CONWAY, Ark. – One inning after the Wildcats clawed back to within one run of a tie game, Central Arkansas sent 10 men to the plate during a six-run fourth inning that helped the home team seal its Saturday night 11-3 win and accompanying series victory over Abilene Christian at Bear Stadium.
Central Arkansas (26-23, 16-10 Southland) jumped out to a 4-0 lead by the second inning thanks in part to a pair of RBI doubles by cleanup hitter Beau Orlando, but the Wildcats pounced right back in their half of the third as designated hitter
Luis Trevino plated two runs with his single to right field followed by
Dalon Farkas' run-scoring double to left.
Farkas' double was his team-leading 16th of the season.
Unfortunately, that's as close as the Wildcats (23-25, 10-16 Southland) would get as they were two-hit the rest of the way by starter Noah Cameron (6-1) and reliever Conner Williams (0.2 IP). Cameron struck out a dozen Wildcats and walked one on 119 pitches, and came out halfway through the ninth inning after surrendering a one-out double to
Ryne Randle. Williams got both
Collin Chaney and
Matthew Nerz on fly outs to end the game.
ACU cycled through seven pitchers. Starter
Drew Hanson and
Logan Patterson were responsible for the Bears' first four runs, while Bryan Jordan and
Brennan Lewis each were hit around during the six-run fourth.
Zach Smith was credited with 2.2 scoreless innings between the fourth and sixth frames.
Kenny Otero was charged with the Bears' lone run in the seventh, and
David Ruot tossed a scoreless eighth with help from a 4-6-3 double play and strikeout of Josh Ragan.
The Wildcats and Bears conclude their weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m.
