UCA Bears Baseball (7-8) stole a series win against the University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks (5-12) on March 10-12.
The opening game was Friday March 10. The Bears won 10-6.
The Skyhawks gained the lead by the fourth inning 5-4. The game remained stagnant until the eighth inning when both teams started scoring points again.
The Bears made a comeback by scoring four runs in the final inning, giving them the first win of the series. All four points happened when UCA graduate first baseman Evan Hafley scored a home run which helped junior catcher Hayden Seldomridge, senior outfielder Kolby Johnson and sophomore second basemen Tanner Leonard score runs.
The second game was Saturday, March 11, and The Bears grabbed another win 11-1.
The Skyhawks weren’t able to score a single run until the eighth inning.
UCA junior pitcher Jesse Barker pitched 109 pitches in the game. Junior pitcher Spencer Nelson took over for Barker in the fifth inning.
It wasn’t until the Bears switched pitchers in the eighth inning from Nelson to junior pitcher Brady Walker, that the Skyhawks were able to score a run.
UCA Coach Nick Harlan said, “Barker did great. He pitched through the elements really well. That was tough.”
Both Skyhawk pitchers had a hard time pitching in the rain. UT Martin senior pitcher Jordan Armstrong and junior pitcher Eli Martin hit UCA batters four times in the game. Armstrong hit sophomore second baseman Tanner Leonard twice in the first half of the game.
In the second inning, junior left fielder Mason King hit a home run allowing Leonard and senior catcher Noah Argenta to score runs.
The Bears fell flat in the final game against UT Martin, ending with a score of 5-3.
Sunday’s game wasn’t a good offensive day for the Bears.
Even though the team struggled to get any points in the beginning, Harlan said its defense was doing phenomenal.
UCA junior third baseman A.J. Mendolia said, “I think some of the defensive double plays that we have were really good for us.”
Mendolia said his team is ready for conference play.
“Oh, Heck yeah, I think we’re ready. With North Alabama coming into town, and we have a Tuesday game to help prepare for it, yeah, I think we’re ready.”
The Bears next game is at home, at 6 p.m., March 17. They will take on the North Alabama Lions.