Conway – Battling for a spot in the upcoming Southland Conference Baseball Championship Tournament, the Central Arkansas Bears faced off against the Incarnate Word Cardinals in a doubleheader at Bear Stadium on Saturday. The Bears got a masterful pitching performance from starter Bryce Biggerstaff to win the first game 9-1, before reliever Josh Markel held the Cardinals hitless over the final four innings of game two to help the Bears pick up the come-from-behind 5-4 victory.
Biggerstaff, (5-5) making the final regular season start of his career at Bear Stadium, was nearly unhittable, limiting Incarnate Word (15-31, 6-14 SLC) to just one run on three hits while striking out six as he picked up his third complete game of the season.
The Central Arkansas (25-21, 13-13 SLC) gave Biggerstaff plenty of run support, scoring nine runs on 12 hits.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on second baseman Chris Townsend's first home run of the season, the Bears exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Designated hitter Wesley Hoover laced a single through the right side to drive in a pair of runs in the inning, and right fielder Tyler Langley blasted a three-run bomb over the deck in left-center field to make it 6-0 in favor of the Bears.
Townsend picked up another RBI in the bottom of the sixth, as he was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to drive in left fielder Carson Dowdle and push the lead to 7-0.
The Cardinals scored a run on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh, but Central Arkansas responded immediately. Catcher Charles Deckard tripled down the right field line to plate shortstop Justin Treece before Dowdle lofted a sacrifice fly to right drive in Deckard and extend the lead to 9-1.
Geno Encina (6-7) took the loss for UIW, allowing six runs, just two of which were earned, in five innings of work. He gave up eight hits and issued one walk while striking out two. Adam Hunter worked two innings of relief, allowing three runs on three hits and a pair of walks with two strikeouts. Chris Jones threw the final inning for the Cardinals, allowing one hit.
UIW took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the second game, as designated hitter Ethan McGill led off the inning with a opposite field homerun to left.
Central Arkansas took the lead in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a Cardinal error and a wild pitch to plate two runs.
The Bears extended the lead in the fifth inning. Catcher Brandon Montalvo led off the inning with a single down the left field line and was sacrificed to second base by Dowdle before centerfielder Doug Votolato and Hoover each picked up a bunt single to drive him in and make it 3-1.
The Cardinals opened the top of the sixth with three straight doubles to even the score at 3-3. Following a throwing error, a pitching change, and a hit batter, UIW took a 4-3 lead on a run-scoring double play.
After Incarnate Word went to the bullpen in the eighth inning, the Bears went to work. Townsend drew a walk to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second base before coming in to score on a single from Langley. Langley stole second before first baseman Scott Zimmerle roped a single to right to drive in the go-ahead run.
Chris Caudle started for the Bears, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings of work. Markel (2-0) earned the win in relief, giving up just one walk and hitting a batter while striking out three over the final four innings. Dylan Boss was effective in his start for the Cardinals, allowing three runs over seven innings and surrendering eight hits with six strikeouts. Kris Looper (0-4) took the loss, recording just one out in the eighth inning while giving up a pair of runs on two hits and a walk. Alex Shaffer closed out the ninth, striking out one.
The Bears will look to complete the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM.
