The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball bullpen couldn’t hold onto the lead Tuesday night after a stellar first start of the season by Regan James.
The University of Central Arkansas rallied in the seventh inning and went on to defeat UAPB 9-6 at Bear Stadium in Conway, evening the season series between the in-state foes.
UAPB (15-20) led 3-1 after James, a right-hander, turned in his longest outing of the season. He went six innings in his first start, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
James retired the final seven batters he faced. He allowed three hits in the first inning, including a solo home run from first baseman Jagger Schattle, but did not allow multiple hits in an inning again.
UCA (16-17) punished the bullpen as soon as James left the game, scoring eight runs in the seventh inning on five hits and an error.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1881.
Schattle walked with the bases loaded against reliever Jordan Medellin (1-2). He was lifted for Brendan Hamlin, who walked the first batter he faced to tie the game at 3 before getting a ground ball which could have led to an inning-ending double play. Shortstop Aaron Grant mishandled it, and UCA took a 4-3 lead.
Hamlin issued one more bases-loaded walk before center fielder Sam Reynolds hit a three-run double. Catcher Zane Denton followed with an RBI single to make it 9-3 before Joe King took over on the mound. King walked the first hitter he saw before ending the inning with a ground ball.
The rough inning also saw catcher Vinny Saumell leave with a potential injury. Matt Dworsky replaced him.
Medellin and Hamlin each allowed four runs in one-third of an inning. Medellin allowed three earned, while all of Hamlin’s were unearned. King pitched a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts.
UCA starting pitcher Jacob Pannell held the Golden Lions scoreless through five innings with three strikeouts and no walks before giving up a leadoff single to UAPB first baseman Lazaro Alvarado in the top of the sixth inning. Silas Cowgill relieved Pannell after the single, which was the fifth hit he had allowed.
Saumell singled before second baseman Konner Giddley laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with one out. Center fielder Nick Hockemeyer and third baseman Ian Smith followed with RBI bunt singles to give UAPB a 2-1 lead.
Hockemeyer later walked with the bases loaded in the seventh to make it 3-1, but UAPB left the bases loaded in the half inning before UCA retook the lead.
UAPB added three runs in the ninth after loading the bases with nobody out. A sacrifice fly followed and a double play with the tying run at the plate halted the comeback.
The Golden Lions outhit UCA 12-10 but stranded 12 runners.
UCA’s win came a week after UAPB won 13-3 in seven innings in Pine Bluff. The two teams will meet for the third and final time this season on April 22 in Conway.
UAPB will resume SWAC action at Prairie View A&M for a three-game series starting Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.