning players in the South Central District, along with fellow sophomore teammates infielder Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., and outfielder Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark.

Winiecki has already signed with Oral Roberts University, while Robertson has signed with Harding University.

Sophomore pitchers Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., were named among the top returning pitchers in the South Central District. Pratt has signed with the University of Arkansas.

UA Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran received the official notification of the decision made by the President’s Council of the Gulf South Conference during Wednesday’s session of the NCAA National Convention, which is being held this week in Washington, D.C.

In making its decision, the President’s Council cited the current balance within the conference’s two divisions – eight teams in the West Division and eight teams in the East Division – as being the desired management structure that they want to maintain for the conference.

“UA Fort Smith has a strong athletic program, excellent facilities, and most importantly, dedicated and energized athletic personnel,” Beran said. “The athletic department administration and I will immediately begin to pursue other conference opportunities.”

This past July, the athletic department received approval from the NCAA Division II membership committee to proceed to the second year of the two-year exploratory phase of the three-year membership process.

UA Fort Smith is currently competing in its final season as a member of the NJCAA.

“UA Fort Smith has demonstrated full ability to be a strong member of any NCAA Division II conference,” Beran said. “We will move forward to not only join another conference of equal or greater quality and stature, but also we will move forward to show our huge capacity for being the university of choice for student athletes.”

Jordan Pratt, a sophomore from Harrison, Ark., signed with the University of Arkansas; Joey Winiecki, a sophomore from Bryant, Ark., signed with Oral Roberts University; Adam Robertson of Searcy, Ark., signed with Harding University; and sophomore Blake Gentry of Pocola, Okla., signed with Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Pratt, a 6-foot-2 right-handed pitcher, was 3-2 during 13 appearances as a freshman. He compiled a 2.83 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 32 walks during 54 1/3 innings. Pratt is one of 12 players signed by the NCAA Division I Razorbacks during the early signing period and one of nine pitchers.

Winiecki, a 6-foot centerfielder, batted a team-best .444 as a freshman with 100 hits (86 singles, seven doubles, two triples and five home runs). He drove in a team-high 57 runs and had a team-high 30 stolen bases while earning first team All-Region II honors.

He is one of 11 players signed by the Division I Golden Eagles during the early signing period and the only outfielder.

Robertson, a 5-10 outfielder, batted .358 as a freshman with 67 hits (49 singles, 11 doubles, two triples and five home runs) and drove in 39 runs. He is one of two players signed by the Division II Bisons and the only outfielder.

Gentry, a 6-2 outfielder, batted .292 as a freshman at Seminole State College with 26 hits (17 singles, three triples, four doubles and two home runs) and drove in 18 runs. Gentry, who transferred to UA Fort Smith this past summer, is one of four players signed by the Division II Savage Storm and the only outfielder.

Blake Doty, a shortstop from Springdale, Ark., signed with the NCAA Division I University of New Orleans. Doty, who also received interest from the University of Tennessee, Oral Roberts University and the University of North Carolina - Charlotte, batted .386 with five home runs, 15 doubles, four triples and 53 RBIs.

Cobey Guy, a right-handed pitcher from Harrah, Okla., signed with NCAA Division I Wichita State University during the fall signing period. Guy, who also received interest from Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech, was 6-1 with a 2.53 ERA and 108 strikeouts over team-high 74 2/3 innings.

Jake Waddle, a left-handed relief pitcher from Waldron, Ark., signed with NCAA Division I Nicholls State University. Waddle, who also received interest from Louisiana Tech University, Southern Arkansas University and Central Arkansas University, was 3-2 with a team high six saves and a 1.19 ERA over 35 1/3 innings.

Brandon Solberg, a left-handed relief pitcher from Conway, Ark., signed with NCAA Division I Central Arkansas University. Solberg, who also received interest from West Alabama and Delta State University, was 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA over 25 1/3 innings.

Jared Richmond, an outfielder from Van Buren, Ark., signed with NAIA Tusculum College. Richmond, who also received interest from Delta State University and the University of Evansville, batted .377 with eight home runs, 19 doubles, nine triples and 60 RBIs.

Kyle Decker, a catcher from Stilwell, Okla., signed with NCAA Division II Northeastern State University. Decker batted .303 with five home runs, seven doubles, one triple and 26 RBIs.

Eric McKinney, an outfielder from Spiro, Okla., signed with NCAA Division II Northeastern State University. McKinney batted .364 with eight home runs, four doubles, four triples and 25 RBIs.

Matt Whiting, a second baseman from Monticello, Ark., signed with the NCAA Division II University of Arkansas - Monticello. Whiting batted .321 with one triple, 16 RBIs and two stolen bases.

Aaron Davidson, a right-handed pitcher from Bryant, Ark., was drafted in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft this past June by the San Francisco Giants and recently signed a pro contract. Davidson was 10-4 with 2.01 ERA and a team-high 117 strikeouts over 73 innings.

The departing sophomores helped UA Fort Smith post a 43-18 finish this past spring, including an 11-9 mark in Bi-State Conference play. The Lions advanced to the NJCAA Region II tournament championship game, where they lost to Connors State College.

And while some of the UA Fort Smith recruits could draw some interest from Major League teams during this week’s first-year player draft, Harpenau doesn’t expect the Lions’ roster to be affected much.

The first-year player draft will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the Milk House, which is part of Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The first day of the two-day event will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 and MLB.com.

“We think we’re going to come away unscathed,” said Harpenau, who was a scout for the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers earlier in his coaching career.

BaseballAmerica.com’s scouting report on Arkansas describes the state’s potential draft class as “not up to par.” The Web site rates current Arkansas Razorback third baseman Logan Forsythe as the top pro prospect in the state and the 76th-best prospect in the nation.

Harpenau agrees with BaseballAmerica.com’s assessment of the state’s draft pool for the most part, citing the recent change in the draft that eliminated the draft-and-follow rule.

The draft-and-follow rule allowed pro teams to keep exclusive rights to a drafted player up until one week prior to the following year’s draft if that player attended a junior college. The team lost its rights to the player if he was a high school player that decided to attend a four-year college.

The rule was eliminated prior to last year’s draft.

“In the past, they were drafting guys who had unrealized talent,” Harpenau said. “Now because they don’t have the draft-and-follow (rule) anymore, if you are drafted they feel like or at least hope they can sign you.

“Once (the player) goes back to college, they are not the property of that organization anymore. When that changed, it kind of changed the whole complexion of the draft. Are there any guys in the state of Arkansas that are sure-fire Top 10- or Top 20-round guys? If there are, there is only a handful.”

Former UA Fort Smith pitcher Cobey Guy could receive some interest at some point during the two-day draft.

Guy, who was a two-year starter for the Lions, is rated as the seventh-best prospect in Arkansas by BaseballAmerica.com, albeit he is from Harrah, Okla. He boasts a hard breaking ball with a fastball that tops out in the low 90 mile-an-hour range.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander was 6-1 in 16 appearances this spring, including 12 starts. He compiled a 2.53 ERA with 108 strikeouts and 51 walks while logging a team-high 74 2/3 innings of work.

As a freshman, Guy, who signed with Wichita State last fall, was 7-4 in 14 starts with a 1.92 ERA.

“He struggled at the beginning of the year, and then he came on late and found his velocity and his breaking ball was much better the latter half of the season,” Harpenau said. “He’s a young man who is going to Wichita State. At times, he threw the ball like he would be a guy who could throw at the level.”

Some of the current Lions could also receive some interest in the late rounds of the draft, like Chase Huchingson and Joey Winiecki.

Huchingson is rated as the eighth-best prospect in Arkansas by BaseballAmerica.com. Huchingson, who originally signed with Arizona State, is a 6-5, 185-pound left-hander with a fastball that’s been clocked in the low 90s.

The Fayetteville, Ark., product struggled at times this past spring as a part-time starter and middle reliever. The freshman was 4-5 in 16 appearances, including eight starts, with one save in as many opportunities.

Huchingson had 68 strikeouts and issued 28 walks during 49 innings of work.

“He’s got unrealized potential,” Harpenau said. “He’s a left-hander who at times has big-league stuff. Right now, it’s just a matter of consistency with him. He’s throwing this summer, which should help him. He just needs more work.”

Winiecki, a 6-0, 170-pound center fielder from Bryant, Ark., led the Lions with .444 batting average and 100 hits, including seven doubles, two triples and five home runs with 57 RBIs. Winiecki, who runs a 6.4 60-yard dash, stole a team-high 30 bases in 36 attempts.

“Joey has a tool (speed) that never slumps. He runs extremely well from the left side, and that makes him intriguing for the pro guys,” Harpenau said. “He had a hundred hits for us this year as a freshman in college, and that’s hard to do. His short game has gotten better, and it needs to continue to get better.

“There are things he needs to polish in his game. He doesn’t throw the ball very well, but he makes up for that in some other areas.”

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 Clinton Carter was 2 for 4 with one RBI to highlight the Vikings’ six-hit performance.

UA Fort Smith will return to Bi-State Conference play on Thursday when it hosts Seminole State College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 7, CARL ALBERT STATE 6

Carl Albert 000 024 000 — 6 6 4

UA Fort Smith 032 101 00X — 7 11 3

Haag, Atchison (3), Chronister (6) and Jones, Gee (5), Haderer (6); Pratt, Huchingson (2), Fuller (6), Solberg (6), Waddle (9) and Meyer, Decker (6). W – Solberg, 2-1. L – Atchison. Sv – Waddle (4). HRs – UA Fort Smith, Sullivan (1).

UA Fort Smith tagged three Crowder College pitchers with 20 hits on Sunday afternoon on its way to a 12-5 nonconference win against the Roughriders. The No. 16-ranked Lions salvaged a split in their series with the Roughriders, who beat the Lions 10-9 on April 1 at Crowder Field.

The Lions (35-10) won their seventh-consecutive game while sustaining what has been a red-hot offensive streak.

UA Fort Smith, which hasn’t lost since an 8-0 setback at Rose State on April 4, has scored 73 runs on 103 hits during the past seven games – an average of almost 11 runs and 15 hits per game.

Eight Lions batters had hits against Crowder’s trio of hurlers, and all eight had multiple hits. UA Fort Smith batted .455 (20 of 44) with four extra-base hits.

Lions sophomore right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 4 for 5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs, and freshman designated hitter Zach Coshow of Edmond, Okla., had a career day, going 4 for 5 with two RBIs.

Crowder (22-16) tagged Lions starter Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City for four runs – two earned – during the first two innings, but UA Fort Smith responded with a game-breaking, six-run outburst in the top of the third inning against Roughriders starter Don Lisi. The Lions had eight hits during the 12-batter inning, including four-consecutive hits by center fielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark. (double); shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla. (single); second baseman Matt Whiting of Monticello, Ark. (single) and Richmond (single).

That was all the run support Lions reliever Drew Babcock needed. Babcock, who is from Gentry, Ark., allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out six during six solid innings of relief to earn his first win.

UA Fort Smith gave Babcock three insurance runs in the fourth inning thanks in part to a two-run home run by Richmond – his third of the season – and added two more in the top of the ninth inning.

Lisi allowed nine runs – seven earned – on 13 hits, walked three and struck out three over five innings in suffering the loss.

The Lions will continue nonconference play on Tuesday when they host border rival Carl Albert State for one nine-inning game beginning at 6 p.m. at Crowder Field. UA Fort Smith beat Carl Albert 12-1 via run-rule in seven innings last Wednesday at Poteau, Okla.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 12, CROWDER COLLEGE 5

UA Fort Smith 006 301 002 — 12 20 3

Crowder 130 100 000 — 5 11 3

Carlin, Babcock (4) and Meyer; Lisi, Brock (6), Mitchell (9) and Williams. W – Babcock, 1-0. L – Lisi. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Richmond (3); Crowder, Anglin.

Having struggled against Bi-State Conference nemesis Northeastern Oklahoma A&M the past few seasons, the Lions took advantage of 38 total hits on Saturday afternoon in sweeping a doubleheader against the Norsemen at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (34-10) won the opening game 14-4 in six innings via run-rule and rallied late to win the second game 13-9. The No. 16-ranked Lions maintained their conference lead in improving to 7-3, while the Norsemen (22-14) fell to 5-5 and out of what was a three-way tie for first place.

The Lions scored in every inning in the opening game, making it a relatively easy afternoon for ace Aaron Davidson.

It wasn’t the best outing for Davidson (9-1), who allowed four runs on 10 hits, walked two and struck out 11 in a complete-game effort, but it was good enough for the sophomore from Bryant, Ark., to earn his ninth win in 10 decisions.

Center fielder Josh Botts was 1 for 3 with a two-run home run and third baseman Mike Sodders was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the Norsemen.

The Lions pounded three Norsemen hurlers with 17 hits with starter Jared White (3-2) suffering the loss in a brief one-plus inning of work. White allowed seven runs in his quick stint – his second-consecutive early exit.

Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., was 4 for 4 with four RBIs, second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 3 for 3 with one RBI, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a triple to lead the Lions, who led 8-0 after two innings.

UA Fort Smith 13, NEO 9

GAME TWO – The Lions rapped 21 hits and needed about every one of them to rally past the Norsemen in the second game. UA Fort Smith twice squandered early leads but battered NEO’s bullpen each time to regain its lead.

Trailing 6-5 the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lions regained the lead for good with a five-run outburst off Norsmen starter Trent Montgomery and middle reliever Jeff Neptune.

Richmond had a two-run single to right field off Neptune, third baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., followed with a RBI single to right-center field and designated hitter Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., had an RBI single to spark the big inning.

NEO answered with three runs in the top of the seventh off Lions reliever Kevin Coleman (5-0) of North Little Rock, Ark., who earned the win after taking over for starter Cobey Guy of Harrah, Okla., in the top of the sixth inning, but the Norsemen got no closer as closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his third save.

UA Fort Smith gave Waddle some much-needed insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring three runs on a RBI triple by Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla., a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Matt Whiting of Monticello, Ark., and a balk by Norsemen closer Jared Jordan.

Richmond was 4 for 6 with three RBIs, Washington of was 3 for 5 with three RBIs, outfielder Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., was 3 for 5 with one RBI and Robertson was 2 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Lions.

Second baseman Carl Moniz was 3 for 5 and first baseman Steve Anderson was 1 for 3 with a two-run home run to lead the Norsemen.

UA Fort Smith will return to nonconference play on Sunday when it travels to Neosho, Mo., to play one nine-inning game against Crowder College at 2 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 14, NEO 4

NEO 002 110 - 4 10 3

UA Fort Smith 441 113 - 14 17 0

Ja. White, Correa (2), Maxey (6) and Jordan; Davidson and Decker. W – Davidson, 9-1. L – White, 3-2. HRs – NEO, Botts (8).

GAME TWO

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 13, NEO 9

NEO 002 103 300 - 9 10 1

UA Fort Smith 300 115 03X - 13 21 0

Montgomery, Neptune (6), Jordan (8) and Hutton; Guy, Coleman (6), Waddle (7) and Decker. W – Coleman, 5-0. L – Montgomery, 2-3. Sv – Waddle (3). HRs – NEO, Anderson (8).

UA Fort Smith now will play NEO at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Crowder Field.

It will be the first two games of the four-game Bi-State Conference series. The Lions will travel to Miami, Okla., on May 3 to play the Norsemen in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

The No. 16-ranked Lions (32-10) are 5-3 in conference play and locked in a three-way tie for first place with NEO (22-10, 5-3) and Eastern Oklahoma State (30-10, 5-3).

With rain forecasted for the afternoon, the No. 16 Lions only need about two hours to run-rule the Vikings 12-1 in seven innings in the first installment of their annual border feud. The two rivals will play another nine-inning game on April 15 at Crowder Field.

Lions starter Chase Huchingson (4-4) of Fayetteville, Ark., allowed only one unearned run on four hits, walked three and struck out four in six innings before giving way to closer Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., who retired the Vikings in order in the seventh inning.

Vikings center fielder Cavett Bright led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and scored on second baseman Michael Vise’s single to left field to cut the Lions’ lead to 2-1.

Designated hitter Michael Jones singled in the third inning, and shortstop Arten White singled in the fourth inning for the Vikings, who left five runners stranded.

Carl Albert (9-25) did not have a base runner after the fourth inning as Huchingson and Babcock retired the last nine Vikings batters in order.

UA Fort Smith right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., gave Huchingson all the offense he needed early.

Richmond belted a two-run home run to right-center field with one out in the first inning to give UA Fort Smith (32-10) a 2-0 lead. Richmond, who has two home runs, was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Lions added a pair of runs in the third inning and a single run in the fifth inning before breaking the game open for good with a six-run sixth inning. UA Fort Smith sent 11 batters to the plate during the inning, capitalizing on four singles, two errors and two walks.

