UCA Closes Regular Season Third in ASUN Gold Division

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas closed out its regular season Saturday at Bear Stadium in Conway with a 7–4 loss to Lipscomb, but the Bears still locked up third place in the ASUN Gold Division and punched their ticket to the conference tournament.

Despite connecting on three home runs and flashing solid defense throughout, UCA couldn’t overcome a Lipscomb squad that collected 13 hits and scored when it counted most.

The Bears wrapped up the regular season at 30-25 overall and 17-13 in conference play.

They’ll head to DeLand, Fla., as the No. 3 seed from the Gold Division, with their first tournament game scheduled for Tuesday against an opponent still to be determined.

Lipscomb Jumps Out Early

Lipscomb wasted no time taking control. In the bottom of the first inning,

Jordan Thomas doubled down the left field line, allowing Hutson Miles to score on an unearned run to make it 1–0.

The Bisons pushed the lead to 2–0 in the second when Blake Carter scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Miles.

UCA didn’t go quietly. Jagger Schattle got the Bears on the board in the third inning with a home run to right field, pulling the deficit to 2–1.

Then Parker Gwyn evened things up in the fourth with a solo shot to left field, setting the score at 2–2.

Fifth Inning Proves Decisive

The fifth inning turned out to be the turning point. Lipscomb’s offense came alive, putting three runs on the board with the big blow being a two-RBI double from Thomas.

UCA fought back in the same frame when Keaton Laidley hit a home run and Nate Negre added a sacrifice fly, trimming the gap to 5–4.

That’d be as close as the Bears would get.

Lipscomb tacked on two more runs in the seventh, with Cam Pruitt and Thomas each driving in a run to stretch the lead to 7–4.

The Bears couldn’t push anything across in the final two innings and the game ended right there.

Pitching Breakdown

Jacob Pannell drew the start for UCA, going four innings and giving up seven hits and five runs — four of them earned — on 68 pitches.

Silas Cowgill came out of the bullpen and delivered the best outing of the afternoon, working two scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and punching out two batters on only 24 pitches.

Hunter Alexander closed things out, tossing three innings and allowing five hits and two earned runs while fanning two more hitters on 51 pitches.

On the other side, Adam Jamison earned the win for Lipscomb to improve to 4-0, while Kaleb Kantola secured his eighth save of the season.

Home Run Heroes

Schattle, Gwyn and Laidley each drove in a run with their home runs.

Schattle also scored twice in the game to lead the Bears in that category. Negre chipped in with a sacrifice fly RBI to round out UCA’s run production.

Despite managing only six hits as a team, the Bears made the most of their power, going deep three times against a Lipscomb staff that’s been one of the better units in the ASUN this season.

Up Next: ASUN Tournament in DeLand

The Bears don’t have to wait long to get back on the field.

UCA heads south to DeLand as the No. 3 seed from the Gold Division, with Tuesday’s first-round matchup details still to be announced.

Finishing third in the division gives the Bears a chance to build on a 30-win regular season and make a run in the bracket.