CENTRAL ARKANSAS 15, TAMU-CORPUS CHRISTI 13

The University of Central Arkansas (24-19, 12-8 Southland Conference) scored 11 runs through the first 5 innings Saturday, but Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (14-29, 6-14) used an 8-run fifth inning to take a 12-11 lead, only to see the Bears score 4 more runs in the 8th to earn a series victory at Chapman Field in Corpus Christi, Texas.

UCA used RBI singles from Hunter Strong and Brooks Balisterri, as well as a throwing error by Islanders first baseman Dawson Yates, to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

The lead grew to 6-0 in the third on a three-run double by Rigo Aguliar. Cullen Jozwiak’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to 6-1, but the Bears got the run back in the top of the fourth on a Jansen McCarty sacrifice fly to bump the lead to 7-1.

The Islanders got an RBI double from Brian Deaver, a sacrifice fly from Lukas Hermanson and used a throwing error by UCA catcher William Hancock to cut the lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the fourth.

Keaton Presley hit a two-run triple in the fifth inning, Hunter Strong added an RBI double down the right-field line and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Bears an 11-4 lead, but the Islanders got three RBI singles, a two-run single and a three-run triple in the bottom of the inning to take a 12-11 lead.

UCA took the lead for good in the eighth inning, using consecutive tworun singles from Presley and Dusty Wright to take a 15-12 lead. Nick Anderson hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to account for the game’s final run.

McCarty and Strong both finished 2 for 3 to lead the Bears, while Aguilar and Michael Haun were both 2 for 4 and Presley was 2 for 5.

Brandon Hagerla earned the victory after giving up 4 earned runs on 9 hits with 2 strikeouts over 4 innings.