UA Fort Smith tagged four Carl Albert pitchers for eight hits and took advantage of five errors and nine walks. Vikings starter Jake Avery suffered the loss in only 2 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on two hits, walked five and struck out two.

Lions shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 1 for 3 with one RBI and a stolen base and third baseman Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 2 for 4 with a double.

Weather permitting, UA Fort Smith will resume Bi-State Conference play on Thursday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for a doubleheader at Crowder Field.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 16 UA FORT SMITH 12, CARL ALBERT STATE 1

UA Fort Smith 202 016 1 — 12 8 1

Carl Albert 100 000 0 — 1 4 5

Huchingson, Babcock (7) and Meyer; Avery, James (3), Atchison (6), Haag (6) and Haderer. W – Huchingson, 4-4. L – Avery. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Richmond (2).

UA Fort Smith (31-10) will play Carl Albert at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Poteau, Okla., weather permitting.

The No. 11-ranked Lions pounded out 25 hits during their doubleheader sweep of the Raiders at Crowder Field. UA Fort Smith won the opening game 11-1 via run-rule and won the second game 6-2.

UA Fort Smith (31-10) won the four-game series 3-1 and improved to 5-3 in the Bi-State Conference. Rose State, which split with UA Fort Smith on Friday, slipped to 1-7 in conference play.

It was the first conference series win for the Lions, who split their four-game series with the Connors State Cowboys last weekend.

The Lions pounded out 15 hits against Raiders starter Matt Cawthon (0-7), who suffered the complete-game loss in the opener, and all but one Lions batter had at least one hit.

Designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., was 4 for 4 with three RBIs, shortstop Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a triple, first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 2 for 3 with one RBI and left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., was 2 for 3 to lead the Lions.

Lions freshman right-hander Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla., allowed one earned run on three hits, walked one and struck out five in five innings to improve to 5-0 in seven starts.

Third baseman Coty Wilson (1 for 2), designated hitter Hunter London (1 for 1) and left fielder David Garner (1 for 2) had the only hits for the Raiders.

Garner singled to lead off the third inning and scored on a two-out single by Wilson for the Raiders’ only run.

UA Fort Smith 6, Rose State 2

GAME TWO – UA Fort Smith’s bats remained hot in the second game with the Lions collecting 10 hits off Raiders starter Corey Miller (2-7), who struck out three and did not walk a batter in suffering the complete-game loss.

All but three Lions batters had at least one hit against Miller. Third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., was 3 for 3 with one RBI and two doubles, center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 2 for 4, Robertson was 2 for 3 with one RBI, and right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark., was 1 for 3 with one RBI to lead the Lions.

Lions freshman right-hander Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., allowed one earned run on two hits, walked five and struck out nine in five innings to improve to 2-1 in seven starts.

Sophomore closer Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., allowed one unearned run on two hits in two innings of relief.

Second baseman Tyler Powell (1 for 3), shortstop Josh Moore (1 for 3), center fielder Morgan Marr (1 for 2) and Garner (1 for 3) accounted for all of the Raiders’ hits.

Raiders catcher Ryon Butts walked and scored on a RBI single by Moore in the fifth inning, and Butts reached on an error and scored on a ground out by Powell in the seventh for the Raiders’ only runs.

UA Fort Smith will travel to Poteau, Okla., on Tuesday to play border rival Carl Albert State College in one nine-inning game beginning at 1:30 p.m. and will resume Bi-State Conference play on Thursday when it hosts Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 11, ROSE STATE 1

Rose State 001 00 — 1 3 2

UA Fort Smith 241 04 — 11 15 1

Cawthon and Barnes; Carlin and Decker. W – Carlin, 5-0. L – Cawthon, 0-7. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

NO. 11 UA FORT SMITH 6, ROSE STATE 2

Rose State 000 010 1 — 2 4 2

UA Fort Smith 010 230 X — 6 10 2

Miller and Butts; Pratt, Waddle (7) and Meyer. W – Pratt, 2-1. L – Miller, 2-7. HRs – None.

The No. 11-ranked Lions eked out a 5-4 win in 12 innings on Friday afternoon to salvage a doubleheader split with the Rose State College Raiders and end a three-game winless streak on the road. UA Fort Smith (29-10) lost the opening game 8-0.

UA Fort Smith, which is 3-3 in Bi-State Conference play, will look to win the four-game series Saturday when it hosts Rose State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field. The Raiders (8-23) are 1-5 in league play.

The Lions led 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning of the second game, whch was a scheduled seven-inning affair, but the Raiders rallied with two runs in the frame on a solo home run by Colby Gibson and a RBI single by Ryon Butts to take the lead.

UA Fort Smith kept its bid for its first road win alive in the top of the seventh when second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., scored on a two-out fielding error to tie the game at three runs apiece.

The Lions broke the stalemate briefly in the top of the 11th inning when Sallis was hit by a pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., but UA Fort Smith couldn’t hold the lead.

Rose State tied the game in the bottom of the 11th on a one-out RBI single by Josh Moore. The Raiders, however, left the go-ahead run at third base as Lions reliever Kevin Coleman of North Little Rock, Ark., struck out Coty Wilson and got Morgan Marr to fly out to left field to end the threat.

UA Fort Smith regained the lead for good in the top of the 12th on a two-out RBI single to left field by Sallis off Raiders closer Cody Barnes. Lions closer Brandon Solberg of Conway, Ark., did the rest, retiring the Raiders in order in the bottom of the 12th to seal the win.

Coleman (4-0) allowed one earned run on two hits, walked one and struck out two to earn the win, while Solberg earned his first save in as many opportunities. Lions starter Cobey Guy allowed three runs – two earned – on four hits, walked four and struck out nine in eight innings and earned a no-decision.

Center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., was 3 for 6, first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., was 2 for 4 with a double and catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., was 3 for 5 with a double to lead the Lions, who had 12 hits.

Rose State 8, UA Fort Smith 0

FIRST GAME – Ace Kevin Hyde tossed a four-hit shutout as the Raiders stunned the Lions in the opening game.

Hyde (3-3) walked two and struck out eight in the complete-game effort. Sallis (1 for 4), West (1 for 3), left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., (1 for 3) and designated hitter Drew Sullivan of Maumelle, Ark., (1 for 3) accounted for all of the Lions’ hits.

Lions ace Aaron Davidson (8-1) suffered his first loss in nine appearances. He allowed eight runs – all unearned – on six hits, walked one and struck out six in five innings. Davidson was the victim of a shaky defensive effort by the Lions, who committed five errors.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

GAME ONE

ROSE STATE 8, UA FORT SMITH 0

UA Fort Smith 000 000 0 — 0 4 5

Rose State 220 040 X — 8 6 2

Davidson, Waddle (6) and Decker; Hyde and Barnes. W – Hyde, 3-3. L – Davidson, 8-1. HRs – None.

GAME TWO

UA FORT SMITH 5, ROSE STATE 4

UA Fort Smith 001 100 100 011 — 5 12 3

Rose State 001 002 000 010 — 4 6 2

Guy, Coleman (9), Solberg (12) and Decker; Stoltz, Tarbutton (4), Barnes (11) and Butts. W – Coleman, 4-0. L – Barnes, 1-2. Sv – Solberg (1). HRs – Rose State, Gibson (4).

The Bi-State Conference doubleheader will be played on Friday at 1 p.m. at Midwest City, Okla.

UA Fort Smith (28-9), which is ranked No. 11 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll, is 2-2 in conference play, and Rose State (7-22) is 0-4 in league play.

The two teams will finish the four-game series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (28-9), which has lost three of its last five games, is ranked No. 11 in the poll, which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Lions, who were ranked No. 8 last week, received 19 points in the voting.

The Lions are ranked just ahead of Bi-State Conference foe Eastern Oklahoma State College, which is ranked No. 12 after receiving 18 points in the voting. UA Fort Smith and Eastern Oklahoma (27-7) are the only conference teams ranked in the poll.

Pensacola Junior College (33-5) received five of the 10 first-place votes and remains the No. 1-ranked team for the second-consecutive week.

Walters State Community College (31-6) received two first-place votes and is ranked No. 2, Howard College (33-3) received one first-place vote and is ranked No. 3, Miami-Dade College (35-4) received two first-place votes and is ranked No. 4 and San Jacinto College-North (30-7) is ranked No. 5.

UA Fort Smith slipped five spots to No. 23 in the latest Perfect Game Crosschecker Junior College Baseball Top 25 poll. The Lions, who were ranked No. 18 in the poll last week, are six spots behind Eastern Oklahoma, which enters the poll for the first time at No. 17.

Walters State is the No. 1-ranked team in the Perfect Game rankings. Miami-Dade, Pensacola, Howard and San Jacinto round out the Top 5.

It was the second-consecutive loss for the Lions (28-9), who lost to Connors State 7-5 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.

UA Fort Smith never led and trailed 10-6 going into the bottom of the ninth inning before mounting a brief comeback bid against Roughriders reliever Addison Rayford.

Lions third baseman Colton West of Greenland, Ark., drew a lead-off walk and left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., singled, but Rayford settled down and got first baseman Dillon Black of Greenwood, Ark., to ground into a double play.

Catcher Garret Meyer of Fayetteville, Ark., and designated hitter Clay Washington of Little Rock, Ark., drew back-to-back walks from Rayford to load the bases for second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., who ripped a two-run single to left field.

Center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., followed with a RBI single to right field to push the Lions within one run of tying the game.

Shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., drew another walk from Rayford – his fourth free pass of the inning – to again load the bases for right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark.

Richmond, who batted in the game-winning run during the Lions’ 2-1 win against Connors State on Saturday, fell behind 1-2 in the count and slapped his fourth pitch from Rayford to left field, where Michael Dunlavy made the routine catch for the final out.

UA Fort Smith, which trailed 6-0 after the 2 ½ innings, had its chances and even out-hit Crowder College 16-13, but the Lions left 13 runners stranded and couldn’t overcome four errors.

Sallis was 4 for 4 with three RBIs, Winiecki was 2 for 6 with two RBIs, Doty was 1 for 4 with three RBIs and Richmond was 2 for 5 with one RBI to lead the Lions. Cody Thompson (3-4) earned the win for Crowder College (18-11), allowing four earned runs on 10 hits, walking two and striking out four in 5 1/3 innings.

Freshman right-hander Colin Fuller of Cabot, Ark., suffered the loss for the Lions in three innings of work. Fuller (2-1) allowed four earned runs on eight hits and struck out two. Kyle Zimmerman was 4 for 5 with one RBI, Will McGinnis was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Matty Johnson was 3 for 5 to lead the Roughriders.

UA Fort Smith will return to Bi-State Conference play on Thursday when it travels to Midwest City, Okla., to play Rose State College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

CROWDER COLLEGE 10, NO. 8 UA FORT SMITH 9

Crowder College 006 003 010 — 10 13 1

UA Fort Smith 003 002 013 — 9 16 4

Thompson, Luper (6), Rayford (8) and Williams; Fuller, Huchingson (4) and Meyer. W – Thompson, 3-4. L – Fuller, 2-1. HRs – None.

UA Fort Smith will now host Crowder College for one nine-inning game at 4 p.m. at Crowder Field in Fort Smith. Originally, the Lions were scheduled to play the Roughriders at 3 p.m. at Neosho, Mo.

Connors State outfielder Kyle Fillier barely cleared the right-center field fence with a two-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday as the Cowboys edged the No. 8 Lions 7-5 at Biff Thompson Field.

It was the Lions’ second road game of the spring and their second road loss. UA Fort Smith (28-8) squandered an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday night in a 9-8 loss at Connors State.

UA Fort Smith settled for a split with Connors State in its first Bi-State Conference series of the season. The Lions beat the Cowboys 13-4 in the opener on Wednesday and 2-1 on Saturday.

Again, it was a late collapse by the bullpen that doomed the Lions.

UA Fort Smith rallied from a 3-0 deficit to lead 4-3 in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., had a RBI double and sophomore shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice.

Connors State took advantage of a walk and two errors in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Kyle Degrace off Lions reliever Jake Waddle of Waldron, Ark., who took over for starter Jordan Pratt of Harrison, Ark., with one batter into the seventh inning.

The Cowboys regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. Waddle gave up a single, hit a batter with one out, and walked a batter to load the bases to end his brief stint and bring reliever Kevin Coleman of North Little Rock, Ark., to the mound for the second time in as many days.

Coleman walked catcher Zane Williams to force in the go-ahead run but got shortstop Victor Aracena to ground into an inning-ending double play.

UA Fort Smith rallied in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game at five runs apiece on a two-out RBI single by freshman center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark.

Coleman, who earned Saturday’s win in relief against the Cowboys, pitched into the 10th inning but was relieved by sophomore Brandon Solberg after walking pinch-hitter David Consuegra to start the inning.

Consuegra was forced out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by center fielder Brett Coffman, who reached safely on what turned into a fielder’s choice.

Solberg (1-1) worked Fillier to a 2-2 count, but Fillier whacked the fifth pitch to right-center field, where it just cleared the fence for the game-winner. It was Fillier’s only hit in two official at-bats.

Connors State only had seven hits – three in the first inning alone – but took full advantage of seven walks and three hit batters. Third baseman Tyler Tuthill was 2 for 4 with one RBI, Degrace was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and first baseman Michael Zurmehly was 2 for 4.

UA Fort Smith collected eight hits off Cowboys starter Carter Lance, who is from Conway, Ark., and reliever Garret Graziano, who earned the win, but the Lions left seven runners stranded.

Winiecki was 2 for 4 with one RBI, freshman third baseman Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 5 with one RBI, Sallis was 1 for 3 with one RBI and Doty was 1 for 5 with one RBI.

UA Fort Smith will try to shake its road jinx on Tuesday when it travels to Neosho, Mo., to play Crowder College at 3 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

CONNORS STATE 7, NO. 8 UA FORT SMITH 5

UA Fort Smith 000 002 201 0 — 5 8 3

Connors State 100 020 110 2 — 7 7 2

Pratt, Waddle (7), Coleman (8), Solberg (10) and Decker; Lance, Graziano (7) and Z. Williams. W – Graziano. L – Solberg, 1-1. HRs – Connors State, Fillier.

Right fielder Jared Richmond singled to left field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to drive in designated hitter Clay Washington for the go-ahead run as the No. 8 Lions edged the Connors State Cowboys 2-1 on Saturday at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith (28-7, 2-1) will look to win the four-game Bi-State Conference series today when it plays Connors State (23-9, 1-2) at 1 p.m. at Biff Thompson Field in Warner, Okla.

With the game tied at one run apiece, Washington, a freshman from Little Rock, Ark., singled to start the ninth inning. He moved to into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla.

Cowboys pitcher Shane Cameron intentionally walked center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., to set up a potential double-play, but Cameron got some unexpected help when shortstop Blake Doty of Springdale, Ark., flied out to left field for the second out.

Richmond worked the count to 1-1 against Cameron before tapping his third pitch just in front of diving left fielder Ryan Kilmer to drive in Washington for the game-winner.

The sophomore was 2 for 4 and drove in both of the Lions’ runs. His two-out double in the first inning drove in Sallis to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead.

UA Fort Smith had 11 hits against Cameron, but the Lions left 13 runners stranded through the first eight innings and had two runners picked off and one doubled-off first on a pop up.

Lions freshman Steve Carlin of Oklahoma City, Okla., wasn’t flawless but pitched 6 1/3 strong innings. Carlin, who got a no-decision, allowed just one unearned run on one hit, struck out five and walked five before giving way to reliever Kevin Coleman of North Little Rock, Ark.

Coleman (3-0) didn’t allow a hit or a walk and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings to earn the win.

Third baseman Tyler Tuthill had the only hit for the Cowboys, a lead-off single in the first inning. Cowboys shortstop Victor Aracena walked to lead off the third inning and scored on an errant pick-off throw by Lions catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., to account for all of the Cowboys’ offense.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 8 UA FORT SMITH 2, CONNORS STATE 1

Connors State 001 000 000 — 1 1 0

UA Fort Smith 100 000 001 — 2 11 2

Cameron and Z. Williams; Carlin, Coleman (7) and Decker. W – Coleman, 3-0. L – Cameron. HRs – None.

Connors State scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally past No. 8 University of Arkansas - Fort Smith 9-8 in Bi-State Conference play on Thursday night at Biff Thompson Field in Warner, Okla.

The four-game series is tied after two games and will resume on Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Lions host the Cowboys at Crowder Field.

UA Fort Smith led 8-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning before its bullpen suffered its worst collapse of the season.

