UAPB Baseball: Gries-Smith Racks Up 4 Hits in UAPB’s 24-3 Victory Over Alcorn State; First Sweep Of The Season

LORMAN, MS — Junior Eli Gries-Smith racked up four hits to help lead the UAPB Golden Lions past the Alcorn State Braves 24-3 on Sunday.

Junior Brendan Hamlin got the win for UAPB (5-20, 3-3). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out three.

In addition to his four hits, Gries-Smith had a walk and an RBI to lead the Golden Lions. Senior Carlos Rodriguez-Velez furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-5 with a double, a triple, a walk and four RBI. Junior Trinidad De La Garza also contributed for UAPB, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a double, two walks and five RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Golden Lions got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. UAPB’s offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a two-run single off the bat of DeLaGarza.

The Braves failed to push any runs across before the Golden Lions offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The UAPB offense exploded for six runs, highlighted by a one-run walk off the bat of DeLaGarza, which brought the score to 11-0 in favor of the Golden Lions.

UAPB held Alcorn State without a run before building their lead to 15-0 the following inning. The Golden Lions bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a one-run single off the bat of Gries-Smith.

The Braves gained ground, closing the gap to 15-1 until UAPB added some insurance in the fourth. The Golden Lions pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of De La Garza that brought home senior Branth Voth and senior Jesus Riera, bringing the score to 17-1 in favor of UAPB.

Alcorn State got within 17-3 until the Golden Lions scored again in the fifth inning to stretch its lead to 24-3. The UAPB offense piled up seven runs, highlighted by a one-run walk off the bat of Rodriguez. The score remained 24-3 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Lions coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Gries-Smith collected four hits on the day for UAPB.
» The Golden Lions power output was led by Rodriguez, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» De La Garza and Rodriguez drove in at least four runs for UAPB.
» Every UAPB starter reached base safely in the win.
» UAPB’s highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» UAPB took a 5-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn’t surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Six Golden Lions had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Golden Lions had a total of 19 hits.
» The Golden Lions out-hit the Braves at a 19-5 clip.
» Riera stole two bases in Sunday’s game.
» UAPB went 9-for-27 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» UAPB pitchers limited Alcorn State to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» UAPB pitchers faced 30 Alcorn State hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out three.
» The Golden Lions drew 12 walks from Alcorn State pitching.
» Rodriguez led the Golden Lions at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and four RBI.