CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday and used R.J. Pearson's RBI base hit for the final run in a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in ASUN action at Bear Stadium.
The Bears (13-16) improved to 8-4 in the ASUN West and is now tied for first place with Eastern Kentucky. UCA has won all four of its league series by a 2-1 margin.
The Gamecocks (13-16, 7-5) scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie. But the Bears, facing JSU's closer A.J. Causey, sent six batters to the plate in the decisive ninth inning. Designated hitter
Drew Pollum led it off with a hit by pitch. Third baseman
A.J. Mendolia singled through the infield and
Drew Sturgeon's sacrifice bunt moved both runners.
UCA catcher
Noah Argenta followed with a single through the right side, bringing in both runners to tie it at 4-4. Argenta advanced to second base on the play. Pinch hitter
Connor Flagg was intentionally walked and
Trey Harris pinch ran for Argenta at second. Pearson, a senior shortstop from Tahlequah, Okla., then got his first of the day, a single to right field that ended it.
The Bears made the most of just seven hits, with Mendolia and
Connor Emmet picking up two each. Argenta had two of UCA's five runs batted in. Junior right hander
Andrew Shoultz, who threw 55 pitches in relief on Saturday, picked up the victory on the mound, going the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and no runs.
The Bears scored first in the fourth inning in a pitcher's duel when Emmet had a leadoff triple to center and scored on
Hunter Hicks' sacrifice fly. The Gamecocks went ahead 2-1 with a pair of runs in the sixth but UCA answered that in the bottom with a run to tie it. Emmet started the rally again with a leadoff double and eventually scored on Pollum's base hit to right field.
UCA starter
Cade Fenton went 5 1/3 innings, striking out 6 and allowing 4 hits and 2 runs. JSU starter Jake Peppers was equally as solid, lasting five innings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run while striking out nine.
UCA plays at Little Rock on Tuesday night before traveling to Richmond, Ky., for an ASUN series at Eastern Kentucky that begins Thursday night.