Lions reliever Drew Babcock of Gentry, Ark., allowed six earned runs on three hits and walked two in 2/3 of an inning, and reliever Chase Huchingson of Fayetteville, Ark., allowed two runs on one hit and walked two – one intentionally – without recording an out.

Cowboys left fielder Ryan Kilmer delivered the game winning hit off Huchingson (3-4) – a hard-hit two-run single to right field that was just out of the reach of diving Lions right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark.

It was Kilmer’s only hit in six at-bats and the last of nine hits by Connors State, who lost to the Lions 13-4 on Wednesday night.

UA Fort Smith spoiled a spectacular pitching performance by sophomore right-hander Cobey Guy. Guy, who’s from Harrah, Okla., allowed only one unearned run on five hits, walked only three and struck out 14 in eight solid innings.

The Lions dominated the Cowboys for 8 ½ innings, tagging two Cowboys pitchers for eight runs on 11 hits.

UA Fort Smith led 3-0 after two innings on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., and a two-run home run by designated hitter Eric McKinney of Spiro, Okla.

Connors State broke up Guy’s shutout bid in the fourth inning when right fielder Kyle Fillier reached on an error and scored on a single by catcher Justin Worby. UA Fort Smith appeared to break the game open for good in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., that boosted the Lions’ lead to 5-1.

Winiecki was 3 for 3 with two RBIs to lead the Lions.

UA Fort Smith extended its lead to 7-1 in the eighth inning on a RBI single by first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., and a RBI fielder’s choice by catcher Kyle Decker of Stilwell, Okla., and the Lions added another run in the ninth inning when second baseman Jordan Sallis of Muskogee, Okla., walked and scored on a passed ball.

Babcock relieved Guy in the ninth inning and promptly gave up a double to third baseman Tyler Tutthill and a single to first baseman Kyle Degrace before striking out Kilmer for the first out. Babcock then hit designated hitter Michael Zurmehly to load the bases before striking out center fielder Zane Williams for the second out.

Babcock then walked Fillier to force in a run and walked second baseman Brett Thompson to force in a second run. He then gave up an RBI single to Worby as the Cowboys crept within 8-4.

He was replaced by Huchingson, who appeared to get out the jam when he got pinch hitter Brandon Smith to fly out to right field. The ball was misplayed by Richmond, allowing three runs to score.

Huchingson then hit Tuthill and intentionally walked Degrace to load the bases for a possible force out at any base. Kilmer eliminated all options for the Lions, taking his 3-2 offering from Huchingson to right field for the game-winner.

Worby was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Tuthill was 2 for 5 with a double to lead the Cowboys.

The Cowboys’ comeback capped a long night for both teams. The game, which was scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, was delayed 1:45 because of severe weather and tornado warnings and wasn’t completed until about 11:45 p.m.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

CONNORS STATE 9, NO. 8 UA FORT SMITH 8

UA Fort Smith 030 000 221 — 8 11 2

Connors State 000 100 008 — 9 9 1

Guy, Babcock (9), Huchingson (9) and Decker; Varga, Graziano (8) and Worby. W – Graziano. L – Huchingson, 3-4. HRs – UA Fort Smith, McKinney (5), Winiecki (4).

UA Fort Smith (27-6, 1-0), which jumped to No. 8 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll, won its fifth-consecutive game to open conference play.

The Lions will resume the four-game series against the Cowboys (22-8, 0-1) at 7 p.m. today at Warner, Okla.

It will be the Lions’ first road game of the season.

Sophomore right-hander Aaron Davidson of Bryant, Ark., survived a rocky start and pitched seven strong innings to remain undefeated. Davidson (8-0) scattered five hits, walked two and struck out nine.

Davidson allowed all four runs – only two were earned – in the first and third innings but held the Cowboys’ batters to a paltry .192 average. Cowboys designated hitter Michael Zermehly did the most damage against Davidson, going 3 for 4 with a double and four RBIs.

The Cowboys had four hits off Lions closer Brandon Solberg and threatened to score in the eighth and ninth innings against the left-hander from Conway, Ark., but they left the bases loaded in the eighth and two on in the ninth thanks to highlight-reel catches at the fence by Lions right fielder Jared Richmond of Van Buren, Ark.

What looked like a possible slugfest after three innings turned into a runaway for the Lions in the bottom of the fourth inning.

With the game tied at four runs apiece, UA Fort Smith sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs against Cowboys starter Dustin Williams and middle reliever Jim Miner, who was the second of three Connors State relievers.

Lions freshman center fielder Joey Winiecki of Bryant, Ark., forced in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk. Richmond drove in another run on a fielder’s choice, and sophomore first baseman Jordan Troxell of Anadarko, Okla., drove in two more runs with a clutch, two-out single.

Freshman left fielder Adam Robertson of Rosebud, Ark., topped off the big inning for the Lions with a RBI single to give the Lions a 9-4 lead.

That was plenty of run support for Davidson, but the Lions still added another run in the fifth on a RBI single by Winiecki, two in the seventh on a two-run, in-the-park home run by Winiecki and one in the eighth on a RBI double by Troxell.

Winiecki was 2 for 3 with four RBIs and Troxell was 3 for 5 with three RBIs to highlight the Lions’ 15-hit barrage. Freshman third baseman Colton West of Fayetteville, Ark., was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

JUNIOR COLLEGE BASEBALL

NO. 8 UA FORT SMITH 13, CONNORS STATE 4

Connors State 202 000 000 - 4 9 4

UA Fort Smith 211 510 21x - 13 15 0

D. Williams, Miner (4), Budder (6), Martinez (8) and Worby; Davidson, Solberg (8) and Decker. W – Davidson, 8-0. L – D. Williams. HRs – UA Fort Smith, Winiecki (3).

The Lions played NCAA Division I foes Saint Louis University and Nebraska in exhibition play and will play four Division I opponents during the third annual Legends Classic, which began on Wednesday at four regional sites throughout the country.

UA Fort Smith will play host University of Massachusetts at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass., in its classic opener.

The game will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com. There also will be updates throughout the Lions’ road trip on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UAFSSports.

Well, it’s not a road trip, per se, for the Lions. The team flew to Massachusetts for Saturday’s game – a first for the men’s basketball program.

“I think there will be a sense of excitement,” Newman said. “This year is all about firsts, and this will be the first time we board a plane to play a basketball game.”

UA Fort Smith will conclude classic play on Nov. 27-29 when it plays Troy, Georgia Southern and Valparaiso at Statesboro, Ga.

Florida, Michigan State, Drexel, Toledo, Cornell, Vermont and Rutgers round out the 12-team field. Regional hosts UMass, Florida, Michigan State and Rutgers will automatically advance to the championship rounds, while the remaining teams will compete in sub-regional games.

UA Fort Smith is the only non-Division I team in the classic.

“I think it’s a great honor for our university, our community and our basketball program. Participating in the Legends Classic will give us instant creditability on a national stage,” Newman said. “We are still going to be the little guy trying to knock off Goliath, but that’s why you play the game. We are going to prepare our team and put them in the best possible situation to win the game.”

UA Fort Smith won its season opener on Tuesday, beating Division III University of the Ozarks 87-65 at the Stubblefield Center. Junior guard Josh Simmons of Houston, Texas, led the Lions with a career-high 28 points, while junior forward Chris Williams of Lebanon, Ill., had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Newman was pleased with the Lions’ offensive performance against the Eagles, but their defensive technique wasn’t quite on the level it was for the previous two exhibition games. The Lions allowed 65 points, and four Eagles scored in double-figures.

“We really focused on our defensive techniques. I think our effort has been really good, but our technique has gone backwards. We talked about moving our feet and guarding without fouling,” said Newman, who is in his fourth season at UA Fort Smith.

UMass coach Derek Kellogg enters his second season at the helm of his alma mater. Kellogg welcomes back high-scoring All-Atlantic selection Ricky Harris and versatile guard Anthony Gurley to go along with a horde of newcomers.

UMass has seven new players in uniform this season, headed by one of the top recruiting classes in the nation with five-super talented freshmen. The Minutemen have several top 100 recruits, highlighted by swingman Terrell Vinson out of Baltimore, Md. Joining Vinson is dynamic scoring guard Freddie Riley out of Ocala, Fla.

Also expected to make an immediate impact are gritty, aggressive swingman Javorn Farrell from Upper Marlboro, Md., along with forwards Sampson Carter out of Memphis, Tenn., and Raphiael Putney from Woodbridge, Va.

Yet, the Minutemen are winless with losses to Central Florida (84-67) in the season opener last Friday and Cornell (74-61) on Wednesday in the first game of the Legends Classic.

Harris has led the Minutemen in scoring in both losses and is averaging 20.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Vinson and sophomore forward Sean Carter have led the Minutemen in rebounding and are each averaging 5.5 rebounds per game.

“I think they need a win in the worst way, and they are looking at our game as the game to get them that first victory. I don’t think they will take us lightly at all,” Newman said. “I’m sure we are going to get their best shot right from the tip. I honestly wish they were 2-0.”

Junior Josh Simmons scored a career-high 28 points and junior Chris Williams had a double-double as the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions pulled away down the stretch to beat the University of the Ozarks 87-65 on Tuesday night at the Stubblefield Center.

It was the official NCAA Division II opener for the Lions, who are provision D-II members this season after competing at the junior college level for 81 years. The Lions had played NCAA Division I foes Saint Louis and Nebraska in exhibition play prior to their season opener against the NCAA Division III Eagles.

Simmons, a 6-foot-4 guard from Houston, Texas, was 11-of-17 shooting from the field and was 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Simmons, who transferred from NCAA Division I Colorado State, also had a team-high six assists to go along with three steals and six rebounds.

Williams, a 6-5 junior forward from Lebanon, Ill., scored 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and had 11 rebounds. Williams, who transferred from Moberly Area Community College, helped the Lions out-rebound the Eagles 43-30.

The duo accounted for 17 of the Lions’ 32 shots. UA Fort Smith shot 54 percent (32 of 59) from the field and 60 percent from 3-point range (12 of 20).

Blake Mitchem, a 6-6 sophomore forward from Fort Smith, had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Eagles (1-1). He had 34 points and 13 rebounds in the Eagles’ season-opening win against Hendrix College on Sunday.

Ozarks shot just 36 percent from the field (20 of 55) and 54 percent from 3-point range (7 of 13).

UA Fort Smith led 39-26 at halftime, and its lead never dipped below double-digits in the second half.

MEN

UA FORT SMITH 87, UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS 65

Ozarks 26 39 — 65

UA Fort Smith 39 48 — 87

Ozarks (1-1): Mitchem 20, Odom 12, Williams 12, McGinty 10, Woolverton 9, Raglin 2.

UA Fort Smith (1-0): Simmons 28, Williams 12, Henderson 11, McHenry 8, Neville 8, Clark 8, Mitchell 8, Jackson 2, Jeffs 2.

It’s a date fourth-year Lions coach Josh Newman has long awaited.

“This is truly an exciting time for our university and men’s basketball program. We’ve circled this date on our schedule since the transition was official,” Newman said. “We hope the community, faculty and student body will come out to support our team as we begin a new tradition.”

Tip-off will be 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on KFPW-AM 1230 and on the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com. There also will be live Twitter updates at www.twitter.com/UAFSSports.

UA Fort Smith will celebrate its D-II debut by recognizing players from the past who helped make the Lions basketball program such a success on the regional and national levels. Members of the men’s basketball teams from 1928-48 will be recognized at halftime.

Also, the UA Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Council will be collecting coats and shoes as part of its “Bundle Up Fort Smith” campaign. Fans are asked to bring new or gently worn coats or shoes to the game, and the collected clothing will be distributed to needy families and individuals in the Fort Smith area.

UA Fort Smith, which is a provisional member of D-II and a member of the Heartland Conference, lost to Saint Louis University (79-51) and Nebraska (86-66) in exhibition play, but Newman said his young team accomplished a lot during those two tough road games.

“I think our team played extremely well with all the surrounding circumstances,” Newman said. “We had two goals that we wanted to achieve by playing our exhibition games – play harder than our opponent and improve with every opportunity. I believe we accomplished both those goals and are moving in the right direction.”

Newman has been pleasantly surprised with how the Lions have meshed together as a team, especially considering the number of new players in the program. The Lions have only one returning starter in junior guard LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., but he is academically ineligible until January.

The only other players who were in the program last year were freshman center Dean Neville of Melbourne, Australia, and freshman guard Michael Pharis of Van Buren, Ark., who redshirted last season.

However, the newcomers have been quick learners. Junior forward Josh Simmons of Houston, Texas, led the Lions in scoring with 11 points per game during the exhibition season, while junior guard Aaron McHenry of Fayetteville, Ark., led the team with five rebounds per game and junior guard Cedric Henderson of Houston, Texas, led the team with 3.5 assists per game.

Simmons is a NCAA Division I transfer from Colorado State University, McHenry is a transfer from Northern Oklahoma College-Enid and Henderson is a transfer from Collin County Community College.

“With 15 new faces and 15 different personalities, I’m surprised to see how willing our team is to work and grow with each other,” Newman said. “Team chemistry is so important and this team has come together quicker than to be expected.”

The University of the Ozarks Eagles have a distinctive new look this season with only five returning players from last year’s team and a new head coach.

Doug Boxell takes the reins of the Eagles program from Matt O’Connor, who resigned after eight seasons. Boxell was a high school coach in Texas for 24 years during which time he won five state championships.

Only junior guard Andre Williams of San Antonio, Texas; sophomore guard DeMario Lyons of Wynne, Ark.; sophomore guard Jerard McGinty of Houston, Texas; sophomore forward Blake Mitchem of Fort Smith and sophomore guard Colby Woolverton of Sherwood, Ark., return for the Eagles, who finished 10-15 a year ago.

Williams is a two-year starter and is averaging a career 8.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, while Woolverton was named to the American Southwest Conference East Division All-Freshman Team last season after averaging 6.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

The Eagles lost to NCAA Division I Houston Baptist University 99-48 in their only exhibition game and were in action on Sunday against Hendrix College.

The fourth-year Lions coach just challenged his players to continue to play hard and keep their up their defensive intensity just like they had against the Saint Louis University Billikens only a week earlier.

Apparently, the Lions were listening.

UA Fort Smith only trailed Nebraska by four points at halftime and stayed within striking distance of the Cornhuskers until midway through the second half before falling 86-66 to the Big 12 team in their exhibition opener at the Devaney Center.

“Again, I am very proud of these guys,” Newman said. “This is not an easy challenge, and they responded the right way.”

It was the last of two exhibition games against NCAA Division I foes for the Lions, who lost 79-51 at Saint Louis University on Oct. 20. UA Fort Smith will play four more Division I opponents as part of its regular-season schedule in the prestigious Legends Classic later this month.

The Lions will play at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass., on Nov. 21; and will play Troy University on Nov. 27, Georgia Southern University on Nov. 28 and Valparaiso University on Nov. 29 at Statesboro, Ga.

“I think everyone back home should be proud of this group,” Newman said. “It’s going to be an exciting year for us. I don’t know how good we are going to be, but as of right now, it looks like we have a chance to be a pretty good ballclub.”

It also was the Lions’ first-ever game against their former coach. Nebraska coach Doc Sadler served as an assistant coach twice at UA Fort Smith (formerly Westark College under former Lions coach Bobby Vint (1988-91) and former coach Charles Ripley (1997-98) and was Lions head coach and athletic director for five seasons (1998-2003).

Likewise, it was the first time Sadler and Lions coach Josh Newman matched wits as head coaches during their long relationship. Newman was a student manager at Arizona State University when Sadler was an assistant coach for then Sun Devils coach Bill Frieder and later was an assistant coach for Sadler for one season (1998-99) at UA Fort Smith.

UA Fort Smith held Nebraska to just 39 percent shooting (11 of 28) in the first half and hit at a sizzling 52 percent clip (15 of 29) from the field. The Lions led by as many as four points with just under nine minutes left in the first half and went into the locker room at halftime only down 43-39.

Much like against Saint Louis, the Lions’ thin bench became a factor in the second half.

Already whittled to only 10 players because of the injury to junior Jason Jackson of Dallas, Texas, against Saint Louis, the Lions’ bench dwindled to nine players at halftime after freshman Grant Clark of Houston, Texas, fouled out with 1:25 left in the half.

Clark had a career performance in barely a half of play, scoring a team-high 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range. Clark led four Lions in double-figures.

“Grant Clark played extremely well and hit some big shots,” Newman said. “He’s in the record book for fouling out in the first half. I’ve never had a player foul out in the first half.”

The Lions, who had five players with two or more fouls in the first half, then lost junior Chris Williams of Lebanon, Ill., with 13:16 left in the second half and played the remainder of the game with only eight players.

