BEARS EXPLODE FOR 13-10 WIN OVER SKYHAWKS 

CONWAY, Ark. _ A most improbable comeback by the University of Central Arkansas Bears resulted in a 13-10 victory over the UT Martin Skyhawks on Sunday afternoon at Bear Stadium.

The Bears, trailing 10-1 in the middle of the seventh inning, exploded for 12 runs in the bottom of the inning, capped by a two-run home run by senior first baseman Connor Emmet that made it a 13-10 UCA lead. The Bears did the damage with just four hits, taking advantage of two Skyhawk errors, four walks and two hit batters.  Emmet also had a two-run single to left center in the inning, giving him four runs batted in in the frame.

UCA finished with just seven hits, while UT Martin had 12. The Bears totaled just three hits entering the seventh inning. 

The Skyhawks grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third and UCA answered with its first run in the bottom of the inning on Tanner Leonard's RBI single to right that scored Drew Sturgeon, who led off with a triple to center field. UT Martin got single runs in the fourth and fifth and then put up five more in the seventh on five hits.

UCA followed with one of its highest scoring innings in school history, started by a walk to Sturgeon by reliever Trey Ricko, the first of three Skyhawk pitchers in the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and Leonard was walked and Reid Bowman was hit. Blake Davis took over on the mound and promptly walked Kolby Johnson for the first run.

Emmet followed with his two-run base hit that made it 10-4. A.J. Mendolia reached on a fielder's choice and Emmet was safe at second when the UTM fielder dropped the throw. Trey Harris drew the bases-loaded walk to score Johnson and make it 10-5. Brock Kuehler beat out and infield single and the throw was off target, allowing Mendolia and Emmet to score to cut the deficit to 10-7.

Connor Flagg walked and Tucker Reed relieved Davis and hit Sturgeon with a pitch, scoring Harris. After a strikeout, Bowman added a sacrifice fly to make it 10-9. Johnson then singled up the middle to give the Bears their first lead at 11-10. Emmet followed with team-leading third home run of the season.

Emmet was the only Bear with multiple hits but he, Johnson and Kuehler all had at least two runs batted in.

UCA senior reliever Tyler Navarro earned the win by getting the final out of the seventh. Sophomore Jesse Barker went the final two innings and preserved the victory, striking out three and allowing just one hit.

The Bears conclude their eight-game homestand against Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bear Stadium. UCA opens its first season in the ASUN Conference next weekend at Bellarmine in Louisville, Ky.