CENTRAL ARKANSAS 9, UAPB 3

The University of Central Arkansas (12-14) scored early and late to defeat the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tuesday at Bear Stadium in Conway.

UCA led 5-0 after three innings, UAPB (6-17) cut it to 5-3 in the eighth inning, but the Bears padded their lead with four more runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Hunter Strong’s RBI double and Rigo Aguilar’s sacrifice fly put UCA up 2-0 in the first.

The Bears led 4-0 after Michael Haun’s sacrifice fly scored Josh Somdederff and Keaton Presley’s RBI single scored Brooks Balisterri. Aguilar scored on Somdederff’s fielder’s choice in the fifth and UCA led 5-0.

UAPB cut the lead to 5-3 on a home run by Jordan Knox in the fifth inning and Sergio Esparza’s RBI groundouts in the sixth and eighth innings.

Justin McCarty capped a four-run eighth for UCA with a two-run home run to make it 9-3.

Aguilar was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored to lead UCA. Cody Davenport got the victory after allowing 1 walk and 1 strikeout in 2 innings, while Ty Tice picked up the save. Chris Phelps took the loss for UAPB after allowing 4 runs — 3 earned — on 3 hits with 2 walks in 2 innings.