CONWAY, AR – The Sam Houston State Bearkats put up three runs in the top of the 13th inning on Saturday night to down the University of Central Arkansas Bears 6-3 at Bear Stadium and even their Southland Conference series.
The Bears (13-8, 7-4) had scored a run in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to send it to extra innings. But SHSU (14-15, 7-4) got a lead-off double and an infield single to open the 13th inning. UCA then intentionally walked Bryce Johnson before Wyatt Powell’s fielder’s choice scored the winning run. Another intentional walk and a two-run double to the right-field corner by Sam Houston’s Ryan Brinley made it 6-3.
UCA went down in order in the bottom of the 13th to drop its record in extra-inning games this season to 2-1.
UCA starting pitcher Brandon Hagerla went 11 innings, allowing only 8 hits and 3 runs while striking out a career-high 8. UCA junior right hander Bo Stitch took the loss to drop to 4-2 on the season. SHSU starter Logan Boyd shut down the Bears’ offense for seven innings, allowing just 3 hits, striking out 5 and walking none. Greg Belton (1-0) pitched the final four innings to earn the victory, striking out 5 and allowing just 2 hits.
Trailing 3-0, the Bears finally found some offense in the eighth inning when junior center fielder Tyler Langley hit the first pitch of the inning from new SHSU reliever Sam Odom over the fence just inside the left-field foul pole for his third home run of the season. In the ninth, senior Nate Ferrell doubled to right center and Hayden Steele walked with one out.
Pinch hitter Brandon Montalvo hit an RBI single to right center that scored Ferrell. Langley followed with an RBI base hit through the left side that scored pinch runner Nick Rougeau with the tying run.
Langley finished 4 for 6 with 2 RBI, while no other UCA player had more than one hit. Miles Manning, Jake MacWilliam and Collin Yelich had two hits each for the Bearkats.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.
(Courtesy: UCA Sports Information)
The Bears (13-8, 7-4) had scored a run in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to send it to extra innings. But SHSU (14-15, 7-4) got a lead-off double and an infield single to open the 13th inning. UCA then intentionally walked Bryce Johnson before Wyatt Powell’s fielder’s choice scored the winning run. Another intentional walk and a two-run double to the right-field corner by Sam Houston’s Ryan Brinley made it 6-3.
UCA went down in order in the bottom of the 13th to drop its record in extra-inning games this season to 2-1.
UCA starting pitcher Brandon Hagerla went 11 innings, allowing only 8 hits and 3 runs while striking out a career-high 8. UCA junior right hander Bo Stitch took the loss to drop to 4-2 on the season. SHSU starter Logan Boyd shut down the Bears’ offense for seven innings, allowing just 3 hits, striking out 5 and walking none. Greg Belton (1-0) pitched the final four innings to earn the victory, striking out 5 and allowing just 2 hits.
Trailing 3-0, the Bears finally found some offense in the eighth inning when junior center fielder Tyler Langley hit the first pitch of the inning from new SHSU reliever Sam Odom over the fence just inside the left-field foul pole for his third home run of the season. In the ninth, senior Nate Ferrell doubled to right center and Hayden Steele walked with one out.
Pinch hitter Brandon Montalvo hit an RBI single to right center that scored Ferrell. Langley followed with an RBI base hit through the left side that scored pinch runner Nick Rougeau with the tying run.
Langley finished 4 for 6 with 2 RBI, while no other UCA player had more than one hit. Miles Manning, Jake MacWilliam and Collin Yelich had two hits each for the Bearkats.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.
(Courtesy: UCA Sports Information)
