CONWAY, Ark. – Even the top-ranked pitcher in the Southland Conference couldn't contain the hot-hitting Bears of Central Arkansas as the Nicholls State University baseball team was downed 7-0, on a sloppy Friday night at Bears Stadium.
 
The Colonels (19-14-1, 8-8 SLC) fell behind early, as a pair of miscues allowed UCA (18-10, 9-4 SLC) to take a 2-0 lead. Tyler Langley led off for the Bears, reaching and advancing to second on a throwing error. In the next at bat, Wesley Hoover laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a late throw to third allowed Hoover to reach and Langley to safely advance. The mistakes would cost Nicholls as Langley and Hoover eventually came home on a single and a sacrifice fly.
 
Both teams were held scoreless over the next three frames, but Central Arkansas added two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to take a 5-0 stranglehold on the ballgame. The Bears' advantage would have been greater, but a base running error in the sixth allowed the Colonels to turn an unconventional 1-3-2 double play and escape without additional damage. On the play, Chris Townsend attempted to lay down a sacrifice squeeze bunt and was thrown out at first by righty Ryan Deemes. Langley tried to score on the play, but missed the bag and was tagged out by Christian Correa after a quasi dance-off behind the plate.
 
More mistakes in the seventh allowed UCA to pile on two additional runs. Leadoff man Matt Anderson reached on a fielding error, Logan Preston was hit by a pitch and a wild pitch advanced both runners. The next batter, Travis Hull, notched a single to second, allowing Anderson to score. On the play, Preston rounded third and made a mad dash for home but appeared to be easily gunned down by second baseman Tanner Vandevere. Home plate umpire Joe Brown disagreed, and Preston was ruled safe.
 
Nicholls attempted to mount a comeback in the ninth when Kyle Reese reached on an error and Vandevere registered a single to centerfield, but righty Conner Gilmore and the Bears defense responded to complete the shutout.
 
Deemes (4-1) was handed his first loss of the season, surrendering five runs (three earned) on 11 hits with six strikeouts through 5 1/3 innings on the mound.
 
Gilmore (5-2) earned the win, holding the Colonels to just four hits with four strikeouts through nine scoreless innings.
 
Vandevere paced the Colonels offensively with a 2-for-4 night. Justin Holt and Correa each added a hit in the loss.
 
Hull led Central Arkansas with a 3-for-4 outing, two RBIs and a run scored. Langley went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and a run for the Bears.
 
First pitch for game two is slated for 4 p.m. on Saturday, with the series-finale set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. Both matchups will air on KTIB 640 AM.
 
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