After a neck-and-neck battle between the UCA Bears and Little Rock Trojans, the Bears lost 3-2 after a walk advanced the Trojans in the ninth inning.
Baseball coach Nick Harlan said that during such tight matches, mental strength is key.
“We spend time training the mental game. You have to control your attention, being present and focusing on the task at hand,” Harlan said.
“One of the hardest things to do in baseball and life is to manage emotions. The ability to choose your response rather than reacting to the circumstance takes discipline and training.”
Harlan said that the team’s main strategy involves staying consistent.
“Throw strikes, play catch, have quality at-bats, and run the bases smart and aggressive: doing those fundamental things well gives us a chance regardless of who we play,” Harlan said.
While in the first inning, both the Bears (7-8) and Trojans (9-4) got hits from their three lead hitters, but no player from either side made it on base.
During the second inning of the game, UCA junior third baseman A.J. Mendolia was able to get a single after a hit to right field and then advanced to second after senior left fielder Dylan Cyr was hit by a pitch. However, the runners were thwarted by a double play made by sophomore shortstop Alex Seguine, junior second baseman Skyler Trevino, and junior first baseman Noah Brewer from the Trojans.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Bears retaliated with a double play made by sophomore second baseman Tanner Leonard, junior shortstop Mason King and junior first baseman Jack Angus, getting out Trevino and Brewer.
The game entered the third inning with no runs on the board.
The Trojans made the third consecutive double play of the game at the top of the third when UCA’s junior outfielder Drew Sturgeon hit a ground ball to Seguine at shortstop who then forced out Leonard at second and then threw to first to get out Sturgeon.
At the bottom of the third inning, Trojans’ junior left fielder Ben Harmon got the first run of the night after Seguine hit a double to right center. Seguine would then proceed to get a second run for the Trojans after he was hit in by senior center fielder Tyler Williams.
The Bears immediately answered in the next inning when Mendolia was able to bring both senior right fielder Kolby Johnson and King home after hitting a single to right field with the bases loaded.
Harlan said the team continues to improve.
“We believe there is no circumstance we cannot overcome if we continue to play hard and as a team. It is a collective effort from coaches, guys in the lineup that day, and the dugout. Our team is tough and fights for every pitch regardless of the score.”
After the bottom of the fourth inning, the teams got caught in a stalemate, with each play made by one team getting thwarted by the opposition.
Junior pitcher Oliver Laufman who subbed in for senior Cade Fenton in the bottom of the fourth inning would achieve a career-high during the deadlock after striking out six Trojans.
During the stalemate, both teams would also attempt to bunt, but only Cyr was able to succeed when he was able to advance Mendolia on a sacrifice bunt.
The Bears faltered in the bottom of the ninth inning when a walk, a passed ball, a wild pitch and an intentional walk led to the Trojans loading the bases. Sophomore Tate Busey would sub in as pitcher for the Bears during the final batter, but a final walk would result in Trevino scoring the third point for the Trojans thus concluding the game.
The Bears will appear in a three-game series against North Alabama starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 17 in Bear Stadium.