Governors rally for four runs in fifth to drop Bears 5-2

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Friday night started with promise for Central Arkansas.

Two solo shots in the first two innings had the Bears out in front, and things looked good at Raymond C. Hand Park.

But a four-run explosion in the fifth inning by Austin Peay State University flipped the script, and the Governors held on for a 5-2 win to open the weekend series.

With the defeat, UCA slips to 26-20 overall and 13-9 in ASUN play. Austin Peay climbs to 22-23 on the season and 12-10 in conference action.

Jagger Schattle got the Bears on the board right away, sending a solo home run to right field in the first inning. That put UCA ahead 1-0 after Austin Peay went quietly in the bottom half. It was the kind of start that had the Bears feeling good in the early going.

The momentum carried into the second, when Jack Runsick stepped up and launched his own solo shot, this one to left field, pushing the lead to 2-0.

The Governors answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the second, trimming the gap to 2-1. Through two innings, the Bears were still in the driver’s seat.

Bears stall as Governors take control in fifth

The middle innings were quiet — until Austin Peay changed everything in the fifth. DJ Merriweather came home on a single by Ty Wisdom to start the rally.

Andres Matias added another RBI, and then Cole Johnson delivered the backbreaker with a two-run double that gave the Governors a 5-2 advantage. Just like that, the lead was gone, and UCA couldn’t answer.

The Bears managed eight hits in the contest but couldn’t put together the kind of multi-hit innings needed to get runs across after the second. Austin Peay collected 10 hits and made no errors, keeping the pressure on from the mound on down.

Jake Jones took the loss for UCA, falling to 4-2 on the year. The redshirt sophomore worked five innings, giving up four earned runs on nine hits.

He struck out three and walked two, throwing 87 pitches — 58 of them for strikes. It wasn’t the outing Jones or the Bears were hoping for, but he kept them in the game long enough to give the offense a chance.

Silas Cowgill came on in relief and was outstanding. The graduate student right-hander tossed three clean innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two on only 34 pitches. Of those, 23 went for strikes.

Cowgill’s effort was a bright spot in an otherwise tough night for the Bears’ pitching staff.

UCA gets set to bounce back Saturday

On the offensive side, Runsick led the way with two hits in four at-bats to go along with his home run.

Mark Ross also went 2-for-4, while Zeb Allen and Nate Negre each added a hit. The Bears didn’t lack for contact — the timely hits just weren’t there after the early innings.

Cody Airington earned the win for Austin Peay, moving to 4-2, with Jackson Hohensee picking up his third save of the season.

The Governors were efficient and disciplined, taking advantage of their opportunities when UCA’s starter ran into trouble in that critical fifth frame.

The two teams’ll meet again Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Denver Hamilton gets the ball for the Bears, while Austin Peay’s starter is still to be announced.

The game’s set to stream on ESPN+ and can be heard on The Bear 91.3 for Bears fans tuning in from home.