The Bears baseball team stomped the UAPB Lions at its home turf, 10-3 in a non-conference matchup. 

UCA (4-6) got off to a hot start in the top of the first inning after its first two hitters, sophomore outfielder Zeb Allen and junior infielder Keon Moseni singled, putting runners on first and second. 

Then, a failed pickoff attempt by UAPB senior pitcher Chris Bedgood advanced both UCA runners, scoring Allen and putting Moseni at third base. 

This was Allen’s first of three runs scored in the game, making the score 1-0 UCA in the top half of the 1st. 

The Bears scored one more in the first inning on a fielder’s-choice. 

Bears junior pitcher Jacob Pannell had what most would call a successful outing on the mound, pitching five innings, striking out four and surrendering zero earned runs. 

Despite surrendering a hit to senior outfielder Carlos Rodriguez-Veldez, Pannell was able to sit down the side in the bottom of the first inning. 

The score after one inning was 2-0 Bears. 

UCA did not score again until the 4th inning. 

Senior infielder Jagger Schattle led off the inning for UCA and struck out swinging. 

Then junior outfielder Owen Tracy and junior outfielder Blaine French got on base with a walk, putting runners on 1st and 2nd base. 

Mosei recorded the second UCA out on a foul out to the catcher. 

With two outs and two runners on, freshman infielder Nathan Negre doubled to left field, clearing the bases for the Bears and making the score 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning. 

Negre ended up leading the team with 4 RBIs. 

Pannell continued to shut down Lion’s hitters in the bottom of the fourth after retiring the side. 

Similar to the top of the fourth, UAPB pitching could not find the strike zone after walking the first UCA batter and surrendering a passed ball. 

After a walk from senior infielder Preston Curtis and a popout by Tracy, UCA again had two runners on base with two outs. 

Then, the two-out magic continued after Allen singled to left field, driving in two runs. At this point, UCA had a 7-0 lead. 

UAPB didn’t score its first run until the bottom of the fifth when sophomore infielder Collin McLemore scored on an error by the catcher. 

UAPB tallied six hits in the game, but UCA had three errors, and the Lions took advantage. 

Ultimately, that was not enough, as UCA scored three more runs, winning the game 10-3. 

The Bears will return to Conway to play a three-game set against the University of Evansville Purple Aces March 7-9. 

This will be UCA’s first match-up against the Purple Aces since 2017, where they won two out of three games in a set.