01 May 2024 Bears complete ASUN sweep of Lions

Posted at 9:48 PMh in Sports by

FLORENCE, Ala. — The University of Central Arkansas Bears completed their ASUN series sweep of North Alabama on Sunday, beating the Lions 6-3 at Mike D. Lane Field.

The conference sweep was UCA’s second straight after taking three games from Bellarmine last weekend at Bear Stadium. UCA has now won seven consecutive games, the longest current streak in the conference, to improve to 20-22 overall and 10-11 in league play.

The Bears hit two more home runs on Sunday, giving them seven for the series. Junior third baseman Bryce Cermenelli hit his second of the series, a three-run shot in the first inning that staked the Bears to an early 3-0 lead. Catcher Casey Shipley added an RBI single in the inning for a 4-0 lead before the Lions came to bat.

Shipley, a junior catcher from Farmington, Ark., would add a two-run homer in the eighth inning that gave the Bears some additional cushion. The Bears finished with 10 hits on the day, with Shipley going 3 for 4 and Cermenelli finishing 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Tanner Leonard added a pair of hits.

A combination of four UCA pitchers combined to limit the Lions to just four hits. Starter Payton Windham got relief help from Coleman MacRae, Mason Griffin and Hunter Alexander. MacRae got the win, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Alexander picked up his second save of the weekend and seventh of the season, pitching three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and striking out three.

UCA will be off Tuesday for final exams but return home on Friday for an ASUN series against Lipscomb. The opener is at noon Friday, followed by a 7 p.m. start on Saturday to accommodate graduation ceremonies. Sunday’s series finale will be at the normal 1 p.m.