Baseball
Lions bring down Bears in ASUN opening in extra innings
Before 10-inning loss, Bears were 2-0 in extra-inning games this season and had beaten the Lions 10 consecutive times
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Central Arkansas dropped its Atlantic Sun Conference opener on the road Friday, a 10-inning, 6-5 loss to North Alabama at UAB’s Young Memorial Stadium.
The Bears (5-10, 0-1) were 2-0 in extra-inning games this season and had beaten the Lions (4-13) 10 consecutive times. But UNA got a pair of hits and a walk in the 10 inning before Paul Kraska’s RBI single to center ended it.
UNA had 13 hits to UCA’s eight. Redshirt freshman center fielder Sam Reynolds hit his team-leading fifth home run in the fifth inning, a solo blast that gave the Bears a 5-2 lead. But UCA would not score again and the Lions added single runs in the fifth, seventh and 10th innings.
UCA fell behind 2-0 in the first inning as the Lions got two hits and an error to plate two runs.
UCA answered in the third when senior Preston Curtis doubled to left and senior Tanner Leonard singled to move him to third. Sophomore Zeb Allen had the first of his three runs batted in with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Bears scored three times on three hits in the fourth. Reynolds walked and went to second on catcher Casey Shipley’s base hit up the middle.
Curtis moved Reynolds to third with a fly ball before Leonard’s double scored him. Allen the doubled to right for two more RBI.
Leonard finished with two hits as the only Bear with multiple hits. Junior first baseman Keon Moseni, returning from injury, drew four walks.
UCA closer Hunter Alexander, who entered in the seventh, took the loss, allowing one earned run while striking out three and walking four.
Saturday’s Game 2 has been moved to Sunday due to expected weather issues. Sunday’s doubleheader will begin at 11 a.m.
Information from UCA Sports is included in this story.
