Freshman Tyler Gray tossed a complete-game three-hitter in his college debut as Central Arkansas defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8-1 on Wednesday in a nonconference game at the Torii Hunter Complex in Pine Bluff.
Gray, from Fort Smith, gave up 3 hits, struck out 10 and walked 1. UCA pounded out 11 hits, with three players recording two each.
The Bears broke open a scoreless game in the fifth inning with three runs. Catcher Charles Deckard led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hayden Steele. Deckard stole third and Ty Tice walked before designated hitter Nick Rougeau singled to left to make it 1-0.
Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Tyler Langley followed with a sacrifice fly to score Tice. Left fielder Wesley Hoover then tripled to right to make it 3-0.
UCA scored another run in the sixth on Deckard's first home run of the season, and its three-run seventh inning was highlighted by Hoover's two-run single and Brad Dillenberger's RBI base hit. Shortstop Logan Preston added an RBI double that brought in Langley in the top of the ninth.
UAPB's lone run came on Austin Grier's two-out home run in the eighth.
Hoover went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, while Deckard was 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Rougeau finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Sports on 04/23/2015