NORTH LITTLE ROCK _ The UALR Trojans got a walk-off single to right field from Cameron Bentley in the 10th inning to down the University of Central Arkansas Bears 9-8 on Tuesday night in the second game of the State Farm Arkansas Classic at Dickey-Stephens Park.
The Trojans (24-24) overcame a 7-3 deficit with a five-run sixth inning. In the bottom of the 10th, UALR’s Kaleb Jobe drew a walk off reliever Dylan Owen and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. John Clark struck out for the second out but Bentley came through with the game-winner, a line drive to right field to score pinch runner Tyler Cameron.
UCA senior designated hitter Blake Roberts hit a three-run home run in the third ining to give the Bears (20-24) their first lead of the game at 3-1. The Trojans tied it with two runs in the bottom of the inning before UCA came back with four more in the fourth.
Ethan Harris and Roberts drew bases-loaded walks and Bryan Willson had an RBI single. The seventh run came in on Travis Snider’s fielder’s choice for a 7-3 lead.
But the Trojans came back with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to re-take the lead at 8-7. A three-run home run by Cameron Bentley was the big blow for UALR, which has now hit 57 home runs on the season.
Roberts struck again with an RBI double off the right-field wall in the eighth inning to tie the game at 8-8. Roberts finished 2 for 4 with 5 RBI.
The Bears went in order in the top of the ninth before UALR got a runner on base with Sean Bignall’s infield hit. But UCA reliever Dylan Owen worked out of it by getting Blake Johnson to fly out to center field before Garrett Brown made a diving catch in front of the plate of Myles Parma’s high pop-up to end the inning.
The Bears started the 10th with a single by Logan Moon, and Forrestt Allday followed with an infield single. Ethan Harris struck out and Bryan Willson lined out to right field. UALR brought in reliever Cameron Allen to face Roberts, who grounded out to deep short to end the threat.
Bignall hit his NCAA-leading 18th home run for the Trojans and finished 4 for 5 with 2 RBI. UALR out-hith UCA 12-10.
UCA returns home Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Mississippi Valley State, beginning at 1 p.m. at Bear Stadium. The Bears return to Southland Conference action this weekend, playing Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, Texas.
