Baseball
Negre’s 7 RBIs power Bears past Bellarmine in high-scoring win
Nate Negre hits two home runs and drives in seven runs as UCA uses big first inning to beat Bellarmine.
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Aransas got a huge night at the plate from Nate Negre and never looked back in a high-scoring win Friday.
The Bears used a fast start and steady hitting to beat Bellarmine 17-12 at Bear Stadium. Negre led the way with two home runs and seven RBIs as UCA improved to 12-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
UCA finished with 18 hits and four home runs in the game, building a big early lead that held up despite a late push from Bellarmine.
The Bears didn’t wait long to take control.
They scored 10 runs in the first inning, sending a message right away. Parker Gwyn started things with a hit, and several players followed with key swings, including Negre, who doubled to bring in two runs. Jagger Schattle added a three-run home run in the same inning.
By the end of the first, UCA had a 10-2 lead.
Jagger Schattle | Ted McClenning-allBEARS+ Images
Negre delivers big swings
Negre stayed hot as the game went on.
In the third inning, he crushed a three-run home run to extend the lead to 14-2. He finished the night with three hits, two home runs, and seven RBIs, leading the offense in a big way.
His performance helped the Bears keep pressure on Bellarmine throughout the game.
Kade Seldomridge also had a strong outing with four hits, three runs scored, and two RBIs. Gwyn added three hits and scored four times, helping set the tone at the top of the lineup.
UCA added to its lead in the fifth inning when Zeb Allen hit a solo home run to make it 15-8.
Nick Harlan | Ted McClenning-allBEARS+ Images
Bears hold off late push
Bellarmine didn’t go away quietly.
The Knights scored six runs in the fourth inning and added four more in the ninth, trying to close the gap. But the Bears had already done enough damage early to stay in front.
UCA added two more runs in the eighth inning after a throwing error allowed runners to score, pushing the lead to 17-8 before the final inning.
On the mound, the Bears used multiple pitchers to get through the game.
Caide White started and went three innings. Silas Cowgill earned the win with five innings of relief, allowing three hits while striking out two. Jake Jones closed things out in the ninth inning.
Even with Bellarmine’s late scoring, UCA stayed in control from the early innings.
The Bears will continue the series against Bellarmine with another home game scheduled for Saturday at Bear Stadium.
