Boyd's starting racing season and other sports news

Monday, March 10, 2014

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

Boyd's Speedway will hold its first regular night of racing for 2014 this Saturday with Steel-head and Crate Late Model, A and B Hobby and Front Wheel Drive divisions. After open practice sessions Friday evening on the one-third-mile banked dirt track, gates will open Saturday at 4 p.m. with hot laps beginning at 7. Admission costs $10 for adults, $5 for ages 7-12 and $25 for pit passes. The Southern All-Star series will begin its Super Late Model season at Boyd's on March 22 with the 50-lap Shamrock race paying $5,000 to the winner. Adult admission will be $15 with pit passes costing $30 that night.

Baseball

• Lee University won 9-8 in its Gulf South Conference baseball series finale Sunday against visiting West Alabama. The Flames scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to complete a rally and win the series two games to one. Lee shortstop Josh Silver went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs, and designated hitter Blake Ray also had three RBIs. Nathan Wierzgac went 3-for-4. Derrick Pitts pitched the final five innings in relief to pick up the win. He allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five.

• Cleveland State finally got to begin its rain-delayed TCCAA baseball series at Dyersburg State on Sunday and the Cougars scored six runs in the top of the first inning on the way to a 10-1 win over the Eagles. Designated hitter Brock Johnson let the offense with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, including an RBI and two runs. Cameron Strickland, Evan Speicher, Dalton Rogers, Zack Janes and Janson Roberson each had two hits in the win, and Speicher and Janes each had two RBIs. Starting pitcher Bobby Towne allowed four hits and one run over seven innings to pick up the victory.

• Berry College followed up 12-4 and 7-1 Southern Athletic Association baseball wins Saturday at Sewanee with an 8/4 win over the Tigers on Sunday. The first victory Saturday put 17th-year Vikings coach David Beasley to 500 for his college career, against 334 losses and one tie. Ben Jernigan and Ryan O'Connell combined to pitch a four-hitter and Zach Farmer and Alex McGill each batted in two runs. McGill had two RBIs again in Saturday's second game, when Berry broke out of a 1-1 tie with three runs in each of the last two innings. Michael Walker had a two-run homer for Sewanee in Saturday's opener, and Ryan Poole went 2-for-3 in game two. Sunday, Sewanee held Berry in check until a five-run eighth inning blew the game open. Ryan Poole and Jack Rogers each had doubles in the loss, and Rogers, Gus Myer and Grant Goodson each had two hits. Sewanee pitcher Charles Warren started and took the loss after allowing seven runs (four earned runs) on eight hits and seven walks over 7 1/3 innings.

• Covenant College took a 6-1 baseball record to Huntingdon in Montgomery, Ala., this past weekend but lost 9-8 on Friday night and 1-0 and 11-1 on Saturday. Garrett Kriston (2-1) pitched an eight-inning three-hitter in Saturday's first game, giving up the run on a bunt single. Scott Gillespie had two hits in that game and David Lockwood was 2-for-3 with the RBI in the finale. Gillespie also had two hits and scored twice in Friday's loss, when Chris Rollins was 3-for-4 and Forrest Hunter and Will Carlton each had two hits and matched Rollins' two RBIs.

• Despite taking their first loss of the season on Friday, the Tennessee baseball team completed a series win at Arizona State on Sunday with 6-4 win. The 19th-ranked Vols (14-1) rallied from a 2-0 first inning deficit to tie the game 3-3 after three innings, and they broke the game open with three runs in the sixth innings. Nick Senzel went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, and Nathaniel Maggio had three hits in the win. Christin Steward and Scott Price also had two hits for UT. Josh Peterson picked up his first win of the season with 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Kyle Serrano. Andy Cox pitched the final two innings to pick up his first save of the season.

Softball

• Lee University lost to West Alabama, 6-5, in Gulf South softball Sunday, despite a three run home run from Ana Coscorrosa that gave the Lady Flames a 5-4 lead. But West Alabama tied the game in the sixth and Scarlett Wright hit a solo home run in the eighth inning for the game-winner. Angie Hughes started for Lee and pitched the entire game. She only allowed five hits, but struggled with control and walked 11 batters.

Lacrosse

• The Sewanee women's lacrosse team lost 14-7 on Sunday against visiting Denison. The Tigers (5-3) were led on offense by Katie Riddle and Chelsea Staunton, who each scored two goals. Riddle also added a pair of assists, and Crawford Horan made eight saves in goal.