Baseball
Bellarmine holds off late UCA surge for 5-2 win at Bear Stadium
The Bears managed just three hits as Bellarmine pulled away for a 5-2 victory Saturday in Conway.
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas played catch-up for most of Saturday afternoon and a two-run seventh inning wasn’t quite enough to close the gap.
Bellarmine walked out of Bear Stadium with a 5-2 victory, handing UCA its latest setback in a season that’s been full of close calls.
The Bears finished with just three hits on the day. Three hits. Against a Bellarmine squad that came in at 7-14.
It wasn’t a result that’ll look great in the standings, but it was the kind of game that happens in college baseball — especially when the other team’s bats are clicking and yours aren’t.
With the loss, UCA drops to 12-11 overall and 2-3 in conference play. Bellarmine, also sitting at 2-3 in the league, improved to 7-14 with the win.
Swader sets the tone early
Bellarmine didn’t waste any time getting on the board.
In the top of the first, Knights outfielder AJ Swader turned on a pitch and drove it down the right field line for a home run, giving Bellarmine a 1-0 lead before the Bears could even settle in.
The second inning brought more trouble for UCA. Landon Akers reached on a single to shortstop and later crossed the plate when Cole Huett drove one through the right side.
Just like that, the Knights had doubled their lead. It was 2-0 after two, and the Bears’ offense hadn’t found its footing yet.
Patrick Fernandez got the start on the mound for Central Arkansas, and he battled. But the fourth inning proved costly.
Swader stepped back to the plate and roped a double to center field, this time plating two runners and extending Bellarmine’s advantage to 4-0.
Swader finished the game with a home run, a double, and three RBI — a performance that made him the clear difference-maker on Saturday.
Fernandez takes the loss
Fernandez lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits. He walked three batters and struck out four before turning the ball over to the bullpen.
It wasn’t his sharpest outing, and the early runs the Bears gave up made it hard for the offense to play from a comfortable position.
Austin Jones came on in relief and delivered exactly what the Bears needed out of the pen.
The junior right-hander threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and a walk while punching out two Bellarmine hitters.
Jones gave the offense a chance to get back in the game, and for a moment in the seventh, it looked like they might.
JB Williams followed Jones and closed out the final three innings. He surrendered one earned run on three hits and struck out two without issuing a single walk.
Williams was efficient and kept the Bears within striking distance heading into the late innings.
Bears claw back in the seventh
The seventh inning was the Bears’ best moment of the afternoon. Zeb Allen, the junior outfielder, opened things up with a triple to left field.
That brought Landon Carter to the plate, and the freshman infielder delivered with a sacrifice fly that scored Allen and made it 4-1.
The rally wasn’t done. Jagger Schattle followed with a single up the middle, which brought home Jack Runsick and trimmed Bellarmine’s lead to 4-2.
Bear Stadium had some life in it at that point. UCA had a chance.
But the Bears couldn’t keep the rally going.
They didn’t score again, and Bellarmine answered with one final run in the ninth when Logan Murphy singled through the right side to score Eli Watson, setting the final score at 5-2.
A tough day at the plate
Three hits is a hard number to win with, no matter the opponent.
Schattle, Allen, and Jayden Sloan each collected one hit for the Bears. Sloan also added a stolen base and drew a walk, showing some patience at the plate even as the offense struggled overall.
Chase Chamberlain earned the win for Bellarmine, moving to 2-0 on the season. Cade Rusch picked up his second save of the year.
Meanwhile, Fernandez dropped to 1-2 with the loss.
Bellarmine out-hit UCA 11 to 3 on the day. The Knights also drew four walks compared to three for the Bears, and Bellarmine’s baserunners made them pay throughout the lineup.
What’s next for the Bears
UCA plays again Sunday, hosting Bellarmine again at Bear Stadium for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
The Bears had a chance to bounce back and take the series before heading into the next stretch of their schedule.
