Fayetteville

Joey Savin helped the Purple Bulldogs complete their most important two-game sweep in 7A-West Conference play to date with a strong effort both on the mound and at the plate Tuesday. Savin, a senior who pitches and bats lefthanded, was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Fayetteville’s 9-3 win at home against Rogers High. More importantly, he settled in as the team’s starting pitcher after allowing a first-inning run and gave up just two earned runs on seven hits with one walk and 11 strikeouts, in six sharp innings. Savin has been a big key for the Purple’Dogs both hitting and pitching most of the year. He’s batting .321 with 11 runs batted in and eight stolen bases, being used now in the leadoff spot. On the mound he’s 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in seven starts, with 13 walks and 53 strikeouts. “He bowed up a few times (Tuesday) and got some really big outs,” Fayetteville coach Scott Gallagher said. “Some of his hardest pitches were with 3-2 counts and he also bounced off the mound and made some plays when we needed them. So he played the position and pitched real well and did a good job.” Fayetteville (12-8, 5-3) is now just one game back in the 7A-West Conference behind Bentonville and Springdale Har-Ber in the league race thanks to the sweep of Rogers. The Bulldogs have now won four straight in conference and play Stillwater, Okla. at 7 p.m. today before returning to 7A-West Monday vs. Rogers Heritage. — Vernon Tarver • @NWAVernon

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
BULLDOG

FAYETTEVILLE

VERNON TARVER

ARPreps.com | 4/14/2016

PHOTO CREDIT: Fayetteville Athletics