JACKRABBITS SPLIT DOUBLE DIP AT UCA

Saturday, March 5

Conway, Ark.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-8

Central Arkansas

3-6

South Dakota State

Central Arkansas

Photo by: Erik Williams

3/5/2022 9:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas blanked South Dakota State in the opener, 5-0, but South Dakota State got the bats going in Game 2 of a college baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon, salvaging a split with a 9-1 victory at Bear Stadium.

SDSU moved to 3-8 on the season, while Central Arkansas ended the day with a 3-7 overall record.

Game 1: Central Arkansas 5, South Dakota State 0
UCA pitchers Logan Gilbertson and Jesse Barker combined on a six-hit shutout to lead the Bears to their second victory of the series.

The Bears tallied the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. Connor Flagg and A.J. Mendolia opened the frame with back-to-back singles and both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt. After a hit batter loaded the bases, R.J. Pearson forced in a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk.

SDSU starter Cody Carlson settled in from there, retiring the next 14 batters in a row before Mendolia started another rally in the seventh with a base hit. A throwing error on a bunt attempt put two runners in scoring position for Hunter Hicks, who delivered a two-run single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

The Bears would add two more runs later in the inning against the Jackrabbit bullpen as Kolby Johnson plated a pair with a single to left field.

Gilbertson worked the first six innings, striking out four, walking one and surrendering three hits. Baker earned the save with a three-inning stint in which he allowed three hits, struck out one and walked one.

For SDSU, Carlson struck out three and walked two in giving up three runs – two earned – in six-plus innings.

Luke Ira continued his hot hitting with his second three-hit game in a row. Hits were even at six per team.

Game 2: South Dakota State 9, Central Arkansas 1
For the second time this week, the Jackrabbits struck for five first-inning runs en route to a 9-1 victory in the finale.

SDSU collected three run-scoring doubles in the opening outburst; Derek Hackman and Jordan Sagedahl each produced two-run hits, while Reece Anderson drove in the final run of the frame with a double to left-center.

Ira hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the second to push the Jackrabbit lead to 6-0, and Nic Nelson connected on his first home run as a Jackrabbit in the eighth inning, a three-run blast for the final tally.

UCA's lone run of the game came on a sacrifice fly by Mendolia in the fourth inning.

Jackrabbit starter Drew Beazley worked the first four innings, allowing the lone run on two hits. He struck out one.

Freshman Jake Goble was credited with the win after three shutout innings and Bret Barnett was dominant in his two innings of relief, striking out five.

SDSU held a 12-3 advantage in hits as the top four batters in the lineup combined for nine hits. Derek Hackman was 3-for-5, while Ira, Nelson and Henry George each tallied two.

UP NEXT
Sunday's scheduled series finale has been canceled due to inclement weather in the forecast. The Jackrabbits are now slated to return to action Wednesday at Creighton. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

NOTES

UCA leads the all-time series, 9-3
SDSU also scored five runs in the first inning of their March 2 win at Minnesota
Ira finished the series with a .615 batting average (8-for-13)
Goble picked up his first collegiate victory
Hackman has reached base in all 11 games this season
Ira and Nelson extended their hitting streaks to four games apiece
Barnett has struck out 13 batters in seven innings over four appearances this season
SDSU hit two home runs in a game for the second time this season (Feb. 18 season opener against Purdue)