Feb. 26, 2012

Box Score

CONWAY, Ark. - For the second time in as many games, SIUE managed runs in only a single inning, as the Bears completed the three-game sweep of the Cougars with a 10-4 win Sunday afternoon at Bear Stadium.

"It was just a bad weekend," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "We just didn't play well."

Central Arkansas (3-3) scored first for the second day in a row, scoring twice in the first inning, and adding four more in the second to go up 6-0. Cougar starter Josh Hoguet (0-1) suffered the loss allowing six runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out four but walked two.

"Our starting pitching has struggled," Collins said. "We got behind again. It's a different mentality trying to play from behind."

The Cougars (2-4) plated four runs in the fifth to cut the UCA lead to 6-4. SIUE loaded the bases to start the inning, thanks to singles by Brett Keeler and James Vazquez and a walk to Chase Green. Travis Becherer and Mitch Matecki drove in consecutive runs with back-to-back groundouts. Following a walk to Devin Caldwell, Zach Hawkins singled to left to drive home a run. An error by Bears' leftfielder Ethan Harris allowed the fourth Cougar run to score.

SIUE scored all four runs against Bears' starter Ryan Angus. Angus tossed 4 2/3 innings. He walked six and struck out only one. Four UCA relievers combined to shutout the Cougars over the final 4 1/3 innings.

UCA scored four more runs in the sixth against a pair of Cougar relievers. Brian Lorenz, who had relieved Hoguet in the fifth started the inning and allowed three runs on a hit. Thad Hawkins relieved Lorenz and allowed a run on a hit over a full inning of work.

Dustin Quattrocchi tossed the final 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run. The left-hander struck out all five hitters he faced.

SIUE finished with just five hits. Vazquez had two of them, finishing 2 for 4 with a run scored. Hawkins was 1 for 3 with the RBI. Nick Lombardo was 1 for 3. Keeler was 1 for 2 with a run.

SIUE begins the home schedule with a four-game series against North Dakota State beginning Friday at Simmons Complex. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m.

"We're one game ahead of last year," Collins added. "We were 1-5 at this point last year."