Central Arkansas Beats Houston Baptist, Advances to Championship Game
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SUGAR LAND, Texas - Central Arkansas blanked Houston Baptist 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in the Southland Conference Baseball Tournament at Constellation Field. The victory advances the Bears to tonight's 6 p.m. Southland Conference Baseball Tournament championship. Fifth-seeded Central Arkansas, making its third championship game appearance in the last five years, will take on third-seeded Sam Houston State.
It was a combination of station-to-station offensive execution, stingy pitching, and key defensive plays that keyed the win.
"I thought we'd have a good chance of being in this position," said Bears head coach Allen Gum. "These guys are tough; they love each other. When you have that combination, they'll fight, they'll fight like crazy until the end. And that's what we showed today. We just have to do it one more time."
Central Arkansas starter Brandon Hagerla pitched a complete game shutout. The senior right-hander, making just his fourth start of the year, scattered nine hits -- all singles -- and gave up just one walk. The gem required 107 pitches.
Gum was effusive in his praise of Hagerla: "It was unbelievable. Our underclassmen do the plaques for senior day, and the underclassmen picked one word that describes the senior. And his word was warrior. And there couldn't be a better word. What he's done for us this year, and what he's done for our program... that game right there. He's just tremendous. I just can't say enough about his effort today."
Hagerla was the beneficiary of outstanding defense in the bottom of the fourth inning when Central Arkansas shortstop Brooks Balisterri climbed the ladder to snag a hard line drive off the bat Taylor Depreta-Johnson, and then completed the unassisted twin killing by doubling off Brandon Brintz at second base. The play blunted a mounting Houston Baptist rally that started with back-to-back hits by Brintz and Spencer Halloran to start the frame.
The Bears broke through in the next half inning when a Keaton Presley sacrifice fly to center field provided the opportunity for William Hancock to score from third to make it 1-0. Prior to the run scoring play, Hancock cracked the first pitch of the inning to left field for a leadoff double, and was advanced to third on an Eddie Sanchez bunt.
Central Arkansas made it 2-0 in the sixth inning on a second sacrifice fly. Balisterri hit a line drive to right field that was deep enough to allow Rigo Aguilar to slide home ahead of a throw on a bang-bang play.
Marshall, who took the loss, ended his day after 5 2/3 innings pitched, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He did not give up a walk and he struck out two.
"I'm proud of our guys and how they fought from the loser's bracket to get to this point, one game away from playing for another championship," said Houston Baptist head coach Jared Moon. "They worked hard all year, and I think it showed in the previous three games and even today. I'm proud of how hard they worked to get to this point."
The championship matchup features last year's tournament champion Sam Houston State, who comes in after winning all three of its 2017 tournament games and seven straight overall. Sam Houston State is gunning for its sixth Southland baseball crown, while the Bears are chasing their second league championship.
Tonight's title game will be carried live on ESPN3. Southland Conference assistant commissioner Chris Mycoskie will handle play-by-play duties for the championship alongside color analyst Greg Swindell, a former first-team All-American at the University of Texas and 17-year Major Leaguer.