Nebraska found its shooting touch in the final 20 minutes, hitting 55 percent (16 of 29) from the field, and turned up its defense, holding the Lions to just 36 percent shooting (10 of 28). The Cornhuskers, who overmatched the Lions physically in the paint, took a 20 point lead with four minutes left.

Ryan Anderson led three Cornhuskers in double-figures with 18 points, while Brian Diaz had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Cornhuskers out-rebounded the Lions 48-26, accounting for 17 second-chance points.

Nebraska also hit 73 percent (30 of 41) from the free-throw line, and while UA Fort Smith didn’t have that many opportunities at the line (21 attempts), the Lions sank only 38 percent (8 of 21).

MEN

NEBRASKA 86, UA FORT SMITH 66

UA Fort Smith 39 27 — 66

Nebraska 43 43 — 86

UA Fort Smith: Clark 14, Henderson 12, Simmons 11, Neville 10, McHenry 8, Jeffs 7, Mitchell 4.

Nebraska: Anderson 18, Standhardinger 17, Diaz 11, Jeter 8, Ubel 7, Henry 6, Gallegos 5, Cole-Hankins 5, Holley 4, Richardson 3, Coleman 2.

UA Fort Smith’s SAAC will conduct its “Bundle Up Fort Smith” community service project on Nov. 17 when the UA Fort Smith men’s basketball team hosts the University of the Ozarks Eagles in its season opener at 7 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

Fans are encouraged to bring a coat, a pair of shoes or both with them to the game, and members of SAAC will be on hand to collect these clothing items at both entrances of the Stubblefield Center.

The clothing items collected will go to help those in need to stay warm this winter.

“With the winter season approaching, some people don’t have coats or jackets to stay warm or shoes to keep their feet warm,” said UA Fort Smith director of athletic compliance Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “This is an opportunity for our student-athletes to do something to help those in need in our community and help improve their quality of life.”

This project is a part of SAAC’s on-going community service project aimed at assisting those in need in the Fort Smith area. Earlier this month, SAAC members participated in a canned food drive to collect food for Thanksgiving food baskets for needy families in Fort Smith. The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

A week after opening their exhibition season against the Saint Louis University Billikens, the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions will make yet another lengthy road trip to play an even tougher, more-experienced foe in the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday in Lincoln, Neb.

Tip-off for this exhibition game will be at 7 p.m. at the Devaney Center. The game will be broadcast on KFPW-AM 1230 and on the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com. There will be Twitter updates throughout the Lions’ road trip at www.twitter.com/UAFSSports.

UA Fort Smith, which is a provisional member of NCAA Division II this season, lost to the Billikens 79-51, but fourth-year Lions coach Josh Newman came away from the loss with a positive feeling about his young team.

“For the most part, we played with them for 28 minutes,” said Newman, whose Lions only trailed 37-29 at halftime. “That’s not easy to do to walk into that environment with the excitement, the energy, the tension and all of those things combined. I thought out kids responded in a very positive manner, and I am so proud of them.”

Newman expects an even tougher encounter with the Cornhuskers, who are coached by former UA Fort Smith coach Doc Sadler.

Sadler, who is from Greenwood, Ark., served two stints as Lions assistant coach (1988-91, 1997-98) and was head coach and athletic director for five seasons (1998-2003) before joining then University of Texas - El Paso coach Billy Gillispie’s staff as assistant coach.

During his five seasons at UA Fort Smith, Sadler guided the Lions to four Bi-State Conference East Division titles, two NJCAA Region II tournament titles (2001, 2002) and two NJCAA national tournament appearances. Two of his teams (2001, 2002) reached the 30-win plateau.

It will be the first time Newman and Sadler have matched wits on the hardwood as head coaches, but the two have a long history. Newman was a student manager at Arizona State when Sadler was an assistant for then Sun Devils coach Bill Frieder. He later was an assistant coach for one season (1998-99) under Sadler at UA Fort Smith.

“Doc was the first one to schedule a game with us, and without a doubt, that means a lot to us, our program and the community,” Newman said. “He’s been instrumental in everything I have ever done in my career. This is going to be an emotion-filled game. I have coached against Doc as an assistant but never as a head coach. It’s going to be an eerie feeling

“We are so fortunate that he is was willing to do that. His roots are here, and he knows that. He is so important to this program in the past, now and even in the future. This is just a great opportunity for all of us.”

The Huskers return five lettermen from a team that finished 18-13 last year and earned a bid to the NIT. They are picked to finish 11th in the 12-team Big 12 Conference.

Senior Sek Henry, a 6-foot-4 guard, is the Huskers’ top returning player having started 29 of the 31 games he played in last season. Henry averaged eight points and 3.4 rebounds per game and had 64 assists, eight blocked shots and 29 steals.

“We will play probably a bigger, stronger Nebraska team than the Saint Louis team we just played. Take nothing away from Saint Louis, but Nebraska is going to be bigger and stronger. That will be another test for us,” Newman said. “Hopefully, we will be better by Friday than we were this past Friday and hopefully give them (Nebraska) something to work on as well.”

Junior Josh Simmons, a transfer from Colorado State, leads the Lions in scoring with 11 points per game. Simmons, a 6-4 guard from Houston, Texas, scored the Lions’ first points as a NCAA Division II team on a 3-pointer with 16:40 left in the first half against Saint Louis.

Juniors Jason Jackson, a 6-8 center from Dallas, Texas, and Aaron McHenry, a 6-1 guard from Fayetteville, Ark., each are averaging seven rebounds per game, and junior Cedric Henderson, a 6-0 guard from Houston, Texas, is averaging five assists per game.

Newman is looking for improvement in some key areas when the Lions take the court against the Huskers, particularly offensively.

“We have to execute a little better on offense,” said Newman, whose Lions shot 39 percent from the field and committed 23 turnovers against Saint Louis. “We have to make some harder, sharper cuts, and we have to screen some bodies. But again, the effort was great in that environment. I couldn’t be more proud of these kids at this time.”

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions battled with the Saint Louis University Billikens for the better part of 28 minutes during Friday night’s exhibition basketball game, but the NCAA Division I Billikens proved to be too much down the stretch.

Saint Louis used a 15-2 run midway through the second half to break the game open on its way to a 79-51 win against the Lions at Chaifetz Arena.

It was the exhibition debut for both teams. It was the Lions’ first game ever as a NCAA Division II team and their first against a NCAA Division I opponent during the modern era.

UA Fort Smith only trailed 37-29 at halftime after a hard-fought first half against Saint Louis. The Lions rallied to within five points on a layup by junior Josh Simmons of Houston, Texas, with 14:44 left in the second half.

From there, though, the Billikens took control of the game.

Sophomore Willie Reed took a quick pass in the paint from freshman Christian Salecich and threw down a thunderous dunk with 13:45 left to play. That triggered a 15-2 run by the Billikens, who stretched their lead to 18 points with 11:27 left.

The Lions never recovered, and Saint Louis’ lead reached 20 point with 8:47 left on a jumper by sophomore Brian Conklin.

Reed led the Billikens with 19 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Jon Smith came off the bench to hit for 10 points and grab seven rebounds.

Saint Louis shot a sizzling 55 percent from the field (33 of 60). The Billikens forced 23 turnovers which led to 23 points. The Billikens also benefitted from their deep bench, which contributed 49 points.

Simmons, who transferred to UA Fort Smith after two seasons at NCAA Division I Colorado State, hit for 11 points to lead the Lions in scoring. He earned a spot in the record books by scoring the Lions’ first points as a D-II team, sinking a 3-pointer with 16:18 left in the first half.

In all, 10 players scored for the Lions, who shot 39 percent from the field (21 of 54). The Lions, however, only hit 42 percent from the free-throw line (5 of 12).

MEN

SAINT LOUIS 79, UA FORT SMTH 51

UA Fort Smith 29 22 — 51

Saint Louis 37 42 — 79

UA Fort Smith: Simmons 11, Neville 9, Williams 6, Jeffs 6, Jackson 5, Henderson 4, Clark 3, McHenry 3, Mitchell 2, Isadore 2.

Saint Louis: Reed 19, Smith 10, Salecich 9, Cassity 9, John 8, Conklin 7, Jordan 6, Reid 5, Mitchell 4, Remekun 2.

UA Fort Smith competed as a junior college program since it was founded in 1928 and was a member of the Bi-State Conference since becoming a charter member in the 1950s.

The Lions were a power in that ultra-tough conference until their departure at the end of last spring. During that time, the Lions made 13 appearances in the men’s NJCAA national basketball tournament, winning national championships in 1981 and 2006.

UA Fort Smith will look to continue that winning tradition at the D-II level under fourth-year head coach Josh Newman.

“Any time that you are a part of something new and a part of a transition from one chapter in your history to a new chapter in your history, it is very exciting,” Newman said. “This will be something that our kids will remember forever. This will be the team that will always be remembered as the first Division II team in what will hopefully be our long Division II history.”

UA Fort Smith will begin its first D-II season on Friday when it travels to St. Louis, Mo., to play an exhibition game against the NCAA Division I Saint Louis University Billikens at 8 p.m. at Chaifetz Arena.

The game will be broadcast on the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com, and there will be Twitter updates throughout the Lions’ road trip at http://twitter.com/UAFSSports.

“It’s an exciting time for UA Fort Smith basketball as we officially take to the NCAA stage. Playing against Saint Louis will show us how much we’ve progressed since the first day of practice and more importantly where we need to be in the next couple weeks,” Newman said.

“Exhibition games are the measuring stick for preseason play. We will be taking a look at different rotations, different player positions and different offensive and defensive schemes. We are excited to take the floor and see our team in action for the first time this year.”

Newman, a native of Chino Valley, Ariz., inherited the reins of the Lions program from former coach Jeremy Cox, who left in late July of 2006 to become assistant coach at Texas A&M after leading the Lions to their second national title.

Newman is 70-25 after his first three seasons as Lions coach – his first collegiate head coaching position. He guided the Lions to three Region II tournaments, including consecutive semifinal appearances, and led the Lions to the 2008 Bi-State Conference East Division championship.

A year ago, UA Fort Smith finished 23-9 overall and 5-3 in the Bi-State Conference East Division. The Lions, who peaked at No. 2 in the NJCAA Top 25, lost in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II tournament.

Only one starter returns from that team – junior guard LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark. Williams, who was All-Bi-State Conference East Division and second team All-Region II, was the second-leading scorer (13.6 ppg), led the team in steals (73) and was third in assists (68).

Williams, however, is academically ineligible this semester and will become eligible in January.

The Lions also return freshmen Michael Pharis, a 6-3 guard from Van Buren, Ark., and Dean Neville, a 6-9 center from Melbourne, Australia, who redshirted last season.

Needless to say, Newman and his staff spent a lot of time on the recruiting trail in the offseason to replenish their depleted roster, and they were very successful in adding some much-needed experience from the junior college and NCAA Division I ranks.

UA Fort Smith signed junior college gems in Cedric Henderson, a 5-11 junior guard from Collin County Community College; Jason Jackson, a 6-8 junior center from Collin County Community College; Wayne Jackson, a 6-6 junior forward from Murray State College; Aaron McHenry, a 6-1 junior guard from Northern Oklahoma College - Enid; and Chris Williams, a 6-5 junior forward from Moberly Area Community College, and D-I veteran Josh Simmons, a 6-4 junior guard from Colorado State.

Newman said Wayne Jackson will redshirt this season.

“We are expecting big things out of Cedric Henderson. He is going to be a leader on the floor, is very good with the ball in his hands and makes everybody around him better,” Newman said. “We are expecting Josh Simmons to give us some scoring pop, some maturity and some strength on the wing.”

Along with that talented corps of upperclassmen, the Lions also added a solid class of freshmen that includes Jalynn Mitchell, a 5-11 guard from Jonesboro, Ark.; Jonathan Sharpless, a 6-4 guard from Dallas, Texas; Grant Clark, a 6-6 forward from Houston, Texas; Willie Isadore, a 6-0 guard from Hot Springs, Ark.; Chad Jeffs, a 6-5 forward from Rogers, Ark.; Michael Vann, a 5-11 guard from Fort Smith; and Djordje Stojanovic, a 6-8 center from Lazarevac, Serbia.

Newman said that Sharpless, Vann and Stojanovic will likely redshirt this season.

UA Fort Smith, which will be a provisional member of D-II this season, will compete in the Heartland Conference, which includes Dallas Baptist University, University of the Incarnate Word, St. Edward’s University, Texas A&M International, University of Texas - Permian Basin, St. Mary’s University, Oklahoma Panhandle State, Lincoln University and Newman University.

As a provisional member, UA Fort Smith will not be eligible to compete for regular-season championships or postseason play. However, Newman put together a schedule that has a postseason feel to it with two exhibitions against D-I foes and four regular-season games against D-I opponents.

After its exhibition opener against Saint Louis, UA Fort Smith will play Nebraska in exhibition play and will play UMass, Troy, Georgia Southern and Valparaiso in the prestigious Legends Classic during the regular season. That’s in addition to a rigorous D-II schedule that includes in-state foe University of Arkansas - Monticello and regional opponents like Southwestern Oklahoma State and Missouri Southern University.

“Since we couldn’t play in the postseason, we wanted to do something a little unique. I think we did that by going out and scheduling six Division I games. To my knowledge, we are the only Division II team in the country that has six Division I games on its schedule,” Newman said. “We did want to do something different and take these kids somewhere they might not have ever been before and experience something they might not have ever experienced.”

Fifty-two students and student-athletes went door-to-door throughout Fort Smith neighborhoods on Saturday collecting canned food items for Thanksgiving food baskets they will prepare for needy families.

“One of the guys who was in my group was like ‘I feel really good that I used a Saturday to help people,’” said UA Fort Smith tennis player Cameron Terrell, who helped organize the food drive. “It was cool. That was pretty much the common sentiment among everybody. They were excited to be there and really glad they could help.”

The group visited 398 houses and collected 1,019 canned food items, as well as $110 in donations. Terrell, a sophomore from Little Rock, Ark., said the group was really excited about the response.

“Most of the people who were home were really excited about helping us,” Terrell said. “They were glad they could give, too. They were glad we included them in the giving process.”

Initially, Terrell said the group had hoped to collect enough food to make baskets for 40 families but because of the overwhelming outpouring of support from the community that they now hope to make baskets for 60-75 families.

The group is working with the Community Clearinghouse, which will provide them with a list of needy families. They expect to make their food basket deliveries the week before the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We had a lot of help from Caring for the Northside and Sebastian Commons,” Terrell said. “Sebastian Commons provided us pizza, and Caring for the Northside provided the T-shirts and the transportation, which we really needed.”

The door-to-door food drive also was a community service project adopted by the UA Fort Smith Student-Athlete Advisory Council.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. It also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

Student-athletes representing men’s and women’s tennis and baseball participated in the food drive.

“A huge part of SAAC is community service, and it was great to see our student-athletes jump on this opportunity to help a large number of people in our community,” said UA Fort Smith compliance director Will Collier, who is the SAAC sponsor. “Too often athletes are criticized for only wanting to do things for themselves, and it’s exciting that our athletes want to help others and be a positive influence in their community.”

UA Fort Smith SAAC members, along with members of Caring for the Northside, will be collecting canned food for Thanksgiving meals for those in need in Fort Smith.

SAAC is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight of the student-athlete experience and offer input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses.

SAAC also is a public service organization and participates in various community service projects throughout the year.

Activities get under way at 7 p.m. and will include player introductions, team scrimmages, 3-point contests and dunk contests. Players and coaches will also be available for a meet-and-greet autograph and picture sessions with the fans.

There also will be free popcorn and fountain drinks. Admission is free, but fans are asked to bring a canned food item to support the local food bank.

“We would like to introduce our teams to our fans and our fans to our teams without doing that at midnight,” Lady Lions coach Louis Whorton said. “We felt like we would get a lot more of our young kids who come out to our games to come out at 7 o’clock versus midnight. Kids do have to go to school the next day.” Whorton said he is excited about the opportunity to interact with the UA Fort Smith fans in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

“A lot of our fans are talking about what these teams are going to look like and things like that, and we wanted them to have a chance to see (our teams) in a relaxed atmosphere,” Whorton said. “There will be a lot of activities, and the players will be available for autographs and pictures. It will be more of a meet-and-greet event than anything else.”

Thursday will mark the first day of official team practice for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. After weeks of individual workouts, Whorton is ready to begin preseason preparation in earnest.

“I don’t know if I have ever been more antsy for practice to start in 34 years of coaching,” said Whorton, who begins his 24th season at UA Fort Smith. “It’s because I haven’t seen (the team). I’ve seen them in the weight room and doing individual workouts, but I have not seen them together.

