The Booneville Bearcats went into spring break with a pair of pitchers coming off hitting milestones on back-to-back outings.
Both Brooks Herrera and Peyton Tatum have both reached the career 10 win and 100 strikeout marks.
Herrera, who announced on Twitter on Monday that he had committed to play baseball Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Okla., won his 10th game as a Bearcat in a 15-1 complete game five inning win over Paris on March 10.
The win improved Herrera to 1-1 on the season and 10-4 for his career. Herrera led the Bearcats with a 7-2 record last season and drew the season opening start at Fort Smith Northside.
Herrera's 10th win came in his 13th career starts. Herrera has 22 career appearances with a save in his only opportunity.
Herrera struck out nine Paris hitters in his most recent outing to run his career total to 102 batters set down on strikes in 80 career innings pitched.
Herrera’s career earned run average is 3.85.
For Tatum, who recently signed to play football at Arkansas Tech, it was last Tuesday’s game against Hackett in which he got the win throwing four innings of a five inning 16-2 win.
Ironically it was the third straight year Tatum drew the regular season start against Hackett and the third straight time he’s beaten the Hornets. The 10th win came in Tatum’s 17th start and 23rd appearance.
The win against Hackett was Tatum’s second of the season against one loss and raised moved his career mark to 10-5. Tatum was a five game winner as a sophomore in 2021.
With six strikeouts against Hackett Tatum has now fanned 103 opponents in 76 innings pitched.
Tatum’s career ERA stands at 3.96.
