ENID, Okla. - The last time South Arkansas College lost, they responded by winning the Plains District Tournament.
The Stars will need a similar outcome if they are to continue their run at the NJCAA Division II World Series after Southeastern (Iowa) topped SouthArk 10-2 in eight innings Monday night at David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
SouthArk (47-17), the No. 7 seed, will face Lansing (Mich.) Community College, the No. 2 seed, in an elimination game Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
The schools met back on Sunday with SouthArk winning 11-1 in five innings.
Lansing (48-11) knocked off Frederick (Md.) Community College 12-2 in eight innings on Monday to keep their season alive.
Southeastern (48-16), the No. 6 seed, will face the winner of Tuesday’s elimination game between SouthArk and Lansing needing one win to advance to the finals.
As was the case in their wins on Saturday and Sunday, the Stars got out of the gates quickly with Trace Shoup connecting for a first-inning solo home run, his 16th of the year, to give SouthArk a 1-0 lead.
However, Vasin Thurman highlighted a three-run bottom of the first with a two-run double to give Southeastern a 3-1 lead.
Gabe Spedale pulled the Stars to within a run with a solo home run, his fourth this year, in the third.
But again, the Blackhawks answered in the bottom half of the frame with Thurman singling home two runs to make it 5-2.
The Blackhawks continued to pull away, scoring twice in the fifth on a two-run homer by Cole Yearsley to make it 7-2.
Yearsley also drove in a run with a ground out in the seventh and added an RBI single in the eighth.
Christian Clayson (6-5) took the loss after working four-plus innings. He allowed six hits and seven runs, which were all earned. He walked three and didn’t record any strikeouts.
Carlos Escobosa (5-3) struck out 10 over five innings to pick up the win. He allowed five hits, walked one and allowed two runs.
Yearsley and Thurman each had four RBIs in the win.
Ryan Riggs and Kyle Tolley were each 2-for-4 for the Stars.
Riggs has had a phenomenal World Series for SouthArk, going 7-for-10 with two home runs and six RBIs in three games.