Conway, Ark. –
The Central Arkansas baseball team extended its current winning streak to seven games on Saturday afternoon, taking down perennial national power Wichita State 6-3.
The Bears (10-1), who have bludgeoned their opponents all season long with their bats, turned to starter Jeffrey Enloe to pick up the win against the Shockers (4-4), and he didn’t disappoint. Enloe improved to 3-0 on the season, throwing 7.2 innings, and allowing three runs on nine hits. Enloe issued two walks and struck out eight Wichita State batters. The bullpen was strong as well, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing no runs on two hits and a strikeout. Connor McClain worked the ninth inning for the Bears, earning his first save of the season.
Central Arkansas jumped out to an early lead in the game. In the bottom of the first inning, right fielder Forrestt Allday doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Blake Marchal. Allday came in to score the game’s first run on a ground out to second base by centerfielder Jonathan Davis.
In the fourth inning, the Bears extended their lead to 4-0 on the back of one hit and one error. Shortstop Justin Treece was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Left fielder Nick Rougeau laid down a sacrifice bunt, and a throwing error resulted in runners on second and third with no outs. Allday roped a single to left field, plating Treece and sending Rougeau to third. After Allday stole second base, Marcha worked a walk, loading the bases. After a pair of strikeouts, designated hitter Ethan Harris drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Rougeau. Third baseman Garrett Brown was hit by a pitch to bring in Allday and end the scoring for the inning.
The Shockers got a run back in the top of the fifth inning, using three hits to plate a run, but the Bears answered immediately, scoring two in their half of the fifth. Harris drew a one out walk and advanced to third on a double off the bat of Brown. First baseman Scott Zimmerle then singled to right field to bring in Harris and Brown and extend the Central Arkansas lead to 6-1.
Wichita State scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning off of Enloe, but John Kordsmeier and Blake Clayton worked out of the jam, allowing McClain to work the ninth and earn the save.
Cale Elam (0-1) took the loss for Wichita State, throwing 3.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out five. Foster Vielock threw 2.1 innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out four. Aaron LaBrie threw the final two innings for the Shockers, giving up three hits and striking out one batter.
The Bears look to extend their winning streak tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 pm, battling the University of New Orleans. On Tuesday, Central Arkansas travels to Grambling, Louisiana to face off with Grambling State, before heading to Starkville, Mississippi for a three game set with nationally ranked Mississippi State over the weekend.