“I’m kind of crawling the walls. I wish we started right now. The kids are eager to get started, and I am too.”

The Lady Lions will open the regular season on Nov. 20-21 in the third annual Dr. Mary Jane Gilbert Classic hosted by the University of Arkansas - Monticello. They will play Southern Arkansas at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 and UA Monticello at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21.

The Lions will open the exhibition season on Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. against Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.

Playing paintball?

Yes, the Lions competed against each other recently in paintball games at All American Paintball in Bloomer, Ark., but it was much for than fun and games for the players and coaching staff.

Newman said it was a learning activity that emphasized teamwork and leadership skills.

“It wasn’t just about playing paintball. It was about seeing some leaders step forward. It was about seeing guys work together. It was about seeing them have fun and enjoying the company of each other in a non-basketball environment,” said Newman, who begins his fourth season at UA Fort Smith.

“It was great. I saw so many smiles, and the guys were talking about the exciting things that happened out there. It was just neat to see them have a lot of fun in an atmosphere that’s still conducive to learning.”

For about two hours, the Lions split up into teams and tried to out-wit and out-last their opponents on the various challenging courses All American has to offer. And considering it was a hot, muggy afternoon, the players got in a good workout in the process.

“It is a lot more physically demanding that people understand. It’s an adrenaline rush and a physically demanding activity,” Newman said.

“More so than that, we got to see some team-building. We separated the teams, and you got to see some leaders emerge and kind of dictate how the games should be played. You saw guys protect each other and stand up for each other in certain situations. That was really neat to see who was taking charge, who was aggressive and who was laid-back.”

And, everyone had fun.

The Lions have been participating in individual workouts, and with the official start of preseason practice beginning Oct. 15, it was the perfect opportunity to mix in a little fun before they prepare in earnest for the upcoming season.

“It’s always important to have a little bit of fun before it gets really serious,” Newman said.

Newman said the individual workouts have been very productive and that he has seen a lot of improvement, but he is eager for the start of team practice. The Lions open the exhibition season on Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. against Saint Louis University at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.

“I like the idea of having individual workouts because you can focus on each young man’s needs, necessities and strengths and weaknesses. That’s been really good. I have really seen them grow and mature on an individual basis,” Newman said.

“I am really eager to get them as a group so we can grow and mature as a group rather than as an individual.”

UA Fort Smith also will play an exhibition game at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 against Nebraska at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb., before officially opening the season on Nov. 17 against the University of the Ozarks at the Stubblefield Center.

Newman announced Wednesday that the Lions will play an exhibition game against the St. Louis University Billikens at 8 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo. It is the last of six exhibition games for the Lions, who will play 29 games during their first season as a Division II member.

“We are extremely proud to announce we have finally completed our 2009-2010 schedule. We are very fortunate to have six Division I teams on our schedule, including our most recent addition of St. Louis University,” said Newman, who begins his fourth season at UA Fort Smith.

“We are very appreciative of coach Rick Majerus and associate head coach Porter Moser for scheduling an exhibition game with us. Playing against a talented St. Louis team will be an excellent opportunity for our team to address its strengths and weaknesses before we officially open the season.”

UA Fort Smith, which will compete in the Heartland Conference, also will play exhibition games against the University of Nebraska (Nov. 6), the University of Massachusetts (Nov. 21), Troy University (Nov. 27), Georgia Southern University (Nov. 28) and Valparaiso University (Nov. 29) – the last four of which will be a part of the prestigious Legends Classic.

“We are trying to play the most aggressive non-conference schedule we can so that it will prepare us for the Heartland Conference and our arrival on the NCAA level. We want to make some noise across the country and let everyone know that UA Fort Smith is now on the NCAA level,” Newman said.

“With six Division I games on our schedule, we might very well have the toughest schedule in all of Division II. No other Division II program in the country has as many Division I games as the Lions. Our remaining non-conference schedule is demanding as well with a home-and-home series with UA Monticello and road games against Southwestern Oklahoma State and Missouri Southern.”

UA Fort Smith will host NCAA Division III University of the Ozarks at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 in its home opener at the Stubblefield Center. It will be the first of 11 home games for the Lions this season.

“We hope to see everyone on Nov. 17 for our first home game of our NCAA transition,” Newman said.

Newman announced Friday that the Lions have accepted an invitation to compete in the prestigious Legends Classic. The Lions will join 11 NCAA Division I teams in the early-season event that will be hosted at on-campus arenas throughout the country.

UA Fort Smith will play the University of Massachusetts in its classic opener at 6 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Mullins Center in Amherst, Mass. UMass is one of four teams to host regional round games in the classic, joining Michigan State, Florida and Rutgers.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our university and the men’s basketball program to gain national exposure this early in our NCAA transition,” said Newman, who begins his fourth season at UA Fort Smith. “I can’t think of a more exciting way to start our NCAA experience than participating in the Legends Classic with teams like Florida, Michigan State, Rutgers and UMass.”

Those four regional host teams will automatically advance to the championship rounds at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on Nov. 27-28. Last year, Pittsburgh defeated Washington State 57-43 in the Legends Classic championship game. Pittsburgh advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA national tournament and was ranked No. 1 on two different occasions during the season.

The other classic participants – UA Fort Smith, Georgia Southern, Valparaiso, Troy, Drexel, Toledo, Cornell and Vermont – will then play a round-robin series at a campus site on Nov. 27-29. UA Fort Smith will travel to Statesboro, Ga., for its round-robin series and will play Troy(Nov. 27, 4 p.m.), host Georgia Southern (Nov. 28, 4 p.m.) and Valparaiso (Nov. 29, noon).

“I want to commend coach Newman for his hard work in securing these games,” UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our men’s basketball team, but its impact reaches further than just the men’s basketball team. These games couldn’t come at a more ideal time as we make the transition to NCAA Division II. This really cements our legitimacy as a solid program.”

UA Fort Smith will be the only non-Division I team participating in the exclusive event.

“This is truly an exciting time for Lions basketball,” Newman said. “There is a good chance we will have to introduce ourselves a couple times along the way and answer the question ‘Where is Fort Smith?’ since we are the lone NCAA Division II program participating. But, we are willing to bear that burden.”

The four classic games will be exhibition games for the Lions and will not count toward their overall regular-season record, but they will count in their opponents’ win-loss record. UA Fort Smith will play five exhibition games in all this season, including its season-opener on Nov. 6 against the University of Nebraska at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.

“Who would have thought we would be preparing to go on the road and play UMass, Valparaiso, Troy and Georgia Southern in the Legends Classic our very first year? Not me, but I sure am looking forward to seeing UA Fort Smith flash across the ESPN ticker,” Newman said.

UA Fort Smith will no doubt earn some national name recognition by playing such Division I powers. That will have long-term positive effects for the overall program, Smith said, considering UA Fort Smith is building a new identity as a member of Division II.

“These games will have a long-lasting impact on UA Fort Smith as we have an opportunity to be seen against some quality Division I programs,” Smith said. “Any Division II program would welcome the opportunity to be noticed on the national level, and this definitely gives us that opportunity.”

UA Fort Smith chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran said this is not only a great opportunity for the student-athletes athletically but also educationally.

“Our theme for our athletic program is education first,” Beran said. “The educational opportunity this presents is tremendous for our student-athletes. Culturally, it will be a great learning experience. They will have the chance to meet different people and see a different part of the country.”

In addition to showcasing some of the nation’s premier teams, the Legends Classic was also established to honor former players and coaches from the participating teams that have made a significant contribution to the sport.

The “Legends” are recognized annually at the event. Past “Legends” have included Brandin Knight (Pittsburgh), Gerald Myers (Texas Tech), Bailey Howell (Mississippi State), Craig Ehlo (Washington State), Bernard King (Tennessee), Slater Martin (Texas), Jerry West (West Virginia) and Lou Henson (New Mexico State).

For complete classic bracket, visit http://www.gazellegroup.com/events/legends/teams.htm.

Prospective players must be current UA Fort Smith students. Prospective players must have had a physical within the past six months and have documentation from a physician on file with UA Fort Smith director of sports medicine/head athletic trainer Jeff McGee prior to the tryout.

Also, prospective players must fill out a UA Fort Smith walk-on form and have it on file with UA Fort Smith compliance director Will Collier prior to the tryout. The walk-on form is available at www.uafortsmith.edu/attach/Athletics/Nav/UAFSWalk-onForm.pdf.

For more information, contact men’s assistant basketball coach Ryan Price at (479) 788-7691 or rprice@uafortsmith.edu.

The camp will not be rescheduled.

Simmons, a 6-foot-4 guard from Houston, Texas, is a transfer from NCAA Division I Colorado State University, while Grant Clark is a 6-7 center from The Woodlands High School in The Woodlands, Texas.

“We are excited to add two more quality student-athletes to the Lions program,” said Newman, who is beginning his fourth season at UA Fort Smith.

Simmons started two of the 15 games he played in this past season and averaged 4.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for the Rams, who compete in the Mountain West Conference.

As a freshman at Colorado State, Simmons started 19 of the 32 games he played in, averaging 20.5 minutes per game. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Simmons began his prep career as a freshman at Keystone High School in Houston, Texas, before transferring to Kingwood High School in Houston for his sophomore season and then transferring to Westfield High School in Houston for his junior and senior seasons.

He averaged 30 points and 11 rebounds as a freshman at Keystone High, where he was coached by his father, and was named second team all-state, first team all-district, first team all-area, first team all-region and first team all-metro.

As a sophomore, he helped lead Kingwood High to a 37-4 win-loss record and a state championship.

As a junior, Simmons led Westfield High to a 36-1 win-loss record and a No. 2 national ranking, according to USA Today. He earned first team all-district, first team all-region and first team all-metro honors. Simmons averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game as a senior.

During his prep career, he was named MVP of the Greater Houston All-Star Game and participated in the Adidas Superstar Camp.

He is related to retired NBA all-star Terry Cummings and former UCLA Bruin and current NBDL player T.J. Cummings.

“Josh will bring a tremendous amount of experience to our program,” Newman said. “He has competed at the highest level and against some of the best players in the country. Josh’s abilities are ideal for our style, and we see him being a successful part of our program for the next two years.”

Clark attended the University of Texas - San Antonio this past year but did not play basketball and will be a freshman athletically. During his senior season at The Woodlands, he averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

“Grant is a young man who has really grown as a player over the year,” Newman said. “For his size, he is an exceptional shooter from the outside and will give us added depth in our front court.”

Kohlheim, a 6-foot-5 forward from Tupelo, Miss., played only one season for the Lions after transferring from NCAA Division I Jacksonville (Fla.) University.

“We are glad to see Paul continue his career closer to his family and friends at Lambuth University,” UA Fort Smith coach Josh Newman said. “Paul will be able to contribute right away and have a quality career at Lambuth.”

Kohlheim averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this past season while helping guide the Lions to a 23-9 overall win-loss record and a runner-up finish in the Bi-State Conference East Division. The Lions advanced to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II tournament, losing to eventual region runner-up Northern Oklahoma College - Enid.

Lambuth, which is transitioning to NCAA Division II, finished 17-12 overall this past season, while competing as a member of the NAIA’s Association of Independent Institutions Athletic Conference.

UA Fort Smith men’s basketball coach Josh Newman will conduct two individual camps for children in grades 2-6 on July 20-22 and Aug. 3-5 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

Campers will receive individual instruction in the fundamentals of defense, rebounding, shooting and ball handling. Each camper will receive individual instruction from members of the UA Fort Smith coaching staff and players.

Cost of the day-long camps is $150 per camper and includes a camp T-shirt and commemorative certificate signifying completion of the camp.

Campers may bring their own lunch, or food will be available for purchase at the camp store.

Registration forms are available on-line at www.uafortsmith.edu/Basketball or at the athletics office located inside the Stubblefield Center. For more information, call (479) 788-7590.

Also, Newman will conduct an Elite Camp for boys in grades 7-12 on July 25 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

Campers will participate in guard/post drills and 5-on-5 games and will receive a personal evaluation. Cost is $40 and includes a camp T-shirt.

Registration forms are available on-line at www.uafortsmith.edu/Basketball or at the athletics office located inside the Stubblefield Center. For more information, contact assistant coach Hank Plona at (479) 788-7593 or at hplona@uafortsmith.edu.

UA Fort Smith women’s basketball coach Louis Whorton will conduct an individual shooting camp for children in grades 3-6 on July 27-29 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center.

Camp participants will receive instruction in all phases of shooting the basketball, like shooting off the pass and shooting off the dribble. Campers will learn proper hand position, footwork and follow-through and will learn 10 shooting drills that they will be able to use at home. Also, participants will have their shot videotaped and critiqued by the women’s basketball coaching staff.

Cost of the day-long camps is $150 per camper and includes a camp T-shirt. Campers may bring their lunch, or food will be available for purchase.

Registration forms are available on-line at www.uafortsmith.edu/WBasketball or at the athletics office located inside the Stubblefield Center. For more information, call (479) 788-7590.

He should.

After all, Newman has coached him for the past two seasons.

LaDustin Williams, a 6-foot-1 guard from Jonesboro, Ark., recently re-signed with the Lions, becoming the third player from last year’s Lions team to return for the program’s first season as a NCAA Division II member. Freshmen Michael Pharis, a 6-2 guard from Van Buren, Ark., and Dean Neville, a 6-9 forward from Australia, also will return after redshirting this past season.

“We are extremely excited that LaDustin has decided to finish his career at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith,” said Newman, who begins his fourth season at UA Fort Smith. “He has been an important part of our program the past two years and gives us an immediate foundation as we build for the future. LaDustin has the unique opportunity to be the first player to ever play four years in a Lions uniform.”

Williams played in all 32 of the Lions’ games this past season and averaged 13.7 points per game, scoring in double-figures in 22 games. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

He helped lead the Lions to a 23-9 win-loss record and a runner-up finish in the Bi-State Conference East Division. The Lions advanced to the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II tournament, losing to eventual region runner-up Northern Oklahoma College - Enid.

Williams earned first team All-Bi-State East Division honors and was second team All-Region II.

As a freshman, Williams played in 31 games and averaged 8.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He helped guide the Lions to a 28-4 win-loss record and the Bi-State East Division title. The Lions advanced to the region tournament semifinals, losing to eventual region champ Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

The NCAA has granted UA Fort Smith provisional Division II membership status beginning with the upcoming academic year. UA Fort Smith athletic director Dustin Smith received official notification from the NCAA during a conference call on Thursday afternoon.

“A lot of work has gone into getting to this point. By no means is it over, but it is a huge step in the right direction and a positive movement for the institution and the athletic department,” Smith said. “A lot of worries have ended with this decision. We are one step closer to the prize, and that prize is active membership in Division II.”

As a provisional member, UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level this upcoming season, but its teams will not be eligible to compete for conference or region championships or participate in postseason play.

Once the provisional year is completed, UA Fort Smith will be eligible for full active membership. That decision will be made by the NCAA in July 2010. Smith said he expects UA Fort Smith to be granted full active membership at that time.

“In the whole process if (the NCAA) doesn’t feel that you have done what you are supposed to do, you repeat the year that you are on,” Smith explained. “I can’t ever say that (full active membership) is a done deal, but hopefully a year from this time, we can say that it’s a done deal and that we are an active Division II school.

“We have the pieces in place, and I would not foresee them saying that we would have to repeat the third year (the provisional year).”

UA Fort Smith announced its intentions to leave the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and pursue NCAA Division II membership prior to the start of the 2007-08 season.

UA Fort Smith completed the first year of the two-year exploratory phase required for Division II membership and was given approval by the NCAA on July 24, 2008, to move to the second year of the membership process for the 2008-09 academic year.

Two members representing the NCAA membership committee conducted a two-day, on-site visit at UA Fort Smith this past April, during which time they toured the campus and the athletic facilities and interviewed administrators, faculty and staff about the university’s academic and athletic policies and procedures.

Their favorable report – as well as UA Fort Smith’s work throughout the early stages of the membership process – was instrumental in the committee granting the university provisional membership status.

“My goal in this whole process was to do as much as we could on the front end to look and present ourselves as a Division II school,” Smith said. “We looked at a lot of institutions both in the state and in the region to give us some guidance and to set a standard for us to follow.

“My whole philosophy was that ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Obviously, there are schools around us who have been successful as Division II schools. We wanted to implement some of the things they do, and (UA Fort Smith Chancellor) Dr. (Paul) Beran has given us great guidance in doing that and has been very supportive of that. I think the (membership) committee was pleased with what we have done.”

This past spring, UA Fort Smith accepted an invitation to join the Heartland Conference and will begin competition in the league beginning this fall. The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

UA Fort Smith will begin its first season as a member of NCAA Division II with an exhibition game against former Lions coach Doc Sadler’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Lions will play the Cornhuskers at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb.

