10 Apr 2024 Bears score first but cannot hold on

Posted at 4:45 PMh in Sports by

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored first Sunday in their series finale against Florida Gulf Coast but could not hold off the Eagles in a 3-2 loss at Swanson Stadium.

The Bears (13-18, 4-8) scored single runs in both the first and second innings, but the Eagles (15-14, 8-4) answered with a three-run third to finish out the scoring.

In the first, A.J. Mendolia led off with a double, moved to third on Kade Seldomridge’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Bryce Cermenelli’s sacrifice fly to left field. Junior catcher Casey Shipley blasted his fourth home run of the season to give the Bears a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

But the Eagles got an RBI single by Robert Moya and a two-run home run by Jacob Lowjewski for the go-ahead run in the third.

Shipley led the Bears’ offense, going 2 for 3 with an RBI and run scored. UCA starter Coleman MacRae went 2.1 innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs. Mason Griffin went 5.0 innings out of the bullpen, allowing five hits and no runs.

FGCU starter Chase Kriebel (2-1) went the distance, allowing six hits and two run while striking out five with no walks.