MONROE, La. _ A powerful offensive showing and a solid effort out of the bullpen by junior Bo Stitch carried the University of Central Arkansas Bears to a 10-4 victory over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday night in the Warhawk Classic at Warhawk Field.
UCA pounded out 15 hits _ double figures for the second consecutive game _ with junior shortstop Logan Preston blasting his third home run in two days. Junior right fielder Braxton Phillips went 3 for 5 with 3 runs batted in and 2 runs scored. Preston, Tyler Langley, Nate Ferrell and Chris Townsend all finished with two hits.
Stitch relieved Josh Markel in the fifth and struck out six over 3.2 innings to earn the victory. Junior Derek Beier pitched a perfect ninth for the Bears.
The Warhawks got a two-run home run from third baseman Keeling Rasch to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. UCA came back and loaded the bases in the top of the second on a single by Chris Townsend, a hit by pitch for Logan Preston and a walk to James Lacy. ULM starter Alex Hermeling forced a ground out to end the threat.
The Bears cut the deficit in half in the top of the third as Braxton Phillips was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, stole second base and went to third on Jacob Richardson's single. Nate Ferrell then bounced a single through the left side of the infield to bring in Braxton and make it 2-1.
In the fourth, Tyler Lacy had a one-out single up the middle and went to third on an error on ULM pitcher Alex Hermerling on a pick off attempt. Tyler Langley then doubled to the left-center gap to tie the game at 2-2. Phillips followed with an RBI single to right to give the Bears a 3-2 lead.
The Warhawks tied it with another home run, a solo by center fielder Nathan Pugh, in the bottom of the inning. UCA's Logan Preston answered quickly in the top of the sixth with his third home run in two games, a solo shot to left field to tie it at 4-4. Designated hitter James Lacy reached on an error and went to second. A sacrifice bunt by Langley sent him to third and an RBI single by Phillips brought him in for a 5-4 UCA lead.
Phillips went to second on an error and to third on a wild pitch. Wesley Hoover walked and UCA turned a double steal, with Phillips scoring to make it 6-4. Hoover advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Richardson and then scored on a wild pitch for a 7-4 lead. Phillips adds another with an RBI double just inside third base to score Travis Hull in the top of the seventh.
UCA padded the lead even more with two runs in the ninth before turning it over to junior righthander Beier. who got a strikeout and a pair of fly outs to end it.
The Bears take on Indiana State at noon Sunday.
