A four-run seventh inning propelled the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys to a 9-7 victory over the West Florida Argonauts in the last of a three-game series at Jim Spooner Field in Pensacola, Fla., on Wednesday.
The Wonder Boys (22-11) led 5-0 after five-and-a-half innings, but West Florida (20-12) took advantage of three walks and one hit batsman in the bottom of the sixth to score six runs and take its first lead of the day.
A West Florida error put Chad Wynn on base to start the top of the seventh. Wynn stole second base and scored the tying run on Matt Johnson’s RBI single.
A Nick Makris single put runners at first and second. Clint Stroud drove Johnson home with an RBI single that put the Wonder Boys back in front 7-6.
Colt Loehrs was walked to load the bases, and Landon Sullins followed with an RBI single to make it 8-6.
Chris Reese’s sacrifice fly drove in the last run of the rally and sent Arkansas Tech to the bottom of the seventh with a 9-6 lead.
Head coach Dave Dawson gave that lead to ace right-hander Josh Floriani, and he allowed just one run on two hits while striking out four over the final three innings to earn his second save of the season.
It was Floriani’s 13th career save, which is second-most in Arkansas Tech baseball history.
Tech reliever Michael Banks (2-0) recorded the final out in the sixth inning and was credited with the win.
Johnson was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored on Wednesday. Sullins and Josh Riley added two hits apiece.
Wynn was 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. He also started the game on the mound and allowed two runs on five hits over five innings.
The win allowed the Wonder Boys to salvage the series finale after dropping both ends of a doubleheader against West Florida on Tuesday.
Arkansas Tech will return home to host Christian Brothers University for a three-game series at Tech Field this weekend.
The Wonder Boys and the Buccaneers will play a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday and a single contest at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Russellville radio station KCAB 980 AM will broadcast all three games, and those broadcasts will be streamed over the Internet at www.athletics.atu.edu.
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