CONWAY, Ark. _ Senior Jonathan Houston racked up six RBI on Wednesday, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth inning, to give the University of Central Arkansas Bears an 8-7 victory over Creighton University at Bear Stadium.
Houston’s double in the right-center gap scored left fielder Michael Pair from second base. Pair had led off the inning with a double over the center fielder’s head. Houston, a senior designated hitter from Conway, finished the day 3 for 5 with 6 RBI, which ties him for sixth most in school history. Houston entered the game with six career RBI.
The Bears (8-5) fell behind in the top of the first as the Blue Jays (9-3) put up two runs off UCA starter Jim Youngblood. But the Bears answered in the bottom of the inning, tying it at 2-2. Ethan Harris led off with a single and stole second base. Houston then blasted a home run over the right-field fence, the first of his career, to tie the game.
UCA got two more in the second inning when senior Zack Dickson singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Prevett. Harris reached on an error, sending Dickson to third. Houston then singled to center to score both runners.
The Blue Jays got one run back in the third, then took a 7-4 lead in the fourth inning. UCA countered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie it at 7-7. Dickson started it again with a leadoff single and was sacrificed to second again by Prevett. Harris’ base hit to center moved Dickson to third and brought in CU reliever Jack Vanleur.
He walked Michael Pair before Houston’s ground out scored Dickson. Bryan Willson followed with a two-run single to right field.
Both bullpens put up zeroes for the next four innings before the Bears finally got to junior righthander Reece McGraw in the bottom of the ninth. Pair hit the first pitch he saw over center fielder Brad McKewon’s head for a leadoff double. Houston followed by lacing an 0-1 pitch between McKewon and right fielder Trever Adams for the game-winner.
Junior lefthander Dustin Ward got the victory, pitching the final two innings and striking out 4 of the 6 batters he faced.
Willson went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI for the Bears, while Dickson was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and Harris was 2 for 4 with three runs scored. The Bears out-hit the Blue Jays 13-7.
UCA begins Southland Conference play this weekend at Stephen F. Austin. Game times are 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday in Nacogdoches, Texas.
