CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas (21-18, 9-8) secured an 8-3 victory over Eastern Kentucky (10-29, 4-13) on Saturday at Bear Stadium. Central Arkansas tallied 11 hits, including two home runs, and capitalized on three innings with multiple runs to seal the game.
Central Arkansas secured an 8-3 victory over Eastern Kentucky, highlighted by consistent scoring across several innings. The home team took the lead in the fourth inning when
Jagger Schattle walked and later scored on a ground out by
Jack Runsick, putting Central Arkansas ahead 1-0.
In the fifth inning,
Mark Ross extended the lead with a solo home run down the left field line, making it 2-0. Central Arkansas continued to build its advantage in the sixth inning with a two-run homer by Runsick, scoring
Keaton Laidley and increasing the margin to 4-0.
Eastern Kentucky responded in the seventh with a home run by Longo and an RBI single by Benson, but Central Arkansas answered with three runs in the bottom half.
Zane Denton doubled and scored on a single by
Zeb Allen. Schattle then delivered a two-RBI single, pushing the lead to 7-2.
The eighth inning saw both teams add a run each. Eastern Kentucky scored an unearned run due to a fielding error, while Ross doubled and scored for Central Arkansas on another single by Allen, concluding the scoring at 8-3.
Jake Jones started strong for Central Arkansas, pitching 5 innings while allowing only 2 hits and no runs, earning his third win of the season.
Silas Cowgill came in as a reliever, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits, including a home run, over 1 1/3 innings.
Hunter Alexander closed the game, securing his eighth save by pitching 2 2/3 innings, allowing 1 unearned run and striking out 2.
Zeb Allen
- 2 hits
- 2 RBIs
- 3 stolen bases
Jack Runsick
- 2 hits
- 3 RBIs
- 1 home run
Mark Ross
- 3 hits
- 2 doubles
- 1 home run
Jake Jones
- 5 innings pitched
- 3 strikeouts
- 2 hits allowed
Hunter Alexander
- 2 2/3 innings pitched
- 2 strikeouts
- 0 earned runs
Looking ahead, the Bears will face Eastern Kentucky University at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at Bear Stadium in the final game of this series.
