Bears overpower Bisons in 12-6 series opener

Lipscomb Bisons baseball dropped the series opener to Central Arkansas, 12-6, on Friday night at Ken Dugan Field. Despite an early lead and a milestone home run by junior outfielder Jordan Thomas, a five-run eighth inning by the Bears proved to be the difference.

The Bisons jumped out to an early advantage in the bottom of the second. After senior outfielder Keaton Mahan led off with a single and senior infielder Damion Kenealy Jr. added a base hit, Thomas drove a single into center field to open the scoring. Lipscomb took advantage of the momentum, plating two more runs to head into the third with a 3-0 lead.

Lipscomb senior pitcher Alexander Llinas was dominant early, racking up five strikeouts through the first four innings. However, the Bears began their comeback in the fifth. Following a walk and a single, graduate infielder Jagger Schattle hit a three-run home run to give Central Arkansas its first lead of the night, 5-3.

The Bisons fought back in the bottom half of the fifth when junior infielder Cam Pruitt singled home sophomore infielder Brady Miller to cut the deficit to one. The Bears added a solo home run in the sixth, but the game remained within reach until the eighth.

In the top of the eighth, the Bears capitalized on three walks and a pair of hits, including a bases-clearing double by sophomore infielder Nate Negre, to break the game open with five runs.

The highlight of the night for the Bisons came in the bottom of the eighth when Thomas crushed a two-run home run to center field. The blast marked his 6th home run of the season, cutting the UCA lead to 11-6, but it wasn’t enough to spark a full comeback.

The Bisons return to Ken Dugan Field, for game two of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Featured image of senior infielder Damion Kenealy Jr. sliding safely home taken by Micah Barkley.