BEARS EARN BIG 10-INNING VICTORY
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears went to extra innings Friday to earn an important 2-1 victory over the Jacksonville Gamecocks in ASUN action at Rudy Abbott FIeld at Jim Case Stadium.
The Bears (23-24, 17-8) got a bases-loaded walk by sophomore center fielder
Drew Sturgeon in the top of the 10th inning to break the 1-1 tie and move back into a first-place tie in the ASUN West Division with Eastern Kentucky. Sturgeon worked a 1-2 count into the bases-loaded walk that was the difference.
UCA starter
Tyler Cleveland (7-2) turned in what may have been the best outing of his career, going nine innings, allowing just six hits and one run, tying his career high of 12 strikeouts and walking just two while tossing a career-high 131 pitches. Sophomore right hander
Trent Gregson replaced Cleveland to start the 10th and added two more strikeouts, including the game-ending one, to earn his fourth save.
UCA, which improved to 3-1 against JSU this season, scored its only other run in the second inning when freshman second baseman
Tanner Leonard's infield single to shortstop scored
A.J. Mendolia, who led off the inning with his team-best 38th walk of the season. The Gamecocks (21-27, 14-11) eventually tied it in the sixth with an RBI double by second baseman Cole Frederick.
From there, Cleveland and JSU closer A.J. Causey reeled off three scoreless innings apiece. Causey, who came in in the seventh for starter Reid Fagerstrom, finished with 3.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run, striking out three and walking three to drop to 3-4 overall.
UCA senior left fielder
Connor Emmet led UCA's offense, going 3 for 4, while Leonard was 2 for 4 with an RBI. The Bears drew four walks and had one hit batter and stranded 11 base runners. Cleveland and Gregson combined to limit JSU to just seven hits.
Game 2 of the series is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, with the finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.
