Baseball
Bears fall at ULM as sixth inning decides opener
UCA baseball opened the 2026 season with an 11-2 loss at ULM after a three-run sixth inning changed the game.
MONROE, La. — Central Arkansas opened its 2026 baseball season Friday with an 11-2 loss on the road at ULM. The Bears stayed close in the early innings before the Warhawks pulled away.
ULM scored first in the third inning. A walk and a hit batter helped set up two runs, giving the home team a 2-0 lead.
UCA answered in the fourth inning. Casey Shipley reached safely, and Jayden Sloan scored on a ULM error. That cut the lead to 2-1.
The Bears added another run in the fifth inning. Parker Gwyn crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Zeb Allen, trimming the score to 3-2.
At that point, the game remained within reach. UCA had matched the early scoring and kept pressure on the Warhawks.
Sixth inning swings momentum
ULM added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth with timely hitting. That extended the margin and set the stage for the next inning.
The key moment came in the sixth. A three-run home run pushed the Warhawks ahead by a wider margin and shifted control of the game.
After that swing, the Bears struggled to slow the offense. ULM continued to move runners and take advantage of scoring chances.
Another run crossed in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly, stretching the score to 11-2.
UCA rotated pitchers throughout the game, gaining early-season experience against a steady lineup.
Bears Prepare for Game Two
J.B. Williams was charged with the loss for the Bears. The pitching staff worked through traffic on the bases but couldn’t contain the sixth-inning surge.
Offensively, Sloan and Gwyn each scored once for UCA. Shipley and Nate Negre recorded hits as the Bears looked to find rhythm at the plate.
UCA showed solid at-bats in stretches but couldn’t string together enough hits after the Warhawks broke the game open.
The opener gave the Bears an early look at their pitching depth and defensive play in live action.
UCA will return to the field Saturday for the second game of the series in Monroe. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
The Bears will aim to make adjustments as the four-game weekend series continues.
