The UCA baseball Bears pounded the Christian Brothers pitching staff for 42 hits and 36 runs in sweeping their opening Gulf South Conference series 3-0 on Sunday.
UCA won the opener on Saturday, 14-5, behind a six-run fifth inning. The Bears then won Sunday's opener 11-10, scoring eight runs in the final two innings to rally for the win. They completed the sweep with an 11-3 victory in the nightcap behind a four-hit performance from junior Barrett Ward.
On Saturday, the Bears fell behind 3-2 after four innings but then plated six runs in the fifth inning. Brian Post (2 for 4, 3 runs scored) and Roger Lenderman (2 for 5, 3 runs scored) both had two-run doubles in the inning and Zak Clark added an RBI single.
UCA added four more runs in the sixth, thanks to a three-run double by Bubba Dickens.
Senior Drew Parr got the win in relief, going 4.1 innings and striking out five.
The Bears trailed for most of Sunday's opener and trailed 10-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth. But UCA put up four runs as Post led with a home run. Ward added a two-run single, and Josh Wheeler had an RBI single.
Still trailing 10-7 in the ninth, the Bears staged a two-out rally. Post started the inning with a single, and Lenderman then doubled to left. Post scored on a wild pitch, and freshman Phillip Franklin singled up the middle to score Lendersman and make it 10-9.
CBU recorded the second out but senior Wes Sanford drew a walk to put runners on first and second, and Wheeler then doubled to right center for the game-winner.
Starter Jeremy Mason went seven innings and struck out five, and Zach Barnett (2-0) got the win in relief. Post went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI, and Wheeler came off the bench and finished 2 for 2 with 3 RBI as the Bears recorded 15 hits.
The Bears dominated the late game as they out hit the Bucs 13-6. Ward was 4 for 4 and scored three times, and Clark went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Freshman starter Pat Stacks went five innings and got the win with four strikeouts and no earned runs.
