No. 6 Central Arkansas Knocks Off No. 2 Northwestern State
Southland Conference
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SUGAR LAND, Texas
– No. 6 Central Arkansas defeated No. 2 Northwestern State 5-4 to open the third day of the 2015 Conference Tournament at Constellation Field.
Junior Cort Brinson started that the top of the first inning with a solo homerun that hit the top of the left-field wall for Northwestern State to be the first Southland baseball player to hit a homer at Constellation Field as the Demons led 1-0 against Central Arkansas.
UCA junior Travis Hull picked up a sacrifice fly to center field with runners on the corners to score senior Wesley Hoover to tie the game, 1-1 in the first inning.
The Demons continued their offensive momentum in the second inning with two runs from sophomore Nick Heath and senior C.J. Webster to take a 3-1 lead against the Bears.
Central Arkansas junior Preston Logan hit a solo homer over the left-field wall in the fourth inning to close the Demons leads to 3-2. With two outs in the fifth inning the Bears made it a tied ball game when Logan reach on an error with senior Brad Dillenberger crossing the plate.
In the bottom of the eighth inning junior Brandon Montalvo singled up the middle and advanced to second on an error to start the inning. Montalvo advanced to third on a groundout from senior Charles Deckard. The Demons chose to intentionally walk junior Tyler Langley to put runners on the corners with one out. Montalvo scored on a passed ball from Northwestern State left-handed junior Chase Hymel while Langley made is way to second base to give UCA a 4-3 lead. Langley advanced to third on a passed ball with two outs. Demons chose to walk junior Chase Townsend to put runners on the corners for the Bears once again. Junior Braxton Phillips came in to pinch hit for the Bears. Townsend grabbed is 21st stolen base of the season to put runners in scoring position. Phillips grounded out but UCA led at the end of the eighth.
Northwestern State senior Caleb Dugas singled through the right side to score senior Chase Daughdrill to tie the game, 4-4, in the ninth inning.
UCA’s Logan was intentionally walked in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and Dillenberger on third base to put runners on the corners. Right-handed senior Brandon Smith came into the game to face freshman Corey Herndon who struck out looking. Deckard stepped up to the plate with two outs and Logan scores on a wild pitch for a 5-4 win.
No. 6 Central Arkansas advances to place No. 7 Houston Baptist at 4 p.m. as the Demons end their hope of a tournament championship.
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Central Arkasnas Coach Allen Gum
“That was a great game, it was competitive all the way through. We overcame some mistakes and we just kept fighting. I was proud of our guys. We kept in there and kept in there until we got a break. And good teams make their breaks. And the pressure we put on them for nine innings made those breaks happen. I’m proud of our guys for hanging in there and being tough."
Northwestern State Coach Lane Burroughs
Dominating the average plays got to us. I'm proud of our guys for battling to our last strike and finding a way to get that run across. We left some runs out there. With the injuries we had and the hand we were dealt, it was a pretty special year."