Baseball
Big fifth inning carries UCA to win over Lipscomb in game moved to Benton
Bears won their fifth straight game behind complete-game pitching performance from junior Hunter Alexander after weather forced move
BENTON, Ark. — Central Arkansas rode a six-run fifth inning to an 11-1 seven-inning victory over the Lipscomb Bisons in their ASUN series opener at Benton High School’s Everett Field.
The Bears (11-17, 5-5) won their fifth straight game behind a complete-game pitching performance from junior Hunter Alexander. He allowed just three hits and one run while striking out seven.
The game was played at Benton, and delayed two days, due to wet field conditions at Bear Stadium
UCA went ahead 2-0 in the third inning with a hit and an error, one of two for the Bisons (11-17, 5-5). Shortstop Nathan Negre scored an unearned run after a one-out walk and Blaine French singled in Casey Shipley for the 2-0 lead.
After Lipscomb got one run back in the fourth inning, UCA exploded for six runs on six hits in the fifth. Shipley and Bryce Cermenelli scored on a throwing error before Sam Reynolds added an RBI single to score Preston Curtis.
Zeb Allen then tripled down the right-field line to bring in three more runs and give the Bears an 8-1 advantage.
The Bears added three in the sixth to set up the run-rule victory. Senior first baseman Jagger Schattle then cleared the bases with a three-run double to the left-field corner.
Schattle finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Cermenelli went 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored, while Allen had 3 RBI. Shipley and Curtis scored two runs apiece.
Lipscomb used three pitchers, with starter Cole O’Brien taking the loss.
The Bears and Bisons will finish their series with a noon doubleheader Monday back at Bear Stadium.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
