The UCA baseball team (2-1) began its 2023 season sky-high following a 2-1 series win against Southeast Missouri (1-2).

The Bears began the series with a major loss on Friday, Southeast Missouri taking the win with a score of 11-3.

The Saturday game was stagnant for the majority of the nine innings, with UCA winning with a final score of 3-0.

The final game on Sunday displayed the Bears’ potential for the rest of the season, trouncing the Redhawks, 13-4.

One of the key attributes for UCA’s victory on Sunday was senior catcher/right-hand pitcher Noah Argenta.

Pitching for the first time since high school ball in 2018, Argenta stood on the mound for six innings, Southeast Missouri only chalking up one hit throughout.

Along with the single hit, Argenta struck out three as well as walking three.

Coach Nick Harlan said, “He’s got the mental fortitude, and the stamina and the physicality to play both positions and do it well. I’m very proud of him.”

Southeast Missouri began the Friday game with a promising start but felt flat at the top of the first. 

After landing two hits and loading all three bases, the Redhawks failed to make a run after junior utility player Ty Stauss fouled out.

UCA didn’t make any progress at the bottom of the first.

Southeast Missouri scored its first two runs at the top of the second and senior outfielder Kolby Johnson gave the Bears their first hit of the day.

Neither team progressed in the third inning.

The Redhawks leaped forward with four runs and three hits at the top of the fourth, ahead of UCA 6-0.

The Bears countered with their first two runs of the game at the bottom of the fourth from junior outfielder Drew Sturgeon and junior infielder Mason King.

Scoring five runs at the top of the sixth, The Redhawks continued to dominate the game with a score of 11-2.

UCA was left in the dust, not making any progress at the bottom of the sixth.

Southeast Missouri was unsuccessful in the seventh inning, as UCA scored its final run of the game with a home run by senior outfielder Dylan Cyr.

Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth inning, ending with a score of 11-3 in the Redhawks’ favor.

The second game on Saturday afternoon was relatively static, with Southeast Missouri never scoring any runs.

the Bears picked up a total of three runs, one in the third, fourth and fifth.

Both teams started off with one hit each in the first inning on Sunday afternoon.

The Redhawks left empty-handed at the top of the second inning, the Bears landing another hit.

The Bears landed the first run of the day at the bottom of the third with a homer by Sturgeon, Southeast Missouri continued its losing streak as Argenta served up strategic pitches.

Junior center/infielder A.J. Mendolia and Cyr each added a run to the scoreboard for the Bears, UCA ahead with a score of 3-0.

At the bottom of the fifth, the Bears continued to improve, Cyr and Medonlia scoring another run each, as well as Johnson.

Argenta’s time at the mound ended at the bottom of the sixth, the Bears giving their best performance yet with a total of four runs and four hits.

Southeast Missouri came back swinging at the top of the seventh with four runs after having bases loaded, the score 10-4.

The Bears left the seventh inning without any runs or hits, the first time they haven’t scored since the second inning.

The Redhawks returned to their scoreless status in the top of the eighth, the Bears stretching the gap further with three runs at the bottom.

Neither team scored in the final inning, the game ending 13-4 with a strikeout from freshman right-handed pitcher Lucas Greer.

“Everybody’s got a great attitude. The coaches were getting us fired up, ready to go and ready to play,” Argenta said. “We know what we’re capable of so just trusting in ourselves and executing everything well is how we play baseball. The energy is always high.”

The Bears’ next series will be against Missouri State from Friday, Feb 24 to Saturday, Feb 26. in Springfield, Missouri.