Central Arkansas remained alive in the Southland Conference Tournament, using a four-run seventh inning on its way to a 7-3 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Thursday in Sugar Land, Texas.
The Bears (35-20) tied their school record for victories and won their first NCAA Division I postseason game.
UCA freshman Blake Clayton (3-1) pitched four innings in relief of starter Jeffery Enloe to earn the victory. Clayton allowed two hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
“Jeff did a good job hanging in there and then Blake Clayton came in there and did an outstanding job,” UCA Coach Allen Gum said. “We got the lead there late and could take some pressure off Blake a little. That was big.”
Enloe went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 4 and walking 4.
Second baseman Blake Marchal finished 2 for 4 with 3 RBI.
UCA took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when center fielder Jonathan Davis doubled and scored on Marchal’s RBI single.
Stephen F. Austin tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third inning and took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning on Hunter Dozier’s RBI single and Mackenzie Handel’s sacrifice fly. The Bears cut the lead 3-2 in the sixth inning when left fielder Ethan Harris walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on catcher Michael Marietta’s RBI single to left field.
UCA pulled away in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs to take a 6-3 lead. Forrestt Allday began the rally with a one-out double. Davis was hit by a pitch and Harris followed with an infield single to load the bases. Marchal then hit a two-run double just inside the right-field foul line to score Allday and Davis. Marietta’s RBI single and a throwing error allowed Marchal to score for a 6-3 advantage.
The Bears added a run in the bottom of the eighth when Davis’ ground out scored shortstop Justin Treece.
UCA finished with 12 hits. Marchal, Allday, Marietta, Treece and Scott Zimmerle each had two hits.
Dozier, the conference’s player of the year, had two hits and two RBI for the Lumberjacks (28-29).
At a glance At Constellation Field, Sugar Land, Texas
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Central Arkansas 7, S.F. Austin 3 Lamar 10, McNeese State 3 Oral Roberts 6, TAMU-Corp. Christi 1 SE Louisiana 5, Sam Houston St. 3
TODAY’S GAMES All times Central
Cent. Ark. vs. TAMU-Corp. Christi, 9 a.m. Lamar vs. Sam Houston State, noon Oral Roberts vs. UCA/TAMU-CC, 4 p.m.
SE Louisiana vs. Lamar/SHSU, 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 23 on 05/24/2013