State sports briefs

UCA splits with Missouri State

The University of Central Arkansas split its two-game series Sunday with Missouri State, winning the first game 1-0 in 10 innings before falling 5-2 in the second game at Bear Stadium in Conway.

Hunter Strong drove in the winning run with a single to score Josh Somdecerff in the opener for the Bears (2-4).

Game 1 was a tight pitching duel between UCA senior Tyler Gray and MSU’s Dylan Coleman. Gray went 7 innings, striking out 9 and allowing just 2 hits. Coleman made it through 8 innings with 13 strikeouts, also allowing just a pair of hits.

UCA finally got to Missouri State’s bullpen in the 10th when Somdecerff singled up the middle to start the inning. Eddie Sanchez reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, putting runners at first and third with no outs. After Missouri State recorded an out, UCA pinch hitter Brett D’Amico was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Matt Russell came on for Missouri State, and Strong drilled his second pitch to left for the game winner.

Strong had two hits in the second game, but UCA couldn’t hold onto the early lead, giving up three runs in the sixth and another in the ninth to lose to Missouri State (4-2).

UALR takes two from IPFW

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’ starting pitching dominated Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on Sunday, leading the Trojans to 2-0 and 7-1 victories in a doubleheader at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock.

Cole Townsend went the distance on the mound in the first game, earning his first win of the season for the Trojans (4-3). He limited the Mastodons to three hits while striking out eight and allowing no walks.

Both RBI came from Troy Alexander, giving him seven on the season.

Chandler Fidel followed in the footsteps of Townsend in the second game, throwing a complete game to earn his first victory of the season. Fidel had the shutout bid going through seven before giving up a home run.

Marcus Ragan went 4 for 5 with two doubles and an RBI. Alexander went 2 for 4 with a run and two stolen bases.

OBU splits with Southern Nazarene Ouachita Baptist University split with Southern Nazarene University on Sunday, winning the first game 7-2 before falling 2-5 in the second game in Arkadelphia.

Jakahari Howell and Tyler Riebock homered in the first game for OBU (4-10, 1-4 GAC).

Cole Lee and Jake Vernon had hits for Southern Nazarene (5-7, 1-4) in the second game.

ATU goes on the offensive

Arkansas Tech University scored at least 10 runs in consecutive games for the first time this season Sunday, defeating Northwestern Oklahoma State 10-4 and 12-11 to take the three-game series 2-1.

Arkansas Tech improved to 8-6, 3-3 GAC, and Northwestern Oklahoma fell to 8-6, 3-3.

UA suffers first loss of season

Junior Ashley Diaz hit her second home run of the season and was one of three Razorbacks to tally two hits Sunday, but the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville lost 6-5 to McNeese State in the team’s finale at the Madeira Beach Invitational in Madeira Beach, Fla.

Freshmen Hannah McEwen and Linnie Malkin each had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Razorbacks (9-1).

UA’s 9-0 start to the season established the best start in program history.

ATU sweeps Northwestern Oklahoma Kristen Dempsey fired a two-hit shutout, while Janie Knowles belted a three-run home run to lead Arkansas Tech (11-3) to a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern Oklahoma (1-7) on Sunday.

The Golden Suns won the opener 4-3 before taking the nightcap 4-0.

MEN’S GOLF

ASU fifth at Seminole Intercollegiate Arkansas State University finished fifth at the Seminole Intercollegiate on Sunday at the Golden Eagle Country Club.

The Red Wolves shot a 294 for the final 18 holes, carding a 64-hole total of 866 for the tournament. The squad also finished with two players among the top-25 individual leaders in a field of 75.

Senior Tanner Napier and junior Jakub Bares both tied for 11th place. Napier carded an even-par 72 in the third round to finish with a total of 214, while Bares registered a third-round 74 with the same 64-hole total.

WRESTLING

Ozarks makes history at regional

The University of the Ozarks made history at the NCAA Division III Regional in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sunday as two wrestlers, Devon Jackson and Nathan Rankin, advanced to the national championships March 9-10 in Cleveland.

It is the first time in program history Ozarks has had wrestlers qualify for the national championships.

In the regional third-place match, Jackson (125) won by decision 9-8 over Brock Henderson from Coe College and Rankin (133) won by decision 9-8 over Michael Triplett from Loras College to give them an automatic bid to nationals.