Central Arkansas stranded 11 runners on base in a 5-3 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
The seventh-seeded Bears (34-20) will face Stephen F. Austin, a 4-2 loser to Oral Roberts on Wednesday, at 9 a.m. today in an elimination game.
In the top of the ninth, Forrestt Allday walked to lead off the inning. Freshman right hander Jacob Dorris replaced O’Shea Dumes for the Islanders but hit Jonathan Davis with a pitch. Allday was then caught stealing third base before Ethan Harris drew a four-pitch walk. Doug Votolato also was hit by a pitch before Matt Danton came on to get Michael Marietta to ground into a game-ending double play.
“We did a good job. We hung in there,” UCA Coach Allen Gum said. “We had a feeling it would break at some point. It broke at their place and we thought we could break it again.”
Junior shortstop Justin Treece hit a two-run single to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the eighth and Marietta scored on a balk by Dumes to give UCA a 3-2 advantage.
But the Islanders (33-22)came back in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs to take a 5-3 lead.
UCA senior Caleb McClanahan went 7 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits while striking out 7. Junior Bryce Biggerstaff (4-4) came on in the eighth inning and allowed 3 earned runs on 4 hits to take the loss.
Allday finished 2 for 4 to lead UCA.
At a glance At Constellation Field, Sugar Land, Texas
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
TAMU-Corpus Christi 5, Central Ark. 3 Oral Roberts 4, Stephen F. Austin 2 Sam Houston State 8, McNeese State 3 SE Louisiana 5, Lamar 3
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central
Central Arkansas vs. S.F. Austin, 9 a.m.
McNeese State vs. Lamar, noon Oral Roberts vs. TAMU-Corp. Chr, 4 p.m.
Sam Houston St. vs. SE Louisiana, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 05/23/2013