ARKANSAS STATE 11, UALR 7
Zach George hit a two-run home run to right field in a five-run eighth inning as Arkansas State held off UALR 11-7 Thursday night at Tomlinson Stadium in Jonesboro.
The Trojans (15-32, 11-16 Sun Belt) had scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings and added two in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead into the seventh inning.
An error, a hit batsman and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third for Arkansas State (24-27, 11-16). Collin Massanelli singled to left, driving in Austin Baker and Matt Burgess to tie the game 5-5.
George hit his home run after a walk to Lucas Fedderson in the eighth, then the flood gates opened.
Successive walks to Baker and Burgess followed by an error that allowed Ty White to reach base loaded the bases. A walk t0 Massanelli scored Baker, and a wild pitch from Cameron Allen allowed Burgess to score. Stuart Levy singled down the left-field line, scoring Massanelli and White to give the Red Wolves an 11-5 lead.
Three hits and an Arkansas State error led to two more runs for UALR in the ninth, but Petr Sila grounded into a forceout at second for the final out.
Tyler Zuber pitched 4 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 runs but striking out 7 to get the victory. Allen took the loss.
The teams will play twice today, with the first game scheduled for 1 p.m. The final game of the series will start 90 minutes after the first game ends.
SOUTHLAND
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 5, MCNEESE STATE 4
Central Arkansas (26-21, 15-13 Southland Conference) came back three times in a victory over McNeese State (31-22, 17-11) at Bear Stadium in Conway.
The Bears rallied from a 1-0 deficit after two innings, a 2-1 deficit after four and a 4-3 margin after seven innings. UCA scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to win their third game in their past four.
Junior Chris Townsend started the final rally with a leadoff single and moved to second on Travis Hull's sacrifice bunt. Charles Deckard drew a pinch-hit walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Michael Haun. Lucas Quary came on in relief and got Ty Tice to ground out, moving both runners up a base.
Logan Preston walked to load the bases and first baseman Matt Anderson was hit by a pitch to tie it at 4-4. McNeese State closer Collin Kober came on and walked Nick Rougeau to score Haun and give the Bears a 5-4 lead.
The Cowboys, who entered the game tied for third place in the Southland Conference, put a runner to third base in the top of the ninth, but UCA junior Bo Stitch picked up the final two outs, striking out Joe Provenzano looking to end the game for his team-high fourth save.
Townsend went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored for the Bears. He had an RBI groundout in the third inning and an RBI double in the fifth. Hull finished 2 for 3 with and RBI as both teams finished with eight hits.
UCA starter Connor Gilmore went 6 innings, striking out 5 and allowing 4 runs in a no-decision.
Sports on 05/15/2015