Bears Baseball Improves to 11-0 at Home with 4-3 Win Over Privateers

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears made it 11 straight home wins on Sunday, beating the New Orleans Privateers 4-3 in the series finale at Bear Stadium. 

UCA (11-1) broke a 3-3 tie with Jonathan Davis’ RBI double in the sixth inning and senior reliever Ethan McKinzie pitched the final five innings for the victory. 

The Bears jumped ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the first against UNO freshman starter Daniel Martinez. Senior right fielder Forrestt Allday walked and stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Blake Marchal was hit by a pitch and also stole second before Davis singled to left to score Allday with the game’s first run.

Davis stole second and Michael Marietta’s ground out to shortstop scored Marchal and sent Davis to third. Junior first baseman Doug Votolato followed with a sacrifice fly to left to bring in Davis for a 3-0 lead.

The Privateers (0-12), who lost to UCA 11-1 on Friday night, got one run back in the third off UCA starter Bryce Biggerstaff, who lasted four innings after last Sunday’s no-hitter against Jackson State. They tied it with two unearned runs in the fourth when UCA left fielder Logan Moon misplayed Morgan Barger’s base hit.

In the sixth, Nick Rougeau singled to left center and advanced to second on Allday’s sacrifice bunt. Rougeau went to third on Marchal’s ground out and scored the game-winner on Davis’ double down the left-field line.

Davis went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a run scored. UCA managed only six hits off four UNO pitchers. McKinzie (2-0) allowed just one hit and struck out 2 over five innings. 

UCA plays at Grambling State on Tuesday and at Mississippi State next weekend.