Baseball
UCA run-rule Colonels to complete sweep Sunday afternoon
EKU scored three times in top of first but UCA answered in a big way in bottom of inning
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas completed an ASUN sweep of Eastern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon with a 16-6 run-rule victory at Bear Stadium.
The Bears won three straight against the Colonels to improve to 4-5 in conference play.
EKU scored three times in the top of the first but UCA answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning. The Bears sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on just three hits, all with two outs.
EKU pitchers walked five in the inning and hit a batter, while UCA freshman shortstop Nathan Negre had a three-run double and senior first baseman Jagger Schattle had a two-run single.
UCA added four more in the third inning on a two-run home run by sophomore left fielder Zeb Allen, an RBI single by catcher Casey Shipley and a throwing error by the Colonels.
After EKU scored three runs in the sixth inning, UCA got one back in the bottom the inning on a bases-loaded walk to Blaine French.
In the bottom of the seventh, Schattle singled to left field, Moseni walked and Negre had an RBI single to center. Bryce Cermenelli singled up the middle to make it a 15-6 lead with two outs.
Shipley hit a ground ball that the EKU shortstop misplayed, allowing Negre to score the decisive 16th run and invoke the run rule.
Cermenelli finished 4-for-5 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, Negre was 3 for 5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored and Allen was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and three runs scored.
Schattle finished 2-for44 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Nine different players scored for the Bears, who finished with 14 hits and 12 walks.
UCA starter Aden Velasquez, a freshman from Cabot, Ark., went 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, three runs and striking out three and walking three. Senior righthander Perry Titlow tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and 0 runs to earn the victory. EKU used eight pitchers, with starter Elijah Underhill taking the loss.
UCA will travel to Jonesboro on Tuesday to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves for the second time in a week at 6 p.m.
The Bears are back home for another ASUN series next weekend, hosting the Lipscomb Bisons.
