Walton Drives In Three as Arkansas State Blanks Oral Roberts 7-0
Sophomore infielder Lane Walton recorded three RBIs and scored twice to lead Arkansas State to a 7-0 victory over Oral Roberts on Sunday afternoon at Chapman Park.
With the win, Arkansas State improved to 12-5 on the season while Oral Roberts fell to 7-8.
Walton paced the Red Wolves offensively with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate and also drew a walk in four plate appearances. Ashton Quiller added two RBIs for A-State.
Walton wasted little time putting the Red Wolves on the board, launching a two-run home run in the opening inning to give Arkansas State an early 2-0 lead.
Both teams combined for eight hits through the middle innings but neither side was able to push across a run until the sixth.
Walton reached base on a leadoff walk in the inning and moved to second on a single by Evan Griffis. Aidan Houseworth was later hit by a pitch to load the bases before Walton came around to score on a two-out walk, extending the Red Wolves’ lead.
Walton delivered again in the seventh inning with an RBI double down the right-field line that scored Cougar Cooke. He later crossed the plate after a throwing error at shortstop to stretch the lead to 5-0.
Quiller added insurance in the eighth inning with a two-run single up the middle, pushing the Red Wolves’ advantage to seven runs.
Arkansas State’s pitching staff combined to keep the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard. Dylan Farley started on the mound for the Red Wolves and tossed four shutout innings.
Tyler Weimer entered in relief to begin the fifth inning and dominated the rest of the way. The sophomore right-hander allowed just one hit and one walk while retiring five of the final six batters he faced, including a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Weimer improved to 2-0 on the season with the win while Oral Roberts starter Conner Johnson fell to 0-1.
Arkansas State will return to action Tuesday when the Red Wolves travel to face Little Rock at Gary Hogan Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.