PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Texas Southern came up just short Friday afternoon, falling 6–4 to Arkansas‑Pine Bluff in a tightly contested SWAC matchup at Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
The Tigers battled throughout and tied the game twice, but the Golden Lions used timely hitting and small ball to edge ahead late and secure the series opener.
Arkansas‑Pine Bluff struck first in the second inning, scoring twice on sacrifice flies and an RBI single to take an early 2–0 lead. Texas Southern answered in the fourth when Evan Joubert drove in Jonathan Trejo with an RBI single up the middle, cutting the deficit to one.
The Golden Lions responded immediately with an RBI single from Weston Gingerich in the bottom of the inning, but Texas Southern again answered in the fifth. Anthony Ruiz and Christopher Chavez delivered back‑to‑back RBI singles to tie the game at 3–3.
Arkansas‑Pine Bluff regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI bunt single by Ian Smith and added runs in the sixth and seventh innings to push the advantage to 6–4.
Texas Southern continued to apply pressure and plated a run in the seventh when Chavez recorded his second RBI single of the game, scoring Elijah Rodriguez. However, the Tigers were unable to bring the tying run across in the final innings.
Chavez led Texas Southern offensively, finishing 2‑for‑5 with two RBIs. Ruiz also collected two hits and drove in a run, while Joubert went 2‑for‑4 with an RBI. Rodriguez reached base twice and scored a run for the Tigers.
Jace Maynard took the loss for Texas Southern, allowing five runs on 12 hits over six innings while striking out five. Seve Medrano provided two innings of relief, surrendering one run.
Arkansas‑Pine Bluff was paced by Weston Gingerich, who went 2‑for‑2 with two RBIs, and Konner Giddley, who added two hits and an RBI. Kenney Fabian earned the win on the mound, limiting the Tigers to four runs—only one earned—over six innings.
