Errors costly as SDSU falls to Bears

CONWAY, Ark. ? Central Arkansas scored five unearned runs in the seventh inning to record an 8-7, come-from-behind victory over South Dakota State in college baseball action Saturday afternoon.

UCA, which won the opening game of the three-game series on Friday, 14-3, improved to 4-3 overall. The Jackrabbits dropped to 1-4.

Three Jackrabbit errors in the seventh inning allowed UCA to bat around. The first run of the inning scored when Bobby Pritchett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Tye Throneberry followed with a run-scoring infield single. After a fielder's choice plated the third run of the inning, they tying run scored on a Jackrabbit throwing error. The eventual winning run scored on a base hit up the middle by Casey Cooper.

Matt Spinar started the ill-fated inning in relief for the Jackrabbits before giving way to Kirby Morsching. Morsching was saddled with the loss, dropping to 1-1 on the season, despite a solid performance in which he struck out two, walked one and gave up two hits in 1 2/3 innings.

After Central Arkansas took a 2-0 leads with single runs in the second and third innings, the Jackrabbits tied the game with a two-run fourth. Joel Blake continued his hot hitting with a double to lead off the frame and later scored on a double by Jesse Sawyer. After Sawyer moved to third base on a passed ball, Stephen Turner plated the tying run with a squeeze bunt.

SDSU gained the lead with three runs in the fifth inning. Scott Hood scored the first run on a passed ball, followed by a sacrifice fly from Blake and run-scoring single by Sawyer.

The Jackrabbits made it a 7-3 game in the seventh, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly by Hood and the other on a passed ball.

Hits were even at 10 apiece, with Blake, Sawyer and Hood all collecting two hits to lead SDSU. Five different players had two hits each for the Bears.

Jackrabbit starter Mike Robinson did not factor into the decision despite leaving the game with the lead. The junior left-hander from Rapid City, struck out five, walked five and gave up seven hits in six innings of work.

Reece Cross earned the victory in relief after pitching three innings in which he struck out two and walked two. Pritchett pitched a perfect ninth inning, which included a pair of strikeouts, to pick up the save.

The series finale is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.

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Joel Blake

Scott Hood

Kirby Morsching

Mike Robinson

Jesse Sawyer

Matt Spinar

Stephen Turner

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