JONESBORO, AR ? The Arkansas State baseball team won its seventh straight home game as the Indians rallied from two runs down to score the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Tribe defeated Freed-Hardeman, 8-7 on Monday night at Tomlinson Stadium. Senior second baseman Michael Williams Jr. drove home the game winning run with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give ASU its 19th victory of the season.
“I am extremely pleased with our guys and how they were able to pick up this win tonight,” head coach Keith Kessinger said. “We have been playing very well at home recently and did a good job late in the game to keep our home winning streak alive.”
The Indians trailed 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning against the Lions' starter Josh Hester. After one out, junior Tyler Doke and senior Elliot Jacobs posted back-to-back singles to put two aboard. Senior designated hitter Josh Yates drew a walk to load the bases.
Senior Kevin Kull Jr. came through with a two-out single up the middle that plated Doke to pull ASU within one run, but Freed-Hardeman was able to throw out Jacobs at the plate to end the Tribe's threat.
Freed-Hardeman came out in the top of the eighth inning against freshman reliever Brandon Eller and notched back-to-back singles after one out. Kessinger made the call to the bullpen and summoned junior closer Tim Egart into the game to pull the Tribe out of the jam. Egart responded as he recorded the last two outs of the inning without allowing the runners to advance a single base and keep the Tribe within one run.
The Indians knotted the game back up in the bottom of the eighth inning as senior center fielder Josh Allison led off the inning with a double off of the center field wall for his third hit of the evening. Williams Jr. laid down a sacrifice bunt fielder's choice that the Lions attempted to throw out Allison at third but the throw was late allowing for runners on the corners.
Junior pinch hitter Brandon Bennett came on and ripped a ground ball to first base for a fielder's choice as the Lions elected to go to second for the force out and they allowed Allison to score the game-tying run.
Egart kept the Lions off of the scoreboard in the top of the ninth as he worked around a pair of singles by Freed-Hardeman. He was able to put the Tribe in position for the victory as he struck out the side including two straight strike outs after the Lions had two aboard and only one out.
The Tribe quickly came out in the bottom of the ninth inning and put the pressure on FHU reliever Robert Matlock. Senior Brett Kinning led off the inning as he doubled into the right center field gap. After an out, Kinning advanced to third on a wild pitch to bring the game winning run just 90 feet away. Freed-Hardeman elected to walk both Kull and Allison intentionally to load the bases to set up a force out at any base. Williams Jr. made the Lions pay for that move as he ripped the first pitch he saw into left field for the game winning walk-off single that plated Kinning with the winning run.
“Josh (Allison) was fantastic tonight getting three hits and made some great plays on the base paths,” Kessinger added. “Brett (Kinning) came through with a big lead off double in the ninth and Tim (Egart) was great again as he got the last five outs of the game for us without allowing any runs to score.”
Egart (5-2) picked up the victory in relief as he worked 1.2 scoreless innings of relief as he allowed just two hits while striking out four batters. Matlock (1-2) picked up the loss for the Lions as he allowed one run on two hits while walking two batters in two-thirds of an inning of work.
Allison paced the Tribe offensive attack as he reached base five times on the night and scored three runs. He tallied three hits, including a pair of doubles, drew a pair of walks and also stole home in the victory. Kinning and Doke each added three hits apiece for the Tribe while Williams and Yates each added a pair of hits. Kull Jr. and Williams Jr. each tallied a pair of RBIs in the victory.
ASU starter Nicholas Lambert worked just 2.1 innings for the Tribe as he allowed two runs on without allowing a hit as he walked two batters. Senior Todd Boucher was charged with four runs on five hits in three innings of relief. Eller was effective again in relief as he tossed two innings of one-run baseball as he scattered five hits.
Hester picked up a no decision as he worked 7.2 innings and allowed seven runs on 13 hits while striking out eight batters.
The victory is the Tribe sixth win in its past seven games and second straight series sweep. The Indians will look to continue their strong play on Tuesday afternoon as the Tribe travels to Martin, Tenn. for a midweek affair against regional rival Tennessee-Martin at 3 p.m.
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