Eighth-seeded Arkansas Tech University toppled No. 1 seed Southwestern Oklahoma State University 5-3 at Weatherford, Okla., on Friday in game one of a best-of-three series to begin the 2016 Great American Conference Baseball Tournament.
The Wonder Boys (22-29) will need one win over the Bulldogs (33-14) on Saturday to advance to the final stage of the GAC Tournament, which will be played May 12-13 in Arkadelphia.
First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. Live coverage will be available at www.swosuathletics.com.
Arkansas Tech broke a 2-2 tie and took the lead for good on Friday behind a two-run triple in the top of the sixth inning by Josh Watkins.
Kaleb Warden and Dylan McDearmon scored on the play, giving the Wonder Boys a 4-2 lead.
Arkansas Tech starting pitcher Zach Skelton (5-6) limited SWOSU to three runs on four hits over seven and two-thirds innings. Skelton struck out 10 Bulldogs.
Ryan Vruggink notched the final four outs — all on strikeouts — for his first save of the season.
SWOSU starting pitcher Jon Chidester (8-5) surrendered four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits in seven and two-thirds innings.