Feb. 18, 2011

CONWAY, Ark. - Central Arkansas scored a pair runs, without a hit, in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday afternoon to score a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the baseball season opener for both schools.

Three Cougar pitchers combined for eight walks and two hit batters in the loss.

"It's pretty bad when you give up three hits, commit no errors but you still lose," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "

The Bears, 1-0, were trailing 4-3 before taking advantage of three walks and two hit batters in the seventh to score the deciding runs.

Cougar reliever Josh Hoguet (0-1) walked UCA shortstop Kyle Prevett to open the seventh inning. Greg Noble then moved Prevett to second on a sacrifice bunt. Jordan Getchell struck out looking before Michael Pair was hit by a pitch. Blake Roberts then walked to load the bases before being lifted for reliever Travis Felax. Felax walked the first batter he faced, Zack Dickson, to force home the tying run. Felax then hit Ethan Harris to make it 5-4 Central Arkansas.

Hoguet was charged with both runs and suffered the loss. He lasted 2.1 innings and allowed three runs on a pair of hits. He struck out three. Felax pitched the final 1.1 innings and was not charged with a run. He walked one and did not strike out a batter.

"Felax came in in a tough spot," Collins said of the freshman.

The Cougars, 0-1, took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. James Vazquez, Mitch Matecki and Devin Caldwell strung together consecutive one out singles, with Caldwell's hit scoring Vazquez to make it 1-0. Matecki moved to third on a fly out by Zach Hawkins then scored on an RBI hit by Matt Highland.

"I thought we took some good swings," Collins said. "We're disappointed we didn't win."

UCA regained the lead with three runs on three hits in the fifth inning against Hoguet and SIUE starter Josh Malin. Malin lasted 4.1 innings allowing two runs on a single hit. He walked three and struck out five.

Zach Hawkins and Devin Caldwell each picked up RBIs in a two-run Cougar sixth inning that put SIUE on top 4-3. Caldwell tripled to score Matecki who had singled. Hawkins drove home Caldwell with a sacfrice fly.

Caldwell was 2 for 4 with the two RBIs and run in his Cougar debut. Matecki was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored. Highland was 1 for 3 with the RBIs. Zach Hawkins was 0 for 3 with the RBI.

Pair, Prevett and Getchell each had hits for the Bears.

The Cougars and Bears play the second game of the three-game series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.