Baseball
Bears split doubleheader with North Alabama with big first inning in Game 2
UCA plays at Little Rock at 3 p.m. Tuesday before returning to Bear Stadium to start an eight-game home stand
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Central Arkansas split an ASUN doubleheader with the North Alabama Lions on Sunday, winning the opener 6-3 and dropping the finale 7-6 in 10 innings at UAB’s Young Memorial Field.
The Bears made the most of their 10 hits and scored all the runs they would need in the first inning in the first game, which was Game 2 of the weekend series, pushed back a day due to weather concerns.
UCA plated four runs on three hits in the first, including a three-run home run by first baseman Blaine French.
UCA added another run in the third on an RBI double by right fielder Preston Curtis.
The Bears’ final run came in the seventh on a Sam Reynolds’ fielder’s choice that scored Bryce Cermenelli. Cermenelli, Curtis, Keon Moseni and Nathan Negre had two hits each, while French had a career-high three RBI.
UCA starter Jacob Pannell went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs and striking out three for the victory.
Freshman Aden Velasquez pitched the final 3.2 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out three to earn the save.
The Lions (5-13, 2-1) put together consecutive doubles in the 10th inning to take the series finale 7-6 and win the opening conference series 2-1.
UCA pounded out 14 hits, including two each by Zeb Allen, Moseni, Negre, Curtis, Casey Shipley and Tanner Leonard.
The Bears scored twice in the ninth inning to sent the game to extra innings for the second time in the series.
Moseni singled to right to start it and Cermenelli followed with another base hit. He went all the way to third and Moseni scored when UNA’s right fielder misplayed the ball. Negre added a sacrifice fly to tie it at 6-6.
UCA used six pitchers, with starter Coleman working a perfect first inning on just nine pitches.
The trio of Luke Lorence, Gavin Alveti and Jackson Schwank allowed just one run, the game-winning run in the 10th. Jake Jones struck out four batters in his 1.2 innings.
The Bears play at Little Rock at 3 p.m. Tuesday before returning to Bear Stadium to start an eight-game home stand with Austin Peay at 6 p.m. Friday.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
