The 2013 baseball season was one to remember for Central Arkansas as the Bears completed their best season in school history, finishing 42-22 overall and winning their first Southland Conference Tournament.
This wasn’t the only milestone for the Bears, however, as they advanced to the final game of the Starkville, MS regional in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual runner-up Mississippi State.
This year UCA starts the season against another bear opponent, the Missouri State Bears. The first game in the three-game series at Bear Stadium is at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 .Fans can view the full schedule and ticket information at ucasports.com.
The Bears face high expectations in 2014, but junior pitcher Connor McClain, a Conway native, said the team’s mindset is the same as it is before every season.
“Our team’s expectations are obviously to go after another championship and to play for an NCAA title after that,” McClain said.
Another NCAA Tournament bid is a possibility in head coach Allen Gum’s third year, as Gum led Southern Arkansas University to its first No. 1 ranking in school history in his third year with the Muleriders in 2008.
“In the past few years, UCA Baseball has come a long way,” senior infielder Scott Zimmerle said. “Coach Gum holds us to high standards and expects nothing less than the best. With that said, we have our sights set on Omaha and expect to add a few more rings to UCA Baseball’s collection.”
UCA will have to replace the production of all-American outfielder Forrestt Allday, selected in the 8th round of last year’s Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox, along with fellow outfielder Jonathan Davis of the Toronto Blue Jays. Catcher Michael Marietta, outfielder Ethan Harris and infielder Blake Marchal are also gone.
Not all recent events are bad for the Bears. Zimmerle joins senior infielder Justin Treece, sophomore infielder Chris Townsend and senior infielder Doug Votolato among those returning at UCA.
“Losing those guys was tough,” he said. “Not only were they great baseball players but they were also great leaders, great men and great friends, but our coaching staff did a great job of recruiting an awesome batch of guys who are talented, hard-working and passionate about the game. We’re excited to take the field with one another to show everyone what the 2014 bears can do.”
The Bears’ pitching staff led the Southland Conference last year with a 2.82 earned run average, thanks in large part to Jeffery Enloe. Enloe, selected by the San Diego Padres, struck out a team-high 86 batters and threw four complete games in 16 starts. Enloe joins former pitcher Caleb McClanahan as weekend starters that will need to be replaced this season.
Senior right-hander Bryce Biggerstaff, a weekend starter a year ago, returns after sporting a 3.03 ERA in 2013, including a no-hitter against Jackson State on Feb. 24 that earned him Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors.
Sophomore Connor Gilmore played well toward the end of the season for the Bears, tossing a two-hit, complete game against Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference championship game. Gilmore finished with a 5-0 record and a 0.73 ERA in 12 appearances, including six starts.
Senior John Rand joins McClain as returning pitchers who are expected to make an impact this season.
“I would say the talent on the pitching staff is just as good as last year, I have great confidence in the way we are going to perform,” McClain said. “The coaching staff has done a great job recruiting players to build a team that will be successful.”
UCA had its first-ever Associated Press top 25 ranking. The Bears were also the only team from outside of the Southeastern Conference to win a series against Mississippi State in the regular season.
The Bears look to continue their success this season, and with the leadership of Gum, the team will look to continue building on last season’s success.