CONWAY, Ark. – The Lipscomb University Baseball saw its four-game win streak come to end, suffering a 4-1 loss to the University of Central Arkansas to start a crucial three-game series to determine the ASUN Gold Division on Thursday night from Bear Stadium.
With the setback, UCA pulls to a tie with Lipscomb at 17-11 for the top spot in the division with two games remaining on the docket.
Final Score: Central Arkansas 4, Lipscomb 1
Location: Conway, Arkansas (Bear Stadium)
Records: Lipscomb (24-24, 17-10), Central Arkansas (30-23, 17-11)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lipscomb faced Central Arkansas in a game marked by early scoring from the home team. UCA took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Nate Negre walked, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.
In the second inning, Central Arkansas extended its lead. Keaton Laidley doubled to right center and scored on Mark Ross's double. Jack Runsick added another RBI with a single that brought Ross home. Runsick later advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zeb Allen, making it 4-0 through two innings.
After leaving the bases loaded in the third,
Alexander Llinas faced the minimum in the last three innings he was on the mound, including getting some help from his defense. In the fifth, Parker Gwyn laced a single to center field. Later,
Alejandro Ludeiro threw a strike to
Kai Holm at second base to restore order for a clean frame.
The Bisons found an opportunity to shift the momentum in the sixth inning.
Hutson Miles singled to third base, setting the stage for
Aaron Stelogeannis and
Cam Pruitt to follow with consecutive hits. Pruitt's RBI single to right field brought Miles home, narrowing the gap. However, the rally was truncated by a caught stealing that halted further scoring in that frame.
Despite producing baserunners in the seventh and eighth innings, the Bisons' attempts to close the gap were thwarted. A pair of strikeouts ended the ninth inning quietly, leaving the earlier missed opportunities uncapitalized.
KEY STATISTICS
Hutson Miles led the Bisons with three hits on the night, posting his 15th multi-hit game of the season, as they out-hit the Bears 9-8 in the contest.
After allowing four runs in the first two innings,
Alexander Llinas posted the longest outing of his career on Thursday night. Going into the seventh inning for the second time this season, the senior tossed seven innings with four strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series happens on Friday night at 6 p.m.