It will be the first of two exhibition games for the Cornhuskers. Nebraska also will play NAIA Division I Hastings (Neb.) College at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Devaney Center. Nebraska will open the regular season against the University of South Carolina - Upstate on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Devaney Center.

“We are excited to announce that our first game as an official NCAA member will be against the University of Nebraska,” UA Fort Smith coach Josh Newman said. “Doc and I have been talking about playing for the last couple years as we approached NCAA status. I always wanted our first NCAA exhibition game to be against Doc.”

Sadler served two coaching stints at UA Fort Smith. The Greenwood, Ark., native was an assistant coach under former Lions coach Bobby Vint for three seasons (1988-1991) and returned to the former junior college power as assistant coach under former Lions coach Charles Ripley for one season (1997-98) before succeeding Ripley as head coach the following season.

During his five seasons as Lions head coach, Sadler guided the Lions to four Bi-State Conference East Division titles, two NJCAA Region II tournament titles and two appearances in the NJCAA national tournament.

Sadler left UA Fort Smith to become assistant coach under then University of Texas - El Paso coach Billy Gillispie. After one season as UTEP assistant coach, Sadler succeeded Gillispie as head coach when Gillispie left to become head coach at Texas A&M. Sadler coached the Miners for two seasons before becoming Nebraska head coach in 2006.

“It’s a great opportunity to say thank you for everything Doc has done and meant to UA Fort Smith,” said Newman, who served as Sadler’s assistant at UA Fort Smith.

It may not be the only exhibition game the Lions play against a Division I foe.

“We plan on scheduling two more exhibition games against NCAA Division I opponents,” Newman said.

UA Fort Smith will follow its exhibition encounters with its official season opener on Nov. 17 against NCAA Division III University of the Ozarks at the Stubblefield Center. It will be the first of 13 regular-season home games for the Lions, who are members of the Heartland Conference.

Price fills the vacancy created by the departure of assistant coach Richie Riley. Riley, who was hired earlier this month, resigned to become an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina University.

Price previously was assistant coach for two seasons at NCAA Division II Gannon University in Erie, Pa.

“Ryan is a great addition to our staff. He is really energetic, hard working and knowledgeable,” said Newman, who is beginning his fourth season at UA Fort Smith. “What impressed me the most about Ryan was his passion to be a part of the Lions family. He has (NCAA) Division II experience and is willing to give the extra effort to help the program be successful.”

At UA Fort Smith, Price will be recruiting coordinator and will coach guards. He also will be in charge of scheduling and team travel and will assist with monitoring academics and scouting.

“I love Fort Smith. It’s a wonderful place. The people are nice, and the school is great with a wonderful staff and a great atmosphere,” Price said.

Price is a native of Roanoke, Va., and is the son of current Lamar University assistant coach Tic Price, who previously was assistant coach at North Texas State and head coach at McNeese State, Memphis and New Orleans.

The 24-year-old is a 2002 graduate of William Fleming High School, where he earned All-District and All-Region honors. He played three seasons at McNeese State before finishing his collegiate playing career at NCAA Division II Henderson State.

While at McNeese State, Price was named McNeese State’s Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year for the Cowboys – a feat accomplished only once before in school history by NBA Hall of Famer and former Detroit Piston Joe Dumars.

During his only season at Henderson State, Price, who played guard, started 32 games and averaged eight points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Reddies to a 23-9 win-loss record, the Gulf South Conference West Division championship and the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament.

Price was a student assistant coach at Henderson State during the fall of 2007 while completing his bachelor’s degree in general studies before joining the Gannon coaching staff.

During his two seasons at Gannon, Price helped guide the Golden Knights to a combined 56-9 win-loss record. The Golden Knights finished 30-4 this past season, won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship, won the Atlantic Region Championship and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II national tournament.

At Gannon, Price was in charge of recruiting, coaching post players and monitoring academics.

“This was an opportunity to move up in the coaching ranks, as well as an opportunity to work under coach Newman,” Price said. “Coach Newman is very highly-respected in the coaching ranks and getting to work for him was very appealing."

Riley and Plona fill the vacancies on Newman’s staff that were created by the recent resignations of assistant coaches Nate Mast and Chris Lowry. Mast was hired as the head men’s basketball coach at NJCAA Division II Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., and Lowry is currently pursuing other coaching opportunities.

At UA Fort Smith, Riley will be recruiting coordinator and will coach guards. He also will be in charge of scheduling, team travel and will assist with monitoring academics and scouting. Plona will coach forwards and will be in charge of monitoring housing, overseeing the strength program and directing camps. He also will assist with monitoring academics and scouting.

“Richie and Hank are two great additions to our staff. Both are energetic, hard working and knowledgeable,” said Newman, who is beginning his fourth season at UA Fort Smith. “What impressed me the most about both Richie and Hank was their passion to be a part of the Lions family. They both are willing to give the extra effort to help the program be successful.”

Riley, a native of London, Ky., has spent the past three seasons at Pikeville College, a NAIA Division I school in Pikeville, Ky. The 26-year-old was the top assistant coach for Bears head coach Kelly Wells for two seasons before being promoted to associate head coach this past season. He also was recruiting coordinator for three seasons.

While at Pikeville, Riley helped guide the Bears to an overall 54-40 win-loss record, including a 42-21 mark the past two seasons. Pikeville’s 2007 and 2008 recruiting classes were rated in the Top 5 in the nation at the NAIA level by VSN and RecruitingRumors.com and included 11 NCAA Division I transfers as well as five Kentucky high school players.

Riley was recognized for his recruiting abilities by being named Top NAIA Assistant Coach by RecruitingRumors.com.

Prior to joining the Pikeville staff, Riley was an assistant coach for one season (2005-06) at NCAA Division II University of Hawaii - Pacific and a volunteer assistant coach at NAIA Division I Georgetown College for two seasons (2003-05).

Riley is a graduate of South Laurel High School (2001) and Eastern Kentucky University (2005), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in special education with a minor in English. At Eastern Kentucky, he played basketball one season for then-head coach Travis Ford, who is now the head men’s basketball coach at Oklahoma State University.

“This was a great opportunity to be able to work under coach Newman and learn from him, and that was a big part of it,” said Riley on joining the UA Fort Smith staff. “The campus and town are great, and this is a really special place. I’m really happy to be here and to get the chance to work here and get better as a coach while working under coach Newman.”

Plona, a native of Avon, Conn., has spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I Providence College. The 23-year-old is a graduate of Avon High School (2003) and Providence (2007), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science while serving as student manager for the Friars basketball team.

“I worked for two head coaches at Providence, and both of them knew coach Newman and spoke very highly of him,” said Plona of joining the UA Fort Smith staff. “This is a really good situation.”

Jackson, a native of Milwaukee, Wis., averaged 5.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and one steal per game during his sophomore season at UA Fort Smith.

The 6-foot guard, who split his freshman season between Creighton and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, helped lead the Lions to a 23-9 record and the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II tournament.

“We are happy that DJ will be able to continue his academic and athletic career at Mississippi Valley State next year,” UA Fort Smith coach Josh Newman said. “Although DJ was only with the UA Fort Smith family for a year, we are extremely proud of him and look forward to following his success.”

Mississippi Valley, which is located in Itta Bena, Miss., finished 7-25 overall and 7-11 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference this past season. The Delta Devils, who are under the direction of second-year coach Sean Woods, finished sixth in the SWAC.

Cox, a 6-foot-1 guard from Nassau, Bahamas, averaged 5.6 points, a team-high 4.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game this past season while helping lead the Lions to a 23-9 record and the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II tournament.

The former Fayetteville Christian standout, who will be a junior next season, scored a season-high 13 points against Seminole State this past year and had a season-high 13 assists against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.

Cox is the first recruit signed by first-year High Point Panthers coach Scott Cherry. High Point, which is located in High Point, N.C., finished 9-21 overall last season and 4-14 overall in Big South Conference play.

“Tehran has been an excellent representation of UA Fort Smith and our basketball program the last two years,” UA Fort Smith coach Josh Newman said. “We are excited that he will be able to continue his education and dream of playing Division I basketball. We wish Tehran the very best and look forward to following his success.”

Mast will succeed Sergio McClain, who stepped down as head coach after only one season at the NJCAA Division II school. The Cobras finished 12-20 overall and 6-10 in the Mid-West Athletic Conference.

In addition to his head coaching duties, Mast also will be athletic academic advisor.

It was an opportunity for Mast, his wife, Ashley, and their son, Nolan, to return home. Both Mast and his wife are natives of Champaign, and Mast played basketball at the University of Illinois and is a 2002 graduate of the Big 10 school.

During his two seasons at UA Fort Smith, Mast helped guide the Lions to a 51-13 record, a Bi-State Conference East Division championship and two semifinal appearances in the NJCAA Region II tournament.

“I am very excited for Nate. The opportunity to return home and run his own program speaks volumes for the type of young coach he is,” UA Fort Smith coach Josh Newman said. “He did an excellent job the last two years with our program, and I expect him to have a great impact at Parkland College.”

Also, Lions assistant coach Chris Lowry recently resigned to pursue other coaching opportunities. During his one season at UA Fort Smith, Lowry, a native of Moreno Valley, Calif., helped guide the Lions to a 23-9 record and a semifinal appearance in the Region II tournament.

“Chris did an excellent job this year with every challenge I threw at him,” Newman said. “We wish him all the best as he returns to California to pursue a coaching career closer to home.”

Newman, who will begin his fourth season as Lions head coach, signed Jonathan Sharpless, a 6-5 guard from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas; Chad Jeffs, a 6-6 forward from Rogers (Ark.) High School; and Chris Williams, a 6-foot-6 forward from Moberly (Mo.) Area Community College.

Sharpless averaged 15 points per game for the Wildcats, who finished 21-12 overall and lost to Sherman in the Conference 4A Area playoffs. He was two-time All-District 11-4A and All-Region District 2.

He was selected to the Dallas ISD All-Star Team and participated in the Reebok Break-Out Camp All-Star Game.

“It’s a blessing. I never thought in all my years of playing basketball that someone would want me to play like UA Fort Smith has,” Sharpless said. “The campus was really nice, and everyone there was really nice and friendly and welcomed me.”

Sharpless also received interest from Weber State and the University of Texas - El Paso.

“We are extremely excited to have Jonathan join our program,” Newman said. “He is an outstanding player that can play either of the wing positions. Unlike many incoming freshmen, Jonathan is college ready now and will play a significant role from day one for our program.”

Jeffs averaged nine points and seven rebounds for the Mounties, who finished 24-6 and lost to Fayetteville in the Class 7A state championship game. He was honorable mention All-Conference and honorable mention All-State Tournament Team and was a member of the KURM Radio Dream Team.

“It’s a great opportunity for me, and I’m really excited about it,” Jeffs said. “I had other schools looking at me, but Fort Smith is the place I wanted to go. It’s a great fit for me. They’ve got great facilities, and the coaching staff is great.

“The coaching staff, I just clicked with them and have a good relationship with them. The facilities are really nice. We played there in the state tournament, and it’s probably the nicest place I’ve ever played.”

Jeffs could contribute as a freshman for the Lions, but Newman said there’s a possibility that he could redshirt next season.

“Chad has an extremely promising upside for an incoming freshman,” Newman said. “Fairly new to the game of basketball, Chad hasn’t even begun to tap into his potential. We look for Chad to have a great four-year career at UA Fort Smith.”

Williams, who is from Lebanon, Ill., averaged eight points and seven rebounds per game for the Greyhounds, who finished 8-21 and lost to Three Rivers Community College in the semifinals of the Region XVI tournament.

He was the third-leading rebounder in Region XVI and was eighth in the region in field-goal percentage (47 percent).

“Chris is a very versatile player who can play multiple positions. His size and strength give him the ability to guard a much bigger player as well as a smaller quicker player,” Newman said. “Chris will bring a sense of toughness and an energy level that Lions fans will appreciate.”

After watching Murray State College sophomore Wayne Jackson and Northern Oklahoma College - Enid’s Aaron McHenry play against his Lions this past season in the Bi-State Conference, Newman knew the two players would fit perfectly in his future game plan.

Apparently, Jackson and McHenry thought so, too.

The two junior college prospects signed with UA Fort Smith this week, becoming the fourth and fifth signees of Newman’s first Division II recruiting class.

Prep star Jalynn Mitchell, a 5-foot-11 point guard from Nettleton, Ark., signed with the Lions during the early signing period. Current Lions freshman Anthony Sanford, a 6-0 guard from Memphis, Tenn., will continue his playing career with the Lions next season. Current Lion Dean Neville, a 6-9 forward from Australia, redshirted this past season after joining the team at semester and will return next season.

“We are extremely excited about the start of our first NCAA Division II recruiting class. We feel we have started off with a solid foundation for what we expect to be a terrific class,” Newman said. “These young men represent the type of student-athlete we want to represent the University of Arkansas - Ft. Smith and our basketball program.”

McHenry, a 6-1 guard from Fayetteville, Ark., averaged 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists per game for the Jets, who lost to Connors State College in the NJCAA Region II tournament championship game.

McHenry, a former Springdale Har-Ber Wildcat, helped lead the Jets to their first division championship in school history and is the Jets’ all-time leader in steals. He chose UA Fort Smith over the University of Maine, Northern Illinois and Centenary.

“Aaron played extremely well all three times against us. We felt like he was a young man who we had a hard time stopping so we needed to make him a Lion,” Newman said. “Aaron can really stretch the defense with his ability to shoot the three with great range, and I am looking forward to coaching him rather than coaching against him.”

Jackson, a 6-7 forward from Tulsa, Okla., played his freshman season at Missouri State University - West Plains before transferring to Murray State College for his sophomore season. He averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Aggies.

A graduate of Tulsa Central High School, Jackson was a part of a state championship team as a senior and earned All-Conference honors.

“Wayne is a very versatile athlete who will give us an immediate impact on the glass as well as giving us a scoring threat around the basket,” Newman said. “He will continue to allow us to play up-tempo both offensively and defensively.”

UA Fort Smith trailed from the opening tip against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on Saturday afternoon and never got closer than one point of taking the lead in suffering a 90-72 loss in the semifinals of the NJCAA Region II tournament.

The No. 1 seed Jets will play No. 1 seed Connors State at 2 p.m. on Sunday in the championship game. UA Fort Smith (23-9), the No. 2 seed, ended their season for the second consecutive year in the region tournament semifinals.

It was the third meeting between the two teams, and the Jets only win of the series. UA Fort Smith beat Northern-Enid 82-77 on Dec. 6 at Mabee Gymnasium and beat the Jets 91-68 at the Stubblefield Center on Jan. 20.

A 3-pointer Travis Smith just beat the halftime buzzer and sent the Jets into the locker room with a 40-29 lead. Northern-Enid stretched its lead to 14 points on a layup by Jeremy Lay with 13 minutes left before UA Fort Smith mounted its first rally.

The Lions went on a 13-0 run that sophomore Jenirro Bush of Starkville, Miss., topped off with a 3-pointer and a stickback to get the Lions within 63-62. Northern-Enid pushed the lead back to four points, but UA Fort Smith again got within one point on a free throw and short jumper by freshman David Cline of Rogers, Ark., with 7:52 left.

Northern-Enid wasn’t fazed.

The Jets held the Lions to only four field goals in the final seven minutes and put together a game-breaking 27-8 run that pushed their lead to 20 points – their largest margin of the game – with seconds left.

Sophomore Tehran Cox of Nassau, Bahamas, ended the Jets’ run with a jumper with seconds left to cut the final margin to 18 points.

Northern-Enid scorched the nets, hitting 51.8 percent from the field (29 of 56). The Jets shot a sizzling 47.6 percent (10 of 21) from 3-point range with Aaron McHenry draining a team-high four 3-pointers on his way to 16 points.

Wayne Runnels, the Region II MVP, led the Jets with 24 points and polished off his double-double with 11 rebounds, while Lay chipped in 21 points. Ben Smith added 10 points.

UA Fort Smith shot just 38.7 percent from the field (24 of 62) and hit just 36.8 percent from 3-point range (7 of 19). The Lions committed 20 turnovers, which led to 20 points for the Jets.

Bush led the Lions with 22 points, while sophomore LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., chipped in 18 points. The Lions’ top two regular-season scorers were the only players to score in double-figures.

NO. 1 NORTHERN OKLAHOMA COLLEGE – ENID 90, NO. 2 UA FORT SMITH 72

UA Fort Smith 29 43 — 72

Northern-Enid 40 50 — 90

UA Fort Smith (23-9): Bush 22, Williams 18, Johnson 8, Kohlheim 7, Cox 6, Keese 4, Jackson 3, Cline 3, Rutledge 1.

