FORT SMITH, Ark. — The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith baseball team plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game and the Lions squeezed in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat Pittsburg State University, 6-5, in the season opener for both teams Thursday (Feb. 2).

The Gorillas (0-1) overcame an early 1-0 deficit against the Lions (1-0) by scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning to build a 4-1 lead.

Pitt State starter Cody Whiting limited UAFS to one hit through six innings. He allowed two runs (one earned), walking two and fanning three batters.

Chase Kilgore started the Gorillas' fifth-inning scoring spree with a two-run single to score Pitt State newcomers Hunter Clanin and Ethan Schlesener. Colton Pogue and Dallas Reed followed with back-to-back run-scoring doubles to give the Gorillas the three-run cushion.

The Lions trimmed the margin to 4-2 with an unearned run against Whiting in the sixth and with another run in the seventh inning off Pitt State reliever Ty Rowe.

Reed used a squeeze bunt to push the Gorillas' margin back to two, 5-3, in the top of the ninth. Kilgore and Pogue each came through with one-out singles to set up Reed's play.

The Lions countered in the bottom of the frame with two runs to tie it thanks to a single and a throwing error.

UAFS then won the game on Kasey Cooper's bunt single in the bottom of the 10th inning. The Lions' Logan Allen was hit by Pitt State reliever Blaine Fisher (0-1) to open the frame, went to second on a bunt and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Fisher. Fisher then intentionally walked Anthony Seminaris before giving way to reliever Cort Lesmeister. Lesmeiester then surrendered the one-out bunt single by Cooper to plate the winning run.

Pitt State will return to action Friday (Feb. 3) with a 2 p.m. game against Henderson State University at Fort Smith, Ark.