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| Freshman Ryan Hutson had two hits, including his first career home run on Friday night. |
CONWAY, Ark. ? Central Arkansas scored seven times in the first three innings and never looked back, as it sent UTSA to its second loss in a row on Friday night with an 8-5 victory at UCA Field.
The Bears (10-11, 2-3 SLC) tagged Roadrunners starting pitcher Bradley Chovanec (4-2) for a quartet runs in the first, two more one inning later and another in the third to take a 7-0 lead a third of the way through the contest.
The damage started right away, as leadoff hitter Kevin Rawls took Chovanec's first pitch of the night through the right side of the infield for a base hit. John Huffman then stroked the right-hander's next offering over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead. Chovanec appeared to have righted the ship after getting ahead to the next hitter, Chris Davis, with back-to-back strikes, but UCA's catcher laced the next pitch up the middle for the third hit of the frame. Kent Taylor followed by depositing the Burton native's next toss over the right-field wall to give the Bears what proved to be an insurmountable 4-0 advantage.
Central Arkansas crossed the plate two more times in its next at bat, as Payton Seelinger took the first pitch of the inning to center field for the Bears' fifth hit of the night. Rawls followed with a base hit to left and, after a Huffman sacrifice moved the runners up a base, Davis stroked a single to left to bring home Seelinger. Taylor then drew a walk to load the bases and Chris Houk followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
Jonathan Yerby led off the next stanza with his first homer of the year to push the advantage to 7-0 and UCA starter Bobby Pritchett (3-2) tamed the UTSA bats from that point forward.
The sophomore righty allowed three runs and scattered seven hits in 6.1 innings of work. He fanned six in the and walked two in the 120-pitch performance. A line drive off the bat from junior shortstop James Keithley hit Pritchett in the hip with one down in the seventh chased him from the contest and Michael Wild came in from the bullpen.
That's when things got testy.
Sophomore designated hitter Tim Palincsar greeted the right-hander reliever with two-run shot to right that pulled the Roadrunners (14-8, 3-2) within four at 8-4. Wild hit junior center fielder Michael Rockett with the next pitch and was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Cale White. Matt Humphrey came in to get the final two outs of the inning and end the rally.
Freshman second baseman Ryan Hutson's first collegiate home run, a solo shot to lead off the ninth, gave the Roadrunners hope, but Humphrey buckled down and struck out Keithley and Palincsar before inducing a line out to right from Rockett to end the contest.
Back-to-back doubles by Rockett and senior first baseman Trent Lockwoodgot UTSA on the board in the fourth, but a Davis single toright center two innings later brought home Rawls, who led off theframe with a two-bagger and advanced to third on a wild pitch, pushedthe edge back to seven.
Chovanec gave up all eight UCA runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings. He walked two and fanned four. Senior right-hander Mark Ruffin turned in an outstanding performance in relief, as he whiffed four and held the Bears scoreless over the final 2.1 frames.
The Bears (10-11, 2-3 SLC) tagged Roadrunners starting pitcher Bradley Chovanec (4-2) for a quartet runs in the first, two more one inning later and another in the third to take a 7-0 lead a third of the way through the contest.
The damage started right away, as leadoff hitter Kevin Rawls took Chovanec's first pitch of the night through the right side of the infield for a base hit. John Huffman then stroked the right-hander's next offering over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead. Chovanec appeared to have righted the ship after getting ahead to the next hitter, Chris Davis, with back-to-back strikes, but UCA's catcher laced the next pitch up the middle for the third hit of the frame. Kent Taylor followed by depositing the Burton native's next toss over the right-field wall to give the Bears what proved to be an insurmountable 4-0 advantage.
Central Arkansas crossed the plate two more times in its next at bat, as Payton Seelinger took the first pitch of the inning to center field for the Bears' fifth hit of the night. Rawls followed with a base hit to left and, after a Huffman sacrifice moved the runners up a base, Davis stroked a single to left to bring home Seelinger. Taylor then drew a walk to load the bases and Chris Houk followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
Jonathan Yerby led off the next stanza with his first homer of the year to push the advantage to 7-0 and UCA starter Bobby Pritchett (3-2) tamed the UTSA bats from that point forward.
The sophomore righty allowed three runs and scattered seven hits in 6.1 innings of work. He fanned six in the and walked two in the 120-pitch performance. A line drive off the bat from junior shortstop James Keithley hit Pritchett in the hip with one down in the seventh chased him from the contest and Michael Wild came in from the bullpen.
That's when things got testy.
Sophomore designated hitter Tim Palincsar greeted the right-hander reliever with two-run shot to right that pulled the Roadrunners (14-8, 3-2) within four at 8-4. Wild hit junior center fielder Michael Rockett with the next pitch and was immediately ejected by home plate umpire Cale White. Matt Humphrey came in to get the final two outs of the inning and end the rally.
Freshman second baseman Ryan Hutson's first collegiate home run, a solo shot to lead off the ninth, gave the Roadrunners hope, but Humphrey buckled down and struck out Keithley and Palincsar before inducing a line out to right from Rockett to end the contest.
Back-to-back doubles by Rockett and senior first baseman Trent Lockwoodgot UTSA on the board in the fourth, but a Davis single toright center two innings later brought home Rawls, who led off theframe with a two-bagger and advanced to third on a wild pitch, pushedthe edge back to seven.
Chovanec gave up all eight UCA runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings. He walked two and fanned four. Senior right-hander Mark Ruffin turned in an outstanding performance in relief, as he whiffed four and held the Bears scoreless over the final 2.1 frames.
Davis and Rawls paced the Bears with three hits apiece.
UTSA had nine hits on the night, six of which went for extra bases. Keithley led the way with two hits and extended his hitting streak to nine games. Meanwhile, Hutson added his first double of the year in addition to his long ball in the final frame and he also scored two times.
Saturday's finale is slated for 11 a.m. Sophomore right-hander Ryan Proudfoot (3-0, 4.24 ERA) takes the mound for the Roadrunners and righty Jeremy Cloud (0-0, 9.00) makes his second start of the year for the Bears.