Baseball
Eighth-inning go-ahead run lifts Bears over Blue Devils
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas got the go-ahead run in the eighth inning Friday night to grab a 4-3 victory over Central Connecticut in the series opener at Bear Stadium.
UCA (4-4) loaded the bases in the eighth with a Nathan Negre walk, a base hit by Bryce Cermenelli and an infield single to the pitcher by catcher Casey Shipley.
Designated hitter Owen Tracy followed with a base hit to left field, scoring Negre to make it 4-3.
UCA junior closer Hunter Alexander, who had entered in the seventh, did the rest with a pair of strikeouts and a ground ball out in the ninth to end it.
Alexander allowed just one hit over 2 2/3 innings for his first victory. UCA starter Charlie Christensen struck out seven and allowed one run in 6 innings of work.
The Bears to a 1-0 lead in the second when second baseman Keon Moseni’s base hit to center field scored Jagger Schattle. Schattle had a base hit, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out.
CCSU, playing its season opener, tied it in the fourth with a solo home run by Aiden Redahan, but UCA put up two more in the bottom of the inning.
Cermenelli doubled down the left-field line and the Bears loaded the bases with a Shipley walk and a Blue Devils error. Cermenelli came in on the error and Shipley scored on a balk.
CCSU tied it again in the seventh with another home run, setting up the Bears for the win in the eighth.
Cermenelli finished 2 for 4, while Tracy and Moseni had RBI.
Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, with the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
