Â
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears dropped their Atlantic Sun Conference opener on the road Friday, a 10-inning, 6-5 loss to the North Alabama Lions at UAB's Young Memorial Stadium.
The Bears (5-10, 0-1) were 2-0 in extra-inning games this season and had beaten the Lions (4-13) 10 consecutive times. But UNA got a pair of hits and a walk in the 10 inning before Paul Kraska's RBI single to center ended it.
UNA had 13 hits to UCA's eight. Redshirt freshman center fielder
Sam Reynolds hit his team-leading fifth home run in the fifth inning, a solo blast that gave the Bears a 5-2 lead. But UCA would not score again and the Lions added single runs in the fifth, seventh and 10th innings.
UCA fell behind 2-0 in the first inning as the Lions got two hits and an error to plate two runs. UCA answered in the third when senior
Preston Curtis doubled to left and senior
Tanner Leonard singled to move him to third. Sophomore
Zeb Allen had the first of his three runs batted in with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Bears scored three times on three hits in the fourth. Reynolds walked and went to second on catcher
Casey Shipley's base hit up the middle. Curtis moved Reynolds to third with a fly ball before Leonard's double scored him. Allen the doubled to right for two more RBI.
Leonard finished with two hits as the only Bear with multiple hits. Junior first baseman
Keon Moseni, returning from injury, drew four walks. UCA closer
Hunter Alexander, who entered in the seventh, took the loss, allowing one earned run while striking out three and walking four.
Saturday's Game 2 has been moved to Sunday due to expected weather issues. Sunday's doubleheader will begin at 11 a.m.
Â