CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas _ Senior Ethan McKinzie pitched a perfect ninth inning Sunday afternoon as the University of Central Arkansas Bears held on for an 8-7 victory over the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders at Chapman Field.
The victory gave the Bears (28-10, 8-7) their fourth consecutive Southland Conference series win after Friday night’s 7-2 victory. The 28 victories is the most since UCA moved to NCAA Division I in 2007.
The Islanders (22-17, 9-6) rallied twice, including a four-run eighth inning, to make it close. But McKinzie came on as UCA’s fourth pitcher of the day and got consecutive ground ball outs to shortstop Justin Treece and then struck out A&M-CC catcher Russell Vaughan swinging to end it.
The Bears, after getting just one hit in Saturday’s 3-0 loss, came out swinging Sunday, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off A&M-CC starter Matt Danton. Senior Forrestt Allday drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Jonathan Davis’ sacrifice bunt. Ethan Harris followed with a base hit to left field and went to second on a wild pitch.
Blake Marchal then laced a single to left field that scored both runs, with Marchal advancing to second on the throw. Chris Townsend brought Marchal in with a single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.
The Islanders got one run back in the second but UCA answered in the top of the fourth when Scott Zimmerle led off with a double and scored on Garrett Brown’s single to left center, making it 4-1. A&M-CC chased UCA starter Bryce Biggerstaff in the fourth inning, scoring twice to close the gap to 4-3.
UCA broke it open in the top of the sixth, scoring four runs on just two hits and three A&M-CC errors. The Islanders used three pitchers in the inning as the Bears got a two-run single from Treece, an RBI from Blake Marchal and another run on a balk for an 8-3 lead.
The Islanders came right back with four runs in the bottom of the eighth off the combination of Blake Clayton and Clint Green. A two-run base hit and consecutive sacrifice flies made it 8-7 before UCA left fielder Ethan Harris robbed a potential home run with two runners on to end the threat.
Clayton (1-0) threw four scoreless innings out of the bullpen before loading the bases in the eighth and eventually allowing three earned runs. McKinzie picked up his team-high fourth save. Marchal had 3 RBI and Zimmerle scored twice for the Bears.
UCA hosts UT Martin in non-conference action at 3 p.m. Tuesday before returning to the road for an SLC series at McNeese State next weekend.
