CONWAY -- The hole was too deep for Central Arkansas.
The Bears gave up six runs in the first two innings, which proved more than enough for Southeastern Louisiana in a 9-4 victory Saturday in the Southland Conference Championship Game in front of a record crowd of 1,007 at Bear Stadium.
Southeastern Louisiana, the tournament's fifth seed, had lost consecutive Southland championship games to Texas-Arlington in 2012 and to the Bears last season. But with Saturday's victory over the sixth-seeded Bears, the Lions advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994.
"It came down to one thing," Southeastern Louisiana Coach Matt Riser said. "It came down [to] guys competing. We knew we had to count on everybody, just whatever it took. We knew it would take a total team effort."
Southeastern Louisiana (37-23) struck for two runs in the top of the first inning off UCA senior right-hander Bryce Biggerstaff. A bases-loaded single by sophomore Daniel Midyett scored freshman Jacob Seward, and a ground out from freshman Kennon Menard scored sophomore Jameson Fisher to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
With two outs and the bases empty in the second inning, Southeastern Louisiana had six consecutive base runners. Two-run singles from Midyett and junior Brett Hoffman extended the Lions' lead to 6-0.
Sophomore right-hander Bo Stitch replaced Biggerstaff, and managed to hold Southeastern Louisiana for 4 1/3 innings as UCA's offense rallied.
Biggerstaff (7-6) had thrown four consecutive complete games entering Saturday's game, including Wednesday's 127-pitch performance against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It was a different story for the former Central Arkansas Christian standout Saturday.
"[Biggerstaff] was just a little bit flat," UCA Coach Allen Gum said. "He gave us everything he had, and little bit more this year. He's been big for us all year, and he's always given us everything he had. That's all we can ask for."
UCA (32-22) got its first runs in the bottom of the second inning after a sacrifice fly by junior Charles Deckard scored sophomore Tyler Langley, and senior Doug Votolato knocked in senior Scott Zimmerle with a single through the middle.
UCA was within 6-4 after sophomore Chris Townsend was hit by a pitch, and junior Nate Ferrell walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning.
"We fought hard to the end," Gum said. "Even down 6-0, we just kept fighting. We just didn't have enough left. That's all it was."
Lions sophomore right-hander Tate Scioneaux came in with two outs in the fourth inning and held UCA scoreless the rest of the way.
"[Scioneaux] told me last night, 'I'm ready to go,' " Riser said. " 'Whenever you need me, I'll be ready to go.' So, obviously he was speaking from the heart. It wasn't one of those meaningless speeches. He meant it, and he showed it today."
Fisher's single in the top of the sixth inning scored junior Jacob Williams from second base to increase the Lions' lead to 7-4.
Three consecutive, two-out singles led to two runs for the Lions in the top of the eighth inning. Junior Andrew Godbold, who was hitless in his first three at-bats, knocked in Seward and Fisher to give the Lions a 9-4 lead.
UCA had won nine consecutive entering Saturday's game and earned its second trip in a row to the tournament championship game. A second Southland title in as many years wasn't in the cards, though.
"They made big pitches, and they made big plays at the right time," Gum said. "We got runners on base, and didn't get the big hits at the right time. It's just baseball. You know, timely hits, and they had a little more than we did today."
Sports on 05/25/2014