CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored twice in the eighth inning Wednesday to beat Southeast Missouri 5-4 and sweep the two-game series at Bear Stadium.
The Bears (9-8) won their sixth consecutive home game when they rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the eighth inning against a series of SEMO relievers. Senior left fielder Dusty Wright started it with a two-out double down the left-field line off Aaron Stretch. Matthew Wade (0-1) relieved him and was greeted with Rigo Aguilar's RBI single up the middle that brought in pinch runner Michael Haun from second base with the tying run.
After another Redhawk pitching change, UCA pinch hitter Colby LeBlanc doubled down the other line to score Aguilar with the game winner.
Senior lefthander Will Brand took over on the mound for UCA and allowed one base hit before ending the game with a double play ground ball to earn his second save. UCA reliever Ross Rogers (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief to get the victory.
A wild first inning saw neither starting pitcher retire more than one batter as the Bears grabbed an early 3-1 lead. Hunter Strong singled and Josh Somdecerff doubled to put runners on second and third before Tyler Smith doubled to the left center gap to score both runners. Reliever Joey Burris surrendered and RBI single to Justin McCarty for the 3-1 lead.
SEMO (5-13) closed it to 3-2 with single runs in the second and fourth innings, then tied it in the fourth and took the lead in the fifth. UCA junior reliever Connor Williams struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings of middle relief before giving way to freshman Logan Gilbertson , Rogers and finally Brand.
Smith, a junior first baseman from Deer Park, Texas, went 2 for 4 with 2 RBi and a run scored, while Wright and Somdecerff both added a pair of hits. SEMO used seven pitchers, with Wade taking the loss.
UCA returns to Southland Conference play this weekend, hosting Incarnate Word. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.
