The Bears were given a mild scare in the 8th inning Tuesday night, but pulled out a high-scoring victory against University of Arkansas–Pine Bluff 18-12.
After the Bears (10-8, 1-2) dominated most of the game and only allowing one run in a six-inning stretch, the Lions (7-12, 4-1) surged back with eight runs in the top of the 8th off of just three hits. The Bears used four pitchers in that inning, hitting two batters, forcing a wild throw and two walks.
The Bears closed it out in the 9th inning, allowing only one hit.
Junior Josh Markel picked up his first win of the season, pitching three innings and allowing no hits and two walks. Senior Doug Votolato went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and senior Justin Treece also went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
The game started a little shaky for UCA when UAPB scored three runs off of three hits in the first inning. The Bears were unable to answer in the bottom of the first, but a five-run second inning seemed to shift the momentum. UCA scored in each of their next four innings, producing 13 runs in a five-inning span to push a giant 18-4 lead. The Bears forced the Lions to dig into their bullpen early, hitting off of different four pitchers and making UAPB use five pitchers. Not one Lions pitchers pitched for three innings.
There were 30 runs and 23 hits between the two teams, with the Bears producing 15 of of those hits, but there was not a single home run by either team in the game. Eight UCA players produced hits, and eight drove in runs.
Lions junior Samuel Olson (1-1) pitched just two innings and allowed three hits, five runs and four walks, all within that big second inning for the Bears. UAPB senior Tyler Oertle went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
UCA closes out the series with UAPB tonight at 6 p.m. before starting a three-game series with Southland Conference rival Sam Houston State Friday night at 6 p.m. in Conway.
