CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears used the long ball again on a wet Saturday to win their third home series of the season, cruising to an 11-1 win over the UT Martin Skyhawks at Bear Stadium.
UCA (7-7) hit three home runs, including two more by graduate designated hitter
Evan Hafley, who walked off the Skyhawks with a grand slam in Friday's victory. Junior first baseman
A.J. Mendolia went 4 for 5 and junior third baseman
Mason King had three hits and four runs batted in, including his second home run of the season.
Junior right hander
Jesse Barker tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing just four hits. Four relievers combined to allow just one run down the stretch, striking out five more UT Martin batters.
The Bears scored all the runs they would need in the second inning off UT Martin starter Jordan Armstrong. UCA plated four runs on three hits. Catcher
Noah Argenta had an RBI double down the right-field line and King's three-run homer made it a 4-0 lead.
UCA added two more in the third on Hafley's first home run of the day. A four-run fifth inning put the game out of reach for the Bears. Hafley led off with a no-doubt blast over the left-field fence.
Tanner Leonard had an RBI ground out and King and
Reid Bowman added RBI base hits.Â
The Skyhawks (4-12) got their lone unearned run in the eighth but UCA answered that with its final run in the bottom of that inning. Center fielder
Kade Seldomridge brought in
Tyler Monroe with a base hit to left.
Hafley finished 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored. For the series, Hafley is 5 for 10 with 8 RBI, 4 runs scored and three home runs. Seldomridge went 3 for 5 with an RBI and run scored.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.Â