MOYER, BEARS DOWN COWBOYS 8-1

CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears handed the ball to senior right hander Mark Moyer to open Senior Weekend and he responded with a complete-game 8-1 victory over the McNeese Cowboys in a key Southland Conference series at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (22-26, 17-20) needed a good start to the weekend, one in which they are trying to earn a spot in next week's SLC Tournament. Moyer delivered with his 22nd career victory, tying the school record held by Connor Gilmore and Cody Davenport. Moyer struck out seven and walked one while scattering eight hits and tossing a career-high 139 pitches. His seventh and final strikeout came to open the ninth inning and he ended it with a ground out to shortstop.

The Bears' offense provided Moyer with a 1-0 lead in the first inning with four of their 14 hits, with senior first baseman Coby Potvin scoring on A.J. Mendolia's single to right field. UCA padded the lead with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings, including Benny Ayala's two-run home run over the left-field fence in the fifth, his third of the season.

After the Cowboys (26-27, 19-17) got their lone run in the top of the sixth, a three-run bottom of the inning for UCA put the game out of reach. UCA had just one hit but drew four consecutive walks to start the inning, the final one to Kolby Johnson scoring Potvin. Freshman Drew Sturgeon then storkes a two-run base hit to right to make it a 8-1 lead as McNeese used three different pitchers to get out of the inning.

Mendolia, a freshman third baseman from Fort Worth, Texas, went 3 for 4 on the night with a pair of RBI. Sturgeon, another freshman from Farmington, Ark., was 3 for 5 with two RBI, while Johnson and Potvin both went 2 for 3 with a pair of walks.

McNeese, which swept Nicholls at home last weekend but is now just 6-19 on the road this season, used six pitchers, with starter Bryson Hudgens (5-6) taking the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) and eight hits over four innings.

The Bears and Cowboys will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Friday, with the first game set for seven innings and the nightcap a nine-inning affair.

UCA recognized 17 players, including Moyer, and one staff member, director of operations Hunter Roberts, who have earned either their undergraduate degree or their master's degree in a pregame ceremony Friday. Senior Day for eight seniors is set for 1 p.m. Saturday prior to the series finale.