After opening the season with seven-straight road games, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is set for its home opener against an in-state rival Tuesday.
The UAPB baseball team will host the University of Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. in what will be first-year head coach Logan Stout’s first game at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex.
UAPB (0-7) is still seeking its first win of the season after being swept by Oral Roberts and Stephen F. Austin, but the Golden Lions had three one-run losses in those series. The Golden Lions stranded a go-ahead runner on base in the top of the ninth inning in two of their four games against SFA.
The Lion bats warmed up over the weekend in Texas. After ORU held UAPB to 2 runs in three games, the Golden Lions scored 3 in the series opener against SFA, then 5 or 6 runs in each subsequent game. First baseman Ben VanMaanen hit a clutch 3-run home run in the second game against the Lumberjacks to tie the game in the ninth inning.
Freshman outfielder Eli Gries-Smith has been UAPB’s best hitter so far. He has started every game and is hitting .417. His 10 hits include two doubles, a triple and a home run. He leads the team in RBI with 7 and an OPS of 1.191.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB did not commit any errors during the ORU series but committed nine in four games against SFA, including four in the series opener.
UCA (2-4) is coming off Monday’s 10-9 walk-off win against Eastern Michigan in 10 innings, wrapping up a three-game series between the schools. That win ended a four-game losing streak after the Bears had defeated Northwestern State 6-2 on opening day.
The Bears’ leading hitters are left fielder Zeb Allen and third baseman Bryce Cermenelli. Allen, UCA’s leadoff hitter, is hitting .429 with 4 RBI and a team-high seven walks. Cermenelli is UCA’s RBI leader with 5 and is hitting .357. He hit cleanup in the past two games after batting third in the first four.
This will be the first midweek game of the season for both teams, making it unclear who will start on the mound.
This will also be UAPB’s only home game of February. Their next home contest after this will be March 11 against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.