University of Central Arkansas Athletics

Game 1:
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas (9-5) secured a decisive 7-1 victory over Little Rock (6-7) on Friday at Bear Stadium. The home team broke the game open with a five-run stretch in the fourth and fifth innings, driving in runs with two home runs and five doubles.
 
Little Rock took an early lead in the first inning as Smith scored on Cano's double to left center, making it 1-0. Central Arkansas was held scoreless in the first three innings, trailing 1-0.
 
In the fourth inning, Parker Gwyn doubled to right center, and Zeb Allen's single advanced him to third. Jack Runsick's sacrifice bunt allowed Gwyn to score and Allen later crossed home on a wild pitch, putting Central Arkansas ahead 2-1.
 
Central Arkansas extended its lead in the fifth inning when Jagger Schattle hit a solo home run to right center. Later in the inning, Gwyn's two-run homer to left center brought home Jayden Sloan, increasing the lead to 5-1.
 
In the sixth inning, Landon Carter doubled and scored on Schattle's RBI double down the right field line, making it 6-1 in favor of Central Arkansas.
 
Zach Adams doubled in the eighth inning, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a balk, securing a 7-1 advantage for Central Arkansas.
 
Braxton Haywood and Jake Jones pitched three scoreless innings combined to close out the game, maintaining the lead for Central Arkansas.
 
Final score: Central Arkansas 7, Little Rock 1.
 
Denver Hamilton delivered a strong start for Central Arkansas, pitching 5 innings and allowing only 1 earned run while striking out 4 batters. He navigated through 8 hits and 2 walks with efficiency, forcing 2 double plays and throwing 52 strikes out of 89 pitches. Haywood followed with an impressive 3 innings of work, maintaining a no-hit performance with 3 strikeouts. Jones sealed the game in the ninth, pitching a hitless inning and contributing to a combined shutout effort from the bullpen.

Parker Gwyn 
- 3 hits 
- 2 runs 
- 1 home run 
- 2 RBIs 
 
Jagger Schattle 
- 2 hits 
- 2 RBIs 
- 1 home run 
- 1 double 
 
Braxton Haywood 
- 3 0/3 innings 
- 0 hits allowed 
- 3 strikeouts

Game 2:
CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas (9-6) fell to Little Rock (7-7) with a final score of 8-2 on Friday night at Bear Stadium. The Bears managed to score two runs in the seventh inning, but Little Rock's three-run innings in the second and seventh secured the win.
 
Little Rock took the lead in the second inning, capitalizing on errors to score three runs. A double from Rhoades and a single by Freund brought in two runs, with Freund later scoring on a sacrifice fly. The score was 3-0 in favor of Little Rock at the end of the second inning.
 
In the fifth inning, Little Rock added two more runs. Cano singled and Rhoades followed with another single, setting up Bilski's RBI single. Freund's sacrifice fly brought in another, extending their lead to 5-0 through five innings.
 
Central Arkansas responded in the bottom of the seventh inning. Keon Moseni was hit by a pitch and Jayden Sloan followed with a two-run homer to right center. The inning ended with the Bears trailing 8-2, which remained the final score.
 
Central Arkansas's pitching staff delivered a mixed performance against the Trojans. JB Williams opened the game with 2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 runs, though only 1 was earned, while striking out 1 and walking 1. Kannon Nesslage provided 2 solid innings in relief, giving up just 1 hit with no runs or walks and securing a strikeout. Silas Cowgill faced challenges, conceding 3 hits and 2 earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Samuel Curtis offered a strong performance over 1 1/3 innings, allowing no hits or runs and striking out 2. Tobin Cantrill facing 3 batters without recording an out, resulting in 3 unearned runs. Jacob Pannell closed the effort with a clean inning, striking out 2 and yielding just 1 hit.
 
Jayden Sloan
- 1 home run
- 2 RBIs
- 2 hits
 
Zeb Allen
- 1 double
- 2 hits
- 1 stolen base
 
Samuel Curtis
- 1 1/3 innings pitched
- 0 hits allowed
- 2 strikeouts
 
In their next game, the Bears will travel to Little Rock for a match-up on Sunday, March 8, at 1 p.m.