UCA claims series, Harlan reaches 100 wins in 9-3 victory

Central Arkansas finished off a strong weekend at Bear Stadium on Sunday with a 9-3 victory over South Dakota State. The win improved UCA to 7-5 on the season and marked the 100th career victory for head coach Nick Harlan.

The Bears didn’t pull away until late, but when they did, they made it count. A six-run eighth inning turned a tight game into a comfortable lead and secured the series two games to one.

UCA grabbed the first run of the day in the opening inning. Zeb Allen reached base and later came around to score on a throwing error after Jack Runsick put the ball in play. That unearned run gave the Bears a 1-0 edge.

South Dakota State answered in the fifth inning. The Jackrabbits loaded the bases and pushed across two runs to move in front 2-1.

The Bears didn’t stay behind for long. In the bottom half of the fifth, Zach Adams delivered a run-scoring single to tie the game. Moments later, Jagger Schattle sent a two-run home run to right field. Just like that, UCA led 3-2.

The Jackrabbits evened the score again in the eighth with a solo home run, making it 3-3 and setting up a tense finish.

That’s when the Bears broke it open.

Jayden Sloan started the rally with a single. Walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Landon Carter drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to give UCA the lead back. Parker Gwyn was hit by a pitch to force in another run. Adams followed with a two-RBI single, and an error allowed another run to cross. Sloan later added a sacrifice fly as the Bears sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.

By the time the eighth ended, UCA had turned a tie game into a 9-3 advantage.

Pitching effort seals it

The Bears used three pitchers to close out the victory. Caide White started and worked 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs on four hits, struck out four and threw 94 pitches.

Braxton Haywood provided steady relief, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings without giving up a hit. Hunter Alexander handled the final three innings. He allowed one run on two hits, struck out four and earned the win.

At the plate, Adams led the way with three hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Schattle’s home run gave him two runs batted in as well. Sloan and others helped spark the decisive eighth-inning surge.

With the series victory secured, the Bears now turn their attention to a road test. UCA will travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.

For Harlan, the milestone win was another step in building the program. For the Bears, it was a weekend that showed resilience, timely hitting and steady pitching when it mattered most.