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

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.