The Bears won out against the South Dakota Jackrabbits in a non-conference series at Bear Stadium.

“It felt really good. We had been playing really well without getting the result we wanted. We have a lot of faith in this team. We are a solid, disciplined team, but the result was not at the end of the game on the scoreboard,” sophomore left-handed pitcher Tyler Cleveland said.

“Getting the series win was expected by the team, and we hope to continue that momentum moving forward,” Cleveland said.

Three games were held over the weekend. The Bears won the series opener 5-3 on Friday, Feb. 4.

Saturday’s doubleheader led to a 5-0 win in the first game of the night and a loss of 1-9 in the last. Sunday’s game was canceled due to weather conditions. 

In the first game, the Bears scored five runs from the fourth through sixth innings. They finished with 10 hits and 13 runners left on base. 

Trey Harris, junior outfielder, finished three for five with three runs batted in. 

Sophomore center and infielder AJ Mendolia was two for four with a pair of runs batted in.

Kolby Johnson, sophomore outfielder, was two for three and scored twice.

The Bears stole six bases, two by freshman outfielder Drew Sturgeon and freshman infielder  Tanner Leonard.

The team drew seven walks and were hit twice. The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader was a win for the Bears.

The Jackrabbits and the Bears made slow progress, with six scoreless innings from senior opener Logan Gilbertson.

The Bears had six hits and four walks. Johnson and junior infielder Hunter Hicks both drove in two runs. Senior shortstop R.J. Pearson added the run on base.

In the seventh inning, UCA scored four runs on just three hits.

The second game brought a loss for the Bears. The Jackrabbits grabbed five runs in the first and one more in the second. 

“I would say that we could have avoided the big inning better in game three. It has really hurt us all year long and is something that we are continuing to work on as a team,” Gilbertson said.

The Bears only got one run in the second game of the doubleheader, occurring in the fourth inning thanks to senior first baseman Connor Emmet, sophomore Connor Flagg, and a sacrifice fly by Mendolia. 

“That is one of the best things about the game. You can battle in an at-bat, hit a ball really hard, get out and still contribute to the team by providing a run for the team,” Mendolia said.

The Jackrabbits finished the night with 12 hits, including a three-run home run.

The fourth and final game of the night was canceled due to inclement weather. Still, the Bears came out on top.

“I feel like the strength of our team is the unity and energy. When someone is struggling we continue to pick them up with support and performance from another player. When the going gets tough, the true character comes out of players, and we are showing that we have each other’s back again and again,” Gilbertson said.