The UCA Baseball team secured their first series victory of the season, taking down the Northwestern State University Demons 13-5 in the finale of a four game weekend set at Bear Stadium Sunday, Feb. 22.
Central Arkansas improved to 5-3 on the season after going 3-1 over the weekend, equalling the best start for the Bears since the 2017 season.
UCA began their offensive slugfest in the bottom of the second. Following junior infielder Parker Gwyn’s walk and a HBP from freshman infielder Mark Ross, graduate catcher Casey Shipley capitalized with an RBI single to put the Bears in front 1-0.
The Bears opened the flood gates in the bottom of the third, totaling four runs on five hits to extend their lead to 5-0.
The Demons would get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth courtesy of the third home run of the weekend from freshman infielder Brock Davis. The solo blast cut the UCA advantage to 5-1.
Central Arkansas countered with another multi-run inning, loading up the bases for sophomore infielder Jack Runsick, who delivered with a 3 RBI double to put the Bears ahead 8-1
After a scoreless fifth inning from both sides, Runsick extended the Bears lead again in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single.
Northwestern State got in on the offensive party in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with no outs before junior outfielder Brooks Leonard drove in two runs with a single through the right side.
Leonard also scored on a double play, as the Demons totaled three runs in the inning to cut the UCA lead to 9-4.
Central Arkansas once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, and freshman outfielder Jayden Sloan made the Demons pay dearly, hitting a grand slam to pour on to the lead.
Sloan, finishing the day going three for six with 4 RBI’s, shared his thoughts on how the team grew closer over the weekend.
Sloan said, “We fought really hard this weekend, as a team we really started to come together, we hit really well last week. Just a great way to start the year off at home.”
Northwestern State would add a consolation run in the top of the eighth as the Bears coasted to victory.
After exhausting much of their pitching Saturday, UCA benefited from a stellar outing from junior pitcher Patrick Fernandez. The right hander earned the win pitching into the seventh, allowing four runs on only three hits, a walk, and a hit batter.
Bears Head Coach Nick Harlan shared his thoughts on the way his team responded following ending up on the wrong side of a 15 inning game, the second of a double header on Saturday.
Coach Harlan said, “We were one inch away from winning [last night’s] game and it just didn’t happen, and sometimes when that happens it’s hard to reset and our guys did a really good job of it and I credit that to our leadership.”
Looking ahead, the Bears head to Stillwater, Okla. for a midweek contest against the Oklahoma State University Cowboys on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 4:00 p.m.