FRIDAY’S DIV. I ROUNDUPS

UALR 6, EVANSVILLE 3

UALR earned its first victory under new Coach Chris Curry, beating Evansville in Friday’s season opener. It was his first Division I coaching victory.

Senior Cameron Allen picked up the victory and ninth of his career, going 5 innings, giving up 3 runs, only 2 of which were earned, and striking out 3. Cory Malcom got the save with 4 scorless innings in relief, striking out 3 andf giving up 3 hits.

Designated hitter Ryan Scott was a perfect 3 for 3, with two runs, one RBI, and one stolen base while walking twice. Evansville got off to a fast start, scoring with one out in the first. UALR tied the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double by Scott. Scott scored later on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Kirk.

In the third, an error by UALR’s Justin Steelmon put a runner on. A single put runners on the corners for Evansville’s Boomer Synek, whose sacrifice to center tied the game 2-2. A double by Scott Showers put the Purple Aces on top. In the bottom of the third, three consecutive singles tied the game, then a base hit by Kyle Kirk put the Trojans on top. A single by James Gillean drive in another run then Mitchell Scheuler drew a bases-loaded walk to UALR up 6-3. Kirk went 2 for 4 and had 2 RBI in his UALR debut.

ILLINOIS STATE 3,

ARKANSAS STATE 0

JONESBORO — Illinois State had three hits, but took advantage of six walks in a victory at Tomlinson Stadium Friday night.

Leading 1-0 going into the sixth, Paul DeJong and Logan Leverett walked off Red Wolves starter David Owen. Austin Aspegren came in, walked Mason Snyder and hit Brian Rodemoyer to score DeJong.

Coulton Lee came in and struck out Ryan Koziol and got Jean Ramirez to ground out which allowed Leverett to score to make it 3-0. Dennis Colon grounded out to end the inning.

The Redbirds scored in the third when Sean Beesley walked with one out. After Jake Czeszewski struck out, DeJong doubled to left center to score Beesley. The Red Wolves, who left seven runners on base, got runners into scoring position in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Their best chance came in the eighth when Zach George was hit by a pitch, Stuart Levy bunted his way on for a hit, but Matt Burgess grounded out to end the inning.

Will Headen struck out 6 in 6 innings while allowing 1 hit to get the victory. Steve Helenbach pitched the final three innings to get the save.

Despite striking out 8, Owen walked 5 in 5 innings on 105 pitches and got the loss for the Red Wolves.

SOUTHLAND

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 8,

GRAMBLING STATE 2

The University of Central Arkansas pounded out 13 hits, including two home runs by Logan Preston, as it opened the season Friday afternoon with a victory over Grambling State at Warhawk Field in Monroe, La.

Preston, a junior shortstop, hit a home run in a three-run sixth inning and added a two-run shot in the seventh inning to give the Bears an 8-0 lead. Junior first baseman Braxton Phillips, a transfer from Butte Community College, went 3 for 4 from the leadoff spot, including 2 walks.

Junior right-hander Connor Gilmore (1-0) cruised through 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, striking out 2 and walking 1. The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Phillips singled up the middle, went to second on a groundout, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Nate Ferrell’s fly ball to foul territory down the right-field line. UCA made it 3-0 in the fourth on designated hitter James Lacy’s sacrifice fly that scored Christ Townsend. Phillips singled to left field to bring in Preston, who reached on an error.

Senior left fielder Wesley Hoover added a two-run single to go with Preston’s home run in the sixth inning. In the seventh, Townsend was hit by a pitch and Preston brought him in with his shot to left-center.

Senior Josh Markel replaced Gilmore in the seventh and retired the Tigers down in order before allowing two unearned runs in the eighth. Junior Bo Stitch pitched the ninth for the Bears. Junior center fielder Tyler Langley finished 2 for 3 with 1 run scored, while Hoover had 2 RBI. GSU managed eight hits, led by catcher Roger Siaz who went 3 for 4. Edwin Drexler went 2 for 4 and scored 1 run. Ike O’Bear allowed 6 runs, 4 earned, to take the loss.

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