NORTH LITTLE ROCK _ For the second straight year, the University of Central Arkansas Bears and UALR Trojans went extra innings in their meeting at Dickey-Stephens Park. And for the second straight year, the Trojans won the game, this time with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The Trojans (25-23) got a runner on base off UCA reliever Blake Clayton with a walk by Ryan Hope before Austin Pfeiffer drilled a pitch over the left-field fence to end it.
UCA led for most of the game as freshman righthander Connor Gilmore of Little Rock threw four no-hit innings before the Trojans managed their first base hit in the bottom of the fifth. UCA took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Blake Marchal led off with a single up the middle and eventually scored on Justin Treece’s two-out infield single and a throwing error by the UALR shortstop. The Bears added another run in the third when Ethan Harris singled and stole second, and went to third on an error. Michael Marietta’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0.
Chris Townsend singled to lead off the seventh and Marietta followed with a single into the left-field corner. An error on UALR left fielder Myles Parma, who misplayed the ball, allowed Townsend to come around and score to give the Bears a 3-0 lead. The Trojans answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh on two hits and a UCA error.
The Trojans then tied it up at 3-3 with a run in the ninth off UCA closer Ethan McKinzie. McKinzie got two quick outs in a groundout and fly ball to right but Bryson Thionnet singled through the left side of the infield and advanced to second on a wild pitch. David Guarno singled in Thionnet to tie it and send it to extra innings. Both teams went in order in the 10th and UCA did again in the 11th. UALR got a runner on base in the 11th on a throwing error by second baseman Blake Marchal, but Marietta backed up the play and threw out the runner as he tried to return to first base.
Senior right fielder Forrestt Allday went 4 for 6 for the Bears, and made several nice catches in right field. Senior second baseman Blake Marchal was 2 for 4 and senior catcher Michael Marietta went 2 for 5 with UCA’s only RBI. The Bears left 13 runners on base. Clayton (2-1) got the loss, going 2 1/3 innings and allowing just one hit. Dillon Moritz (3-2) got the victory, pitching the final three innings for the Trojans and allowing no hits or runs.
The Bears return to Southland Conference play this weekend, hosting Stephen F. Austin at Bear Stadium. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday for “Senior Day.”
