A 10-run fifth inning from the Arkansas Razorbacks put the dagger into the hearts of the UCA Bears during their matchup in Fayetteville March 24.
With a final score of 15-2, Central Arkansas dropped to 13-12.
The Bears had already notched one midweek SEC win this season with their victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville earlier this month.
The game started well for UCA, as grad student infielder Jagger Schattle drove in junior Zeb Allen in the second inning to put UCA up 1-0.
Continuing his strong offensive season, Allen hit a solo home run to put UCA 2-0 in the third inning.
But, this would be the peak of the game for the Bears.
Razorbacks senior outfielder Zack Stewart hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit in half.
The fifth inning is when the wheels would completely fall off for Central Arkansas as the Hogs’ bats woke up.
Arkansas junior infielder Cameron Kozeal hit an RBI single to tie the game at two apiece before Stewart drew a bases-loaded walk to make the score 3-2.
Senior outfielder Maika Nui ripped a two-RBI double, Stewart scored on a wild pitch and freshman catcher Carter Rutenbar hit another RBI double to blow the game wide open.
The Razorbacks’ offensive carnage was capped off with a grand slam from junior infielder T.J. Pompey, making the score 11-2.
With the dirt beginning to settle on the Bears’ coffin, their bats went silent for the rest of the game.
Arkansas tacked on four more runs in the sixth inning.
Rutenbar hit his first career home run, which drove in three runs. Stewart hit his second home run of the game – a solo shot – which made the game 15-2.
The Bears used four pitchers across the game.
Senior starter Jacob Pannell pitched four innings, striking out five and allowing four hits.
Pannell walked four batters and gave up five runs, four of which came in the Razorbacks’ fifth inning onslaught.
Sophomore reliever Jake Jones allowed four runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out. Junior Austin Jones recorded one out before allowing two runs, including a home run.
Junior J.B. Williams pitched one ⅔ innings, giving up two home runs and allowing three runs.
The loss dropped UCA to 3-9 against Arkansas all-time and 0-7 against the Hogs in the Dave Van Horn era.
