Baseball

UCA edges Northwestern State 5-4 in home opener

Bears get key hits, steady late relief pitching to get close win to open first home series of season.

Published

20 hours ago

February 20, 2026

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas opened its 2026 baseball season with a 5-4 victory over Northwestern State in Friday’s home opener at Bear Stadium.

The Bears took an early lead and held off a late rally to finish the game with a one-run margin.

The scoring started in the bottom of the second inning. Casey Shipley doubled and later scored on a single from Zeb Allen, giving the Bears a 1-0 edge after a throwing error helped the play.

In the fourth inning, Allen delivered big again with a three-run home run that brought in Kade Seldomridge and Shipley and put UCA ahead 4-0.

Northwestern State responded in the top of the fifth with a solo homer by Davis, cutting the deficit to 4-1. But the Bears answered back that half-inning when Jack Runsick doubled to drive in Mark Ross, making it 5-1.

The Demons chipped away in the sixth with a two-RBI double by Johnson, trimming the lead to 5-3 and adding pressure.

Northwestern State added one more run in the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk, making the score 5-4 and setting up a tense final frame.

In the ninth, Hunter Alexander closed the door for the Bears. He struck out three consecutive batters to preserve the one-run win.

Allen’s Big Night Sparks UCA

Zeb Allen: 3 hits, 4 RBIs, 1 home run
Casey Shipley: 2 runs, 2 hits, double
Jack Runsick: 1 hit, RBI, double, 6 assists

Allen’s performance provided the offense the Bears needed in the early and middle innings, while Shipley and Runsick contributed key hits to extend the lead.

Pitching performances

Right-hander Denver Hamilton earned the win for the Bears. He pitched six innings, allowed seven hits, and three earned runs, striking out two.

Alexander came on in relief and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three and not giving up any hits.

For Northwestern State, Carter White took the loss after 5 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and five earned runs with six strikeouts. Bryce Leonard provided two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.