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Now it’s 5 straight for Bears after downing Tarleton State

Home runs from Mendolia, Shipley get offense going with a joint effort from the pitchers to keep Bears’ momentum going.

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CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas made it five straight victories Friday, but it wasn’t as simple as the 8-3 final might indicate. They had to break a 3-3 tie in the seventh with a pair of runs. The Bears tacked on a couple in the eighth to shut down the Texans, who came in riding six straight wins.

UCA pounded out 10 hits against four TSU pitchers, with the Texans’ starter lasting just 2.2 innings. Senior first baseman A.J. Mendolia and junior catcher Casey Shipley both blasted home runs over the left field fence to back the solid pitching of starter Jesse Barker and relievers Mason Griffin and Hunter Alexander.

That trio combined for nine strikeouts and held the Texans to just six hits. For the Bears, freshman right fielder Zeb Allen, junior center fielder Drew Sturgeon senior infielder Mason King had two hits each. Mendolia, Shipley and King had two runs batted in each.

The Bears took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, knocking out TSU starter Piercen McElyea. Shipley was hit by a pitch and Sturgeon and Preston Curtis drew consecutive walks to load the bases. King then hit a two-out double to left field to score two. A balk on reliever Zach Poe brought in Curtis for the 3-0 lead.

TSU got a run back in the fifth, then tied it in the top of the seventh with a pair of runs. But UCA took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning when Allen led off with a double to right and scored on Shipley’s first home run of the season, a long shot to left. In the eighth, Tanner Leonardsingled up the middle just before Mendolia’s first home run.

Griffin (3-0) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing 1 hits and striking out three. Sophomore Hunter Alexander went the final 1.1, allowing no hits and striking out a pair of batters for his second save.

The Bears and Texans will play a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, with the series finale set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.

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2024 UCA Football

Sat, Aug 31@ Arkansas StateL, 34-31
Sat, Sep 7@ LindenwoodW, 34-13
Sat, Sep 14Austin PeayW, 45-17
Sat, Sep 21@ Arkansas-Pine BluffW, 56-17
Sat, Sep 28vs LamarW, 34-14
Sat, Oct 5@ Abilene ChristianL, 41-34
Sat, Oct 12vs West GeorgiaW, 34-33
Sat, Oct 26vs North AlabamaW, 24-19
Sat, Nov 2@ Utah TechL, 34-21
Sat, Nov 9@ Eastern KentuckyL, 31-24
Sat, Nov 16vs Southern UtahL, 38-31
Sat, Nov 30@Tarleton State2:00 PM
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High School Football Rankings

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Bryant (21)13-02461
2.Greenwood (4)13-02242
3.Bentonville9-41855
4.Little Rock Parkview13-11734
5.Conway10-21563
6.Pulaski Academy10-31128
7.Shiloh Christian9-477
6.Benton10-2676
7.Fayetteville9-3527
9.Rogers8-4359
Others receiving votes: Arkadelphia 20, Farmington 15, Valley View 5, Hot Springs Lakeside, Mountain Home 2, Salem 2, Conway Christian 1, Little Rock Christian 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (25)13-01251
2.Bentonville9-4983
3.Conway10-2772
4.Pulaski Academy10-3485
5.Fayetteville9-3174
Others receiving votes: Rogers 10.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (25)13-01251
2.Shiloh Christian9-4964
3.Benton10-2772
4.Mountain Home10-3513
5.Lake Hamilton8-420
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (25)13-11251
4.Farmington12-2904
3.Valley View12-1683
5.Hot Springs Lakeside10-3605
2.Joe T. Robinson10-2252
Others receiving votes: Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Arkadelphia (25)13-21252
2.Elkins14-1991
3.Little Rock Mills12-1523
4.Southside Batesville13-1465t
5.Warren10-3284
Others receiving votes: Malvern 3.
CLASS 3A
1.Salem (25)11-4125
2.Bismarck14-11001
3.Mansfield11-365
4.Fordyce11-1422
5.Osceola10-2214
Others receiving votes: Booneville 17, Prescott 3, Rivercrest 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Conway Christian (25)14-01252
2.East Poinsett Co.10-4984
3.Junction City9-468
5.Mount Ida9-341
4.Carlisle11-1251
Others receiving votes: Des Arc 8, Bigelow 6, Murfreesboro 3, Cross County 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)8-0751
2.Midland11-1502
3.Cedar Ridge9-2223
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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