STATE DIVISION I BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL
ASUN BASEBALL CENTRAL ARKANSAS 8, EASTERN KENTUCKY 7
With a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth inning, the University of Central Arkansas avoided disaster to defeat Eastern Kentucky on Friday night at Bear Stadium in Conway.
Through eight innings, UCA (8-10, 1-0 ASUN) starter Jesse Barker held Eastern Kentucky (2-16, 0-1) to one run on three hits. He struck out a career-high 14 batters.
After allowing a lead-off single, Barker was pulled for Hunter Alexander, who allowed five runs, two earned, in the top of the ninth inning as the Colonels took a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, Kade Seldomridge cut it to 7-6 with a two-run home run to right field. Jagger Schattle was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game before Mason King drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Bears the win.
SUN BELT BASEBALL ARKANSAS STATE 11, LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 8
With the game tied 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Arkansas State rattled off five runs in the inning to create separation on its way to a victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams Friday night at Tomlinson Field in Jonesboro.
Wil French hit two home runs on the night, including a grand slam in the seventh inning to lead the Red Wolves. French collected seven RBI in the game. Blake Burris, Austen Jaslove and Daedrick Cail also had multiple hits as Arkansas State (12-7, 1-0 Sun Belt) tallied 13 total hits in the game.
John Taylor and Kyle DeBarge each homered for Louisiana-Lafayette (9-8, 0-1). Blake McGehee gave up three earned runs and was credited with the loss for the Ragin’ Cajuns, while Max Charlton came on in relief and picked up the win for the Red Wolves.
OVC BASEBALL MURRAY STATE 3, ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 1
Murray State starting pitcher Cade Vernon pitched 7 innings, giving up just 4 hits and striking out 6 batters in a winning effort against Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday afternoon in the first matchup of a threegame set between the two teams at Reagan Field in Murray, Ky.
Drew Vogel hit a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first off Trojans starting pitcher Jackson Wells to give the Racers an early 1-0 lead. Taylor Howell recorded two RBI on the day as Murray State took a 3-0 advantage after six innings.
UALR got on the board in the top of the seventh inning as Ty Rhoades hit an infield single that scored Nico Baumbach to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Josh Beezley took the loss for the Trojans as he gave up a pair of earned runs in his 5 1/3 innings of work. Nathan Holler earned his second save of the season after coming on in the ninth and retiring the side to secure the win for the Racers.
ASUN SOFTBALL EASTERN KENTUCKY 9, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0 (5)
The University of Central Arkansas was run-ruled in its conference opener Friday night at Farris Field in Conway.
The reigning ASUN champion Bears (8-17, 0-1 ASUN) allowed four runs in the second inning and five over the next three to fall to the Colonels (18-4, 1-0).
UCA was held to two hits, recorded by Kylie Griffin and Tremere Harris.
Julia Petty allowed four runs, three earned in 1 1/3 innings for the Bears. Bailie Runner allowed five runs, four earned in 3 2/3 innings of relief.