CENTRAL ARKANSAS 4, NEW ORLEANS 3 (11)

NEW ORLEANS — Hunter Strong scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 11th inning to give Central Arkansas (16-22, 8-11 Southland) a series-opening victory over New Orleans (25-16, 9-10) at Maestri Field.

Strong tripled to center field on an 0-1 pitch with one out in the 11th. Ty Tice struck out looking for the second out, but Strong scored on Tyler Langley’s at-bat, a fly-out to center.

The Privateers took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and one in the third. Preston Marsh and Jay Robinson hit RBI singles to give New Orleans a 2-0 lead in the second and Hezekiah Randolph hit a home run in the third.

UCA responded to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Logan Preston singled to start the inning, then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Matt Anderson doubled to left field, scoring Preston to cut the lead to 3-1.

Anderson advanced to third on the inning’s second wild pitch and scored on Strong’s one-out double down the right field line. Tice singled to right field, moving Strong to third. Strong would score on Tyler Langley’s sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.

Strong and Brooks Balisterri were both 3 for 5 to lead the Bears. Marsh, Dakota Dean and Samuel Capielano were all 2 for 5 for the Privateers. Cody Davenport (4-2) got the victory after giving up 8 hits with 4 strikeouts in 81/3 innings. Daniel Martinez took the loss after allowing the winning run in the 11th inning.