Northern-Enid (25-7): Runnels 24, Lay 21, McHenry 16, Smith 10, Smith 8, Grant 7, Pietrowicz 3, Howe 1.

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

MEN

AT OBU NOBLE COMPLEX, SHAWNEE, OKLA.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 3 Carl Albert State 70, No. 2 Western Oklahoma 68

Game 2: No. 1 Northern-Enid 97, No. 4 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M 77

Game 3: No. 2 UA Fort Smith 81, No. 3 Northern-Tonkawa 72 (OT)

Game 4: No. 1 Connors State def. No. 4 Seminole State

Saturday

Game 5: No. 1 Connors State def. No. 3 Carl Albert

Game 6: No. 1 Northern-Enid 90, No. 2 UA Fort Smith 72

Sunday

Game 7: No. 1 Connors State vs. No. 1 Northern-Enid, 2 p.m

UA Fort Smith will begin its quest for a region tournament title against the Northern Oklahoma College - Tonkawa Mavericks at 6 p.m. at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Noble Complex in Shawnee, Okla.

It will be the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Mavericks, who are the No. 3 seed from the Bi-State West Division, won both of the regular-season encounters against the Lions, who are the No. 2 seed from the East Division.

Northern-Tonkawa won the first game 57-54 at the Stubblefield Center and won the second game 63-60 at Foster-Piper Fieldhouse.

Mavericks freshman Sterling Jackson converted a seldom-occurring four-point play with 1.4 seconds left to lead the Mavericks to the first win against the Lions. He finished with a team-high 18 points. In the second game, it was sophomores Demetrece Young and Sam Bartlett who did the damage for the Mavericks with 18 and 14 points, respectively.

UA Fort Smith (22-8) closed the regular season on a strong run, winning six of its final seven games. The lone loss during that run was to East Division champ Connors State at Melvin Self Fieldhouse in Warner, Okla.

The Lions are averaging 87.1 points per game with two players averaging double-figures in scoring. Sophomore Jenirro Bush of Starkville, Miss., is averaging 14.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, and sophomore LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., is averaging 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Seven Lions are averaging five points or more per game.

Freshman Chris Johnson of San Antonio, Texas, is averaging a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game to go along with 8.2 points per game. Sophomore Tehran Cox of Nassau, Bahamas, is averaging a team high 4.5 assists per game.

The Lions will look to make their deepest run in the tournament during third-year coach Josh Newman’s tenure. UA Fort Smith lost to Seminole State in the first round in 2007 and lost to eventual tournament champion Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in the semifinals a year ago.

Only the region champion will earn a berth in the NJCAA national tournament, which begins March 17 at Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kan.

NJCAA REGION II TOURNAMENT

MEN

AT OBU NOBLE COMPLEX, SHAWNEE, OKLA.

Thursday

Game 1: No. 2 Western Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Carl Albert State, 1 p.m.

Game 2: No. 1 Northern-Enid vs. No. 4 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 3 p.m.

Game 3: No. 2 UA Fort Smith vs. No. 3 Northern-Tonkawa, 6 p.m.

Game 4: No. 1 Connors State vs. No. 4 Seminole State, 8 p.m.

Saturday

Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 4, 1 p.m.

Game 6: winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 3 p.m.

Sunday

Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 2 p.m.

Athletic director Dustin Smith announced on Monday that UA Fort Smith has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Heartland Conference, a now 10-member league based in Waco, Texas.

UA Fort Smith will begin play in the Heartland Conference with the start of the 2009-10 season.

“It’s a historic day for UA Fort Smith athletics as we continue our transition to NCAA Division II status,” Smith said. “We are thankful to now have a home, and we feel the Heartland Conference fits the mission and goals of our institution and athletic department.”

UA Fort Smith, which is in its final year as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, is currently in the second year of the three-year Division II membership process.

UA Fort Smith will be a provisional Division II member next season while competing in the Heartland Conference. UA Fort Smith’s teams, however, will not be eligible to compete in postseason play until the 2010-11 season, when it becomes a full-fledged member of Division II.

“We are excited about beginning play in Division II next year and being a member of the Heartland Conference,” UA Fort Smith chancellor Dr. Paul B. Beran said. “We will be playing schools that will be on par with us. … This is a great moment.”

The Heartland Conference is the newest Division II conference. The conference, which was founded in 1999, covers a distance of more than 1,050 miles from north to south and 610 miles east to west.

UA Fort Smith will join current Heartland Conference members Dallas Baptist University, Incarnate Word University, St. Edward’s University, Lincoln University, St. Mary’s University, Newman University, Texas A&M International University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas - Permian Basin.

“We look forward to establishing ourselves at the Division II level, and the Heartland Conference will be a great opportunity for us to showcase our program – athletically and academically,” Smith said.

The Heartland Conference sponsors six men’s sports – cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and seven women’s sports – cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, softball and tennis.

UA Fort Smith currently competes in four men’s sports – basketball, baseball, golf and tennis – and four women’s sports – volleyball, basketball, golf and tennis. Next season, it also will field men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Smith said the Heartland Conference not only is a great fit for UA Fort Smith athletically but academically as well.

Universities in the Heartland Conference offer a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. The strength of the student-athlete concept is well supported by the many NCAA scholar-athletes in each school, the high cumulative GPA of the student-athletes in each school and the high number of student-athletes who graduate from each institution in the Heartland Conference.

“We are proud of their commitment to academics at the conference level,” Smith said. “That’s what we expect of our student-athletes.”

Smith said he is looking forward to a long relationship with the Heartland Conference.

“We are excited about being a member of the Heartland Conference and look forward to playing in the conference for many years to come,” Smith said.

The Lions (22-8) earned the No. 2 seed from the Bi-State Conference East Division and will play the Northern Oklahoma College - Tonkawa Mavericks, the No. 3 seed from the West Division, at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Noble Complex in Shawnee, Okla.

It will be the third meeting between the Lions and Mavericks. The Mavericks swept the regular-season crossover series, winning 57-54 at the Stubblefield Center on Nov. 24 and 63-60 at Tonkawa.

The Lady Lions (6-23) finished tied for third in the East Division with the Carl Albert State Lady Vikings but earned the No. 4 seed via the tiebreaker. They will play the Northern Oklahoma College - Enid Lady Jets, the No. 1 seed from the West Division, at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Noble Complex.

It will be the third meeting between the Lady Lions and the Lady Jets. UA Fort Smith beat Northern-Enid 87-77 on Dec. 6 at Enid – a game the Lady Lions later forfeited – and Northern-Enid beat UA Fort Smith 76-74 in overtime on Jan. 20 at the Stubblefield Center.

Both the men’s and women’s games will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com throughout the region tournament, which will conclude with the championship games on Sunday, March 8.

The Lions and Lady Lions will play their last regular-season game as members of the NJCAA. UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level next season.

Tip-off will be 6 p.m. for the women’s game and 8 p.m. for the men’s game, and it will be homecoming. The games will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com.

The Lions (21-8) will look to secure second place in the Bi-State Conference East Division and a No. 2 seed in next week’s NJCAA Region II tournament. UA Fort Smith is 4-3 in division play and is tied with Carl Albert for second place, but the Lions have the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage with the Vikings.

A loss to Eastern could push the Lions to third place or as low as fourth place depending on the outcome of Thursday’s games.

Connors State (22-7, 6-1) has already won the division and clinched a No. 1 seed in the region tournament, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (17-12, 4-4) has qualified for the region tournament. Eastern Oklahoma (4-22, 0-7) has been eliminated from region tournament consideration.

UA Fort Smith, which routed Shorter College 115-54 on Monday night, beat Eastern 93-68 on Feb. 9 at C.C. Dunlap Fieldhouse in Wilburton, Okla. Four players scored in double-figures in that game as the Lions shot 51.3 percent from the field.

Eastern is coming off an 89-72 home loss to Carl Albert on Monday night.

The Lady Lions (5-23) can finish as high as third place and earn the No. 3 seed with a win against the Lady Mountaineers.

UA Fort Smith is currently tied with Carl Albert for third place at 4-3, but the teams split during the regular season. Carl Albert owns the tiebreaker based on a better overall region record.

If UA Fort Smith wins and Carl Albert beats division champ Connors State, the Lady Lions will finish fourth and be a No. 4 seed. If UA Fort Smith wins and Carl Albert loses, the Lady Lions will finish third and be a No. 3 seed. If UA Fort Smith and Carl Albert lose, UA Fort Smith will finish fourth and be a No. 4 seed.

Connors State has clinched the division title and a No. 1 seed, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M will finish second and earn a No. 2 seed. Eastern (10-17, 1-6) has been eliminated from region tournament consideration.

The Lady Lions will be in action for the first time since beating Carl Albert 78-72 a week ago at Mick Thompson Fieldhouse in Poteau, Okla. Eastern is coming off an 86-76 home loss to Carl Albert on Thursday.

THURSDAY’S TICKET

WOMEN

EASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE VS. UA FORT SMITH

TIME: 6 p.m.

SITE: Stubblefield Center, Fort Smith

RANKINGS: Eastern Oklahoma State, Not Ranked; UA Fort Smith, Not Ranked

RECORDS: Eastern Oklahoma State (10-17, 1-6), UA Fort Smith (5-23, 3-4)

COACHES: Eastern Oklahoma State, Andy Mace; UA Fort Smith, Louis Whorton

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

THURSDAY’S TICKET

MEN

UA FORT SMITH VS. CARL ALBERT STATE COLLEGE

TIME: 8 p.m.

SITE: Stubblefield Center, Fort Smith

RANKINGS: Eastern Oklahoma State, Not Ranked; UA Fort Smith, Not Ranked

RECORDS: Eastern Oklahoma State (4-22, 0-7), UA Fort Smith (21-8, 4-3)

COACHES: Eastern Oklahoma State, Brenton Duncan; UA Fort Smith, Josh Newman

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

Six players scored in double-figures as UA Fort Smith dominated Shorter College 115-54 in nonconference play at the Stubblefield Center.

The game was originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off, but Shorter College didn’t arrive at the Stubblefield Center until about 8:45 p.m. because of transportation issues that occurred earlier in the afternoon.

Lions sophomore Jenirro Bush of Starkville, Miss., hit a season-high five 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 22 points. Sophomore D’Angalo Jackson of Milwaukee, Wis., added a career-high 18 points.

Freshman Anthony Sanford of Memphis, Tenn., had a career-high 13 points, freshman David Cline of Rogers, Ark., had 13 points and freshman Chris Johnson of San Antonio, Texas, had 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

UA Fort Smith (21-8) led 65-29 at halftime. Parker Smith led Shorter College with 16 points.

MEN

UA FORT SMITH 115, SHORTER COLLEGE 54

Shorter 29 25 — 54

UA Fort Smith 65 50 — 115

Shorter: Hicks 2, Hurst 12, Burnett Jr. 4, Foster 4, Jones 4, Smith 16, Summers 2, Hall 2, Albright 6, Dunigan 2

UA Fort Smith (21-8): Williams 15, Bush 22, Cox 2, Cline 13, Kohlheim 7, Jackson 18, Keese 5, Rutledge 8, Johnson 12, Sanford 13

With the Lions trailing 65-64 with under 20 seconds to play, the Memphis, Tenn., freshman stole the ball from Carl Albert’s Jaron Jones and scored an easy layup to give the Lions the lead. Sanford then collected another steal on the Vikings’ next possession off a turnover by Jones that all but sealed the Lions’ 66-65 Bi-State Conference East Division win at Mick Thompson Fieldhouse.

UA Fort Smith (20-8) swept the regular-season series with its longtime rival and improved to 4-3 in division play. The Lions have already clinched a spot in next month’s NJCAA Region II tournament and are battling for a better seed.

Carl Albert (10-17) slipped to 3-3 and also is battling for a better seed in the region tournament.

It was Sanford’s only shot attempt of the game. He finished with four steals, three assists and three rebounds.

His late bucket was huge as sophomore LaDustin Williams missed a pair of free throws with four seconds left that opened the door slightly for a possible game-winning bucket by Carl Albert.

Bobby Lee’s desperation heave from way beyond 3-point range, however, was well off the mark as the buzzer sounded.

Williams, who’s from Jonesboro, Ark., led UA Fort Smith with 17 points, while sophomore Jenirro Bush of Starkville, Miss., hit for 13 points. The Lions shot 45.5 percent from the field (25 of 55) and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line (12 of 18).

Carl Albert trailed by 10 points at halftime and fell behind 12 points on a bucket by freshman David Cline of Rogers, Ark. The Vikings rallied to lead by as many as three points late on a bucket by Lee, who had 15 points.

Andy Garcia led Carl Albert with 17 points and was one of four Vikings to score in double-figures. Carl Albert shot 44.3 percent from the field (27 of 61) and 64.3 percent from the line (9 of 14).

MEN

UA FORT SMITH 66, CARL ALBERT 65

UA Fort Smith 35 31 — 66

Carl Albert 25 40 — 65

UA Fort Smith (20-8, 4-3): Williams 17, Bush 13, Cox 9, Cline 6, Johnson 6, Keese 6, Jackson 5, Rutledge 2, Sanford 2.

Carl Albert (10-17, 3-3): Garcia 17, Lee 15, Brutus 11, Jones 10, Omar 5, Kote 4, Hill 3.

Tip-off in this long-time border feud will be 6 p.m. for the women’s game and 8 p.m. for the men’s game at Mick Thompson Fieldhouse in Poteau, Okla. Both games will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com.

It will be the final time the two programs, who are separated by a mere 34 miles and a state line, will play each other barring a chance encounter in next month’s NJCAA Region II tournament.

UA Fort Smith will compete at the NCAA Division II level next season, while Carl Albert will remain at the NJCAA level.

The Lady Lions (4-23, 2-4) are in fourth place in the East Division – a half-game behind third-place Carl Albert (17-9, 2-3). Connors State leads the division at 5-1, while Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is second at 4-2. Eastern Oklahoma State is last at 1-4.

The Lady Lions are coming off their worst loss of the season on Monday night – a 91-77 setback against No. 8 Connors State at Melvin Self Fieldhouse in Warner, Okla. The Cowgirls swept the division series with the Lady Lions.

UA Fort Smith allowed its most points of the season in the loss, eclipsing its previous season-high mark of 77 points allowed against Northern Oklahoma College - Enid on Dec. 6 and Connors State on Jan. 26. The Lady Lions were out-rebounded 57-39 by the Cowgirls and gave up 25 offensive rebounds.

Carl Albert (17-9, 2-3) is coming off a close 62-59 road loss at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College on Monday night. The Lady Vikings lost the first encounter with the Lady Lions 75-65 – a game UA Fort Smith later forfeited because of an ineligible player.

Sophomore Lakyn Garrison of Wickes, Ark., hit for 23 points to lead the Lady Vikings in the first encounter with the Lady Lions despite foul trouble. Garrison, who is No. 2 in the nation in scoring, has verbally committed to Oklahoma State.

Garrison is averaging 27.9 points per game. Sophomore Marisha Brown of Kansas City, Mo., scored 20 points to lead the Lady Lions in the first meeting with Carl Albert. Brown and sophomore Morgan Boyd of Olathe, Kan., lead UA Fort Smith in scoring with each averaging 13.7 points per game.

The Lions (19-8, 3-3) are tied with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M for third place in the division – a half-game behind second-place Carl Albert State (3-2) and two games behind division leader Connors State (5-1). Eastern Oklahoma State (0-5) is last.

UA Fort Smith is coming off a close 79-75 road loss at Connors State on Monday night. It was the Lions’ second loss to the Cowboys this season.

The Lions will look to sweep the division series against the Vikings, who lost to the Lions 76-74 in overtime at the Stubblefield Center in the first meeting. Sophomore LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., led the Lions with 21 points in the first meeting.

Williams leads the Lions in scoring with 13.6 points per game.

Carl Albert (10-16, 3-2) has won two of its last three games since losing to UA Fort Smith. The Vikings are coming off a 73-69 road win at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Monday night.

Bobby Lee led the Vikings with 23 points in the first game against the Lions. Lee leads the Vikings in scoring with 20.9 points per game.

THURSDAY’S TICKET

WOMEN

UA FORT SMITH VS. CARL ALBERT STATE COLLEGE

TIME: 6 p.m.

SITE: Mick Thompson Fieldhouse, Poteau, Okla.

RANKINGS: UA Fort Smith, Not Ranked; Carl Albert State, Not Ranked

RECORDS: UA Fort Smith (4-23, 2-4), Carl Albert State (17-9, 2-3)

COACHES: UA Fort Smith, Louis Whorton; Carl Albert State, Jeff Tadtman

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

THURSDAY’S TICKET

MEN

UA FORT SMITH VS. CARL ALBERT STATE COLLEGE

TIME: 8 p.m.

