Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department
Junior righthander Bryce Biggerstaff threw just the second no-hitter in school history on Sunday as the University of Central Arkansas Bears beat Jackson State 13-0 to improve to 3-0 on the weekend.
UCA (6-1) is now 6-0 at home at Bear Stadium this season. The Bears beat Jackson State 19-4 on Friday night and knocked off the Kansas Jayhawks 9-3 on Saturday.
Biggerstaff, a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder from Sherwood, struck out a career-high nine batters and walked none. He missed out on a perfect game after hitting pinch hitter Phillip Harvey leading off the sixth inning.
Meanwhile, the Bears jumped on JSU starter Chris Wingard for eight runs in the first inning. UCA used four hits and three Jackson State errors. Catcher Michael Marietta had a two-run single to right and first baseman Scott Zimmerle had a two-run single up the middle in the inning.
Right fielder Forrestt Allday added the final two RBI of the inning with a single to right for an 8-0 lead. UCA got one more run in the second off reliever Desmond Russell when Zimmerle singled in Marietta. Russell then shut the Bears down for the next five innings before UCA rang up four more runs in the eighth.
With two outs, Jonathan Davis and Marietta were both hit by pitches and Kraig Kelley singled to load the bases. Redshirt freshman Garrett Bock got his first career hit, a two-run single up the middle, that brought in Davis and Marietta. Doug Votolato then hit a fly ball to center that Charles Tilery lost in the sun, resulting in a two-run triple and a 13-0 lead.
Biggerstaff then struck out two in the top of the ninth inning and got a ground ball out to end the game. The only other no-hitter in school history was by Mike Moore against UALR in 1969.
UCA totaled 10 hits, with Zimmerle going 2 for 2 with 3 RBI and Marietta finishing 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI. Allday scored twice and had 2 RBI.
UCA hosts Mississippi Valley State at 4 p.m. Tuesday and again at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
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