The UCA Bears baseball team (3-4) and the Missouri State Bears (5-2) met on the diamond Feb. 24-26 in a three-game series, which ended with the UCA Bears in misery.

UCA’s Kolby Johnson hit 2 home runs during the Friday game, one of these home runs would bring the score to 10-9 UCA, before MSU tied it up and overcome the UCA Bears in the final inning. The first game in the series lasted five hours and ended in an 11-10 loss for the UCA Bears.

UCA Baseball coach Nick Harlan commented on how his team can remain focused through the entirety of a five-hour game.

“Training our ability to sustain focus starts the day they get to campus. They are prepared both physically and mentally for long days. This team is disciplined to compete in the moment.” 

On Saturday the UCA Bears would take the lead by the top of the third inning by one point — making the game 1-0 UCA, only for the MSU to strike back at the bottom of the fifth with four runs. 

UCA’s Drew Sturgeon brought the game to 4-2 by hitting a double at the top of the seventh inning. The UCA Bears kept clawing away at the MSU Bears in the eighth inning with another run, but MSU threw three strikeouts ending the game at 4-3 MSU. 

Coach Harlan said the second game in the series was a learning moment.

“We are always looking to improve, win or lose. In one-run games, little things make a big difference. We will make some adjustments in the small details of every phase to get better this week. 

The UCA Bears rounded out the series on Sunday in the third game.

By the end of the fifth inning, UCA was down by two runs and wouldn’t get a run in until the top of the eighth with Drew Sturgeon making the score 2-1 Missouri. 

UCA starter pitcher Noah Argenta and reliever Payton Windham struck out a combined 14 batters throughout the game. By the bottom of the eighth Windham racked up eight strikeouts in a row against Missouri State. The final game in the series ended 2-1 Missouri State. 

With all three games ending in a close one-run score, the UCA Bears put up a good fight. Coach Harlan said, “The team played hard and was engaged on every pitch all weekend. We expected to win each game.”

UCA will return home for a game against the Memphis Tigers at 4 p.m. at Bear Stadium and will face off against the Missouri State Bears on home turf on March 8.