SITE: Mick Thompson Fieldhouse, Poteau, Okla.

RANKINGS: UA Fort Smith, Not Ranked; Carl Albert State, Not Ranked

RECORDS: UA Fort Smith (19-8, 3-3), Carl Albert State (10-16, 3-2)

COACHES: UA Fort Smith, Josh Newman; Carl Albert State, Mike St. John

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

Four players scored in double-figures as Connors State outlasted UA Fort Smith 79-75 to sweep the regular-season division series. The Cowboys (21-7) remained in complete control of the division at 5-1, while the Lions (19-8) slipped to 3-3 in division play.

The loss snapped the Lions’ three-game winning streak, and it was their first loss since losing to Connors State on Jan. 29 to start division play at the Stubblefield Center.

UA Fort Smith trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half but rallied to get within two points on a pair of free throws by LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., with 19.4 seconds left.

Connors State extended its lead to 77-74 on a free throw by Stephon Weaver with nine seconds left.

Sophomore Tehran Cox of Nassau, Bahamas, was fouled with 5.5 seconds left and made the first free throw to get the Lions within 77-75. He intentionally tried to miss the second free throw but didn’t hit the rim.

UA Fort Smith was forced to foul, sending J.J. Wesley to the line for Connors State. Wesley missed both free throws, but the second miss was rebounded by Rakeem Couch, who put the miss back in for the four-point final margin.

Weaver led the Cowboys with 22 points, while Chris Blake had 15, Couch 13 and Orlando Brown 10. Couch topped off his double-double with 13 rebounds. Connors State out-rebounded UA Fort Smith 43-31.

Sophomore D’Angalo Jackson of Milwaukee, Wis., and freshman Chris Johnson of San Antonio, Texas, had 13 points apiece to lead the Lions, while Williams finished with 11 points.

And most importantly, they still control their own destiny.

UA Fort Smith will face a tough test on Monday night, however, when it travels to Melvin Self Fieldhouse in Warner, Okla., to play Connors State College.

Tip-off will be 6 p.m. for the women’s game and 8 p.m. for the men’s game. The games will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com.

The Lions (19-7, 3-2) are tied for second in the East Division with Carl Albert State (9-16, 2-2) and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (16-10, 3-2) and are one-game behind division leader Connors State (20-7, 4-1).

UA Fort Smith has won three in a row since beginning division play 0-2 and is coming off an impressive 74-66 win against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M on Thursday night at the Stubblefield Center.

It will be the second meeting between UA Fort Smith and Connors State. The Cowboys beat the Lions 78-73 at the Stubblefield Center on Jan. 29 to open division play. Connors State’s only division loss was to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

The Lady Lions’ hopes for another division title were dampened a bit last week after the program forfeited 22 games after it was discovered they had played in ineligible player.

Still, the Lady Lions’ Region II tournament hopes are very much alive and well. UA Fort Smith (4-22, 2-3) is tied for third in the win column with Carl Albert State College (17-8, 2-2). Connors State College leads the league at 4-1, and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is second at 3-2. Eastern Oklahoma State is last in the division at 1-4.

The top four teams from each division advance to the Region II tournament.

The Lady Lions are coming off a lopsided 85-60 win against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College on Thursday night at the Stubblefield Center. UA Fort Smith swept the regular-season division series with the Lady Norse.

It will be the second meeting between UA Fort Smith and Connors State. The Cowgirls beat the Lady Lions 77-75 on a last-second shot at the Stubblefield Center on Jan. 29.

MONDAY’S TICKET

WOMEN

UA FORT SMITH VS. CONNORS STATE COLLEGE

TIME: 6 p.m.

SITE: Melvin Self Fieldhouse, Warner, Okla.

RANKINGS: UA Fort Smith, No. 7; Connors State, No. 8

RECORDS: UA Fort Smith (4-22, 2-3), Connors State (24-2, 4-1)

COACHES: UA Fort Smith, Louis Whorton; Connors State, Eddie Kite

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

MONDAY’S TICKET

MEN

UA FORT SMITH VS. CONNORS STATE COLLEGE

TIME: 8 p.m.

SITE: Melvin Self Fieldhouse, Warner, Okla.

RANKINGS: UA Fort Smith, Not Ranked; Connors State, Not Ranked

RECORDS: UA Fort Smith (19-7, 3-2), Connors State (20-7, 4-1)

COACHES: UA Fort Smith, Josh Newman; Connors State, Bill Muse

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

UA Fort Smith (19-7) won its third game in a row and climbed back in the hunt for the division title at 3-2. NEO (16-10), which beat UA Fort Smith 79-73 earlier this season, slipped to 3-2 in division play.

Williams, who is from Jonesboro, Ark., was 10-of-16 shooting from the field – he was 1 of 1 from 3-point range – and was 4-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. He also had a team-high three steals.

The quick-footed guard was one of three Lions to score in double-figures. Sophomore Paul Kohlheim of Tupelo, Miss., scored 14 points and had a team-high nine rebounds.

UA Fort Smith shot 49.2 percent from the field (31 of 63) and held NEO to 45.6 percent shooting from the field (26 of 57). The Lions also forced 24 turnovers, including 13 steals.

The Lions led 42-35 at halftime and maintained its lead throughout the second half as the Norsemen made repeated runs at the lead.

Raphael Brown led the Norsemen with 11 points, and Phillipe Martin chipped in 10 points. Martin scorched the Lions for 27 points in the first encounter.

UA Fort Smith 85, NEO 60

WOMEN – Three Lady Lions scored in double-figures as UA Fort Smith beat Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College for the second time this season.

UA Fort Smith (4-22) improved to 2-3 in Bi-State East Division play, while NEO (19-6) slipped to 3-2 in division play.

Sophomore Marisha Brown of Kansas City, Mo., hit for 18 points, while sophomore Dannah Kemp of Alma, Ark. chipped in 16 points, including four 4-pointers. Freshman Tracey Parsons of Trenton, N.J., added 12 points and collected a team-high nine rebounds.

UA Fort Smith out-rebounded NEO 50-35, and every Lady Lion who suited up had at least two rebounds.

The Lady Lions shot just 43.8 percent from the field (32 of 73), but they turned a close game at halftime (30-26) into a runaway in the second half behind a sizzling 55.3 percent (21 of 38) shooting effort.

Kali Bassett and Megan Fraley each had 12 points to lead NEO, while Jelena Cerina chipped in 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

UA Fort Smith, which committed 27 turnovers against Eastern Oklahoma on Monday, committed only 15 turnovers and forced 23 turnovers. Parsons led the Lady Lions with three steals.

MEN

UA FORT SMITH 74, NEO 66

NEO 35 31 — 66

UA Fort Smith 42 32 — 74

NEO (16-10, 3-2): Brown 11, Martin 10, Ross 9, Dos Santos 8, King 8, Davis 6, Cormier 5, Pigatto 4, Elliott 3, Moore 2.

UA Fort Smith (19-7, 3-2): Williams 25, Kohlheim 14, Johnson 11, Cline 6, Rutledge 5, Bush 4, Jackson 4, Keese 3, Cox 2.

WOMEN

NO. 7 UA FORT SMITH 85, NEO 60

NEO 26 34 — 60

UA Fort Smith 30 55 — 85

NEO (19-6, 3-2): Bassett 12, Fraley 12, Cerina 10, Woodard 8, Rees 7, Markham 5, Mekeel 4, McKinney 2.

UA Fort Smith (4-22, 2-3): Brown 18, Kemp 16, Parsons 12, Sanders 9, Boyd 8, Williams 6, Arnold 6, Duffey 5, Johnson 5.

And it doesn’t get any easier.

UA Fort Smith will begin the second round of division play on Thursday when it hosts Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College at the Stubblefield Center. Tip-off will be 6 p.m. for the women’s game and 8 p.m. for the men’s game, and the games will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com.

The No. 7 Lady Lions (23-2, 3-1) are locked in a three-way tie for first place in the division with No. 9 Connors State College and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, while the Lions (18-7, 2-2) are just one game behind division co-leaders Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Connors State.

As part of their second-round opener on Thursday, the Lady Lions and Lions will join countless other college basketball teams in lending their support for breast cancer awareness by participating in the WBCA Pink Zone™ promotion.

The WBCA Pink Zone™ initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.

The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone™, formerly known as “Think Pink”, in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women’s basketball, on campuses and in communities.

All fans who wear pink will receive $2 off the price of regular admission, and fans wearing a UA Fort Smith Pink Zone™ t-shirt will be admitted free. Proceeds will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. For more information about the Pink Zone™ promotion or to contribute, contact UA Fort Smith assistant athletic director Beth Presley at (479) 788-7575.

In 2007, more than 120 schools unified for this effort and helped make the inaugural year a success. In 2008, more than 1,200 teams and organizations participated, reaching over 830,000 fans and raising over $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research.

The Lady Lions are coming off a lopsided 94-59 win against Eastern Oklahoma State College on Monday night at C.C. Dunlap Fieldhouse in Wilburton, Okla. UA Fort Smith forced a season-high 53 turnovers, including 30 steals, in the win.

It was the third win in a row by the Lady Lions, whose only division loss was to Connors State College.

The Lady Lions won their first division encounter against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, beating the Lady Norse 68-63 on Jan. 31 at Miami, Okla. UA Fort Smith beat Northeastern Oklahoma A&M despite shooting only 34.8 percent from the field (24 of 69).

Four Lady Lions scored in double-figures during that game with sophomore Marisha Brown of Kansas City, Mo., posting a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Lady Norse enjoy a considerable height advantage over the Lady Lions, boasting four players 6-foot or taller. Sophomore guard Megan Fraley hit for a team-high 20 points against the Lady Lions in the first game, while sophomore forward Skye Rees, who stands 6-2, had 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The Lions are coming off an impressive 93-68 road win at Eastern Oklahoma State College on Monday night. It was the second win in a row for the Lions and their fourth road win of the year. UA Fort Smith will look to exact a little revenge against the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, which beat the Lions 79-73 in the first encounter.

Sophomore LaDustin Williams had 20 points and sophomore Jenirro Bush of Starkville, Miss., had 15 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lions.

UA Fort Smith, however, struggled to contain Golden Norseman Phillipe Martin, who hit for 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 shooting from the line. He was one of three Norsemen to score in double-figures.

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M took advantage of its opportunities at the free-throw line, sinking 81.8 percent (27 of 33) from the stripe.

THURSDAY’S TICKET

WOMEN

NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE VS. UA FORT SMITH

TIME: 6 p.m.

SITE: Stubblefield Center, Fort Smith

RANKINGS: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Not Ranked; UA Fort Smith, No. 7

RECORDS: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (19-5, 3-1); UA Fort Smith (23-2, 3-1)

COACHES: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Jim Rowland; UA Fort Smith, Louis Whorton

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

THURSDAY’S TICKET

MEN

NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE VS. UA FORT SMITH

TIME: 8 p.m.

SITE: Stubblefield Center, Fort Smith

RANKINGS: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Not Ranked; UA Fort Smith, Not Ranked

RECORDS: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (16-9, 3-1), UA Fort Smith (18-7, 2-2)

COACHES: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Dustin Grover; UA Fort Smith, Josh Newman

BROADCAST: KHGG-FM 103.1, www.sportshog1031.com

Sophomores David Cline of Rogers, Ark., and LaDustin Williams of Jonesboro, Ark., hit for 20 and 19 points, respectively, as the Lions routed the Eastern Oklahoma State College Mountaineers 93-68 on Monday night at C.C. Dunlap Fieldhouse.

UA Fort Smith (18-7, 2-2) remained one game behind the East Division leaders but stayed well in the hunt for a division title with the second round of division play beginning on Thursday against division co-leader Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at the Stubblefield Center.

Eastern (9-15, 0-4) remained in last place in the division.

UA Fort Smith led 40-33 at halftime but methodically pulled away in the second half as its pressure defense proved too much for the much bigger Mountaineers to handle.

Every Lion who suited up scored at least two points. Sophomore Paul Kohlheim of Tupelo, Miss., had eight points and led the Lions with nine rebounds.

Ronnie Hishaw, who is listed at 295 pounds, led Eastern with 20 points.

MEN

UA FORT SMITH 93, EASTERN OKLAHOMA 68

UA Fort Smith 40 53 — 93

Eastern 33 35 — 68

UA Fort Smith (18-7, 2-2): Cline 20, Williams 19, Cox 12, Jackson 6, Keese 7, Rutledge 10, Kohlheim 8, Johnson 9, Sanford 2.

Eastern (9-15, 0-4): McDonald 4, Dawkins 18, Hall 3, Hishaw 20, Liberty 9, Pelley 5, Roby 8.

The win snapped a season-long three-game losing skid by the Lions (17-7), who improved to 1-2 in division play. The Vikings (8-15) suffered their first division loss, slipping to 1-1.

Williams, a sophomore guard from Jonesboro, Ark., scored four of the Lions’ 13 points in overtime and finished with a team-high 21 points and seven rebounds. He was 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 shooting from the free-throw line.

He was one of three Lions to score in double-figures. Sophomore Tyrone Hanson of New York, N.Y., hit for 18 points, and sophomore Paul Kohlheim of Tupelo, Miss., chipped in 13 points. Hanson and Kohlheim had five rebounds apiece.

UA Fort Smith trailed 35-33 at halftime, but Williams scored on short jumper to start the second half to tie the game at 35 points apiece. Carl Albert’s Kidani Brutus put the Vikings back in front on a layup, but sophomore Jenirro Bush of Starkville, Miss., answered for the Lions with a layup to tie the game again.

The Vikings regained the lead on a layup by Andy Garcia and led by as many as nine points in the second half.

UA Fort Smith tied the game twice as the final minutes rolled off the clock in regulation but never took the lead. Garcia, who had 19 points and a team-high eight rebounds, missed a last-chance shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime tied at 63 points.

Carl Albert led by as many as three points (70-67) in overtime on a layup by Bobby Lee, who led the Vikings with 23 points, and a free throw by Ricky Hill. UA Fort Smith rallied to tie the game twice more in the waning minutes – the last time on a pair of free throws by Hanson – only to have Carl Albert tie the game one final time (74-74) on a pair of free throws by Hill.

UA Fort Smith didn’t miss in overtime, sinking 4 of 4 shots from the field and 4 of 4 free throws. The Lions shot 47.5 percent from the field (28 of 59) for the game and 84.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Carl Albert made only 4 of 8 shots in overtime – it was 0 of 4 from deep – and hit only 3 of 4 free throws. The Vikings shot 48.3 percent from the field (29 of 60) for the game and sank 68.8 percent from the free-throw line (16 of 19).

MEN

UA FORT SMITH 76, CARL ALBERT STATE 74

Carl Albert 35 28 11 — 74

UA Fort Smith 33 30 13 — 76

Carl Albert (8-15, 1-1): Lee 23, Garcia 19, Brutus 11, Hill 9, Omar 6, Kote 4, Jones 2.

UA Fort Smith (17-7, 1-2): Williams 21, Hanson 18, Kohlheim 13, Bush 9, Cox 4, Cline 4, Jackson 4, Sanford 3.

The two longtime rivals will clash in the latest installment of their border feud on Monday night when UA Fort Smith hosts Carl Albert in East Division play at the Stubblefield Center.

Tip-off will be 6 p.m. for the women’s game and 8 p.m. for the men’s game. The games will be broadcast on KHGG-FM 103.1 and via the Internet at www.sportshog1031.com.

It will be the first of two final regular-season meetings between the two longtime rivals. UA Fort Smith, which will compete at the NCAA Division II level next season, will travel to Poteau, Okla., on Feb. 19 for the final game of the home-and-home series.

The No. 7 Lady Lions (21-2) are 1-1 in division play after earning their first division win on Saturday with a 68-63 win against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. NEO (17-5, 1-1) beat Carl Albert 90-74 in their division opener on Thursday night at Mick Thompson Fieldhouse in Poteau, Okla.

UA Fort Smith, whose only losses have been by two points to Northern Oklahoma College - Enid (76-74 OT) and No. 9 Connors State College (77-75), is averaging 89.3 points per game and allowing only 65.3 points per game.

Sophomores Morgan Boyd of Olathe, Kan., and Marisha Brown of Kansas City, Kan., lead the Lady Lions in scoring with 14.5 and 14.1 points per game, respectively. Nine of the 12 Lady Lions are averaging five points or more per game.

Brown and sophomore Vasha Sanders of Little Rock, Ark., lead the team in rebounding with 7.1 and 6.4 rebounds per game, respectively. Five Lady Lions are averaging