The Missouri State offense was held in check for the first time this season as Central Arkansas hurlers Matt Whitaker and Matt Humphrey combined to six-hit the Bears on the way to a 7-2 victory in game one of a four-game series at UCA Field in Conway, Ark.
Missouri State, which averaged 11.3 runs and 13 hits per game through the first three contests, fell to 3-1 on the season, while UCA improved ts record to 4-1.
After a scoreless first for Missouri State, UCA opened the bottom of the first with two singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. Central Arkansas cleanup hitter Jonathan Yerby hit a sacrifice fly and the next batter grounded out before a two-out error prolonged the inning and allowed another run to score for a 2-0 lead for the home team.
The score remained the same until the fourth, when Nolan Keane led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on Ben Carlson’s RBI single. Whitaker hit Brayden Drake on an 0-2 pitch to put two men on with no outs, but worked his way out of the inning with no further damage to preserve the 2-1 lead.
Keane tied the game in the fifth, singling home Curt Courtwright, who reached on a walk. MSU left the bases loaded, however, keeping the score at 2-2.
Carlson and Keane each finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI to lead the MSU offense.
After the rough first frame, MSU starter Buddy Baumann found a groove and did not allow another hit until the fourth. Baumann was relieved by Jon Barnes with no outs in the fifth after UCA opened with a single and a double to take a 3-2 lead. The southpaw struck out four Bears in the game but took the loss. Barnes pitched the final four innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs.
Central Arkansas outfielder Scott Cline drove in another run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2 after five innings.
UCA added to its lead in the seventh, getting an RBI double from Chris Houk and a Kent Taylor sac fly to take a 6-2 lead heading into the eighth. Catcher Chris Davis slugged a double in the eighth for UCA’s final run.
Game two of the series is tomorrow at 3 p.m.
