When the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff hosted Central Arkansas in its home opener in February, the Golden Lions were in the middle of a rough start to the season.
The UAPB baseball team hasn’t had those same struggles the past two weeks and will look to avenge its loss to UCA at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Bear Stadium in Conway.
UAPB (11-27) was 0-7 when it welcomed UCA to Pine Bluff on Feb. 25. The Golden Lions committed three errors and gave up 10 hits in a 10-3 loss, extending a season-opening losing streak which went on to reach 15 games.
Two months later, UAPB has won six of its past seven games, the one loss coming against No. 2 Arkansas. The Golden Lions tallied 38 hits in three games against Southern and 35 hits in three games against Texas Southern, scoring 11 or more runs in four of those six games.
UAPB has five players hitting .300 or better entering Tuesday, though catcher Vinny Saumell is expected to remain unavailable due to injury. That still leaves UAPB with outfielder Eli Gries-Smith as its leading hitter with a .384 average and a team-leading 24 RBI. Gavin Terry follows with a .346 average.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Designated hitter Carlos Rodriguez-Velez is hitting .320, while catcher Brant Voth is hitting .316. Outfielder Dane Small is just behind at .299. Meanwhile, UCA (14-24) has two players hitting .300 or better, led by Bryce Cermenelli’s .395 average. While the Golden Lions have momentum entering Tuesday’s rematch, the Bears are limping in on a four-game losing streak. UCA was swept on the road by Lipscomb in Atlantic Sun Conference action over the weekend after losing 13-3 to Memphis in a midweek game in Conway.
When UAPB and UCA met in Pine Bluff, Chris Bedgood (0-3) started on the mound for the Golden Lions opposite UCA’s Jacob Pannell. Bedgood has remained UAPB’s typical midweek starter, while Pannell has pitched just 0.2 innings since March 23. The Bears have used five different starters in their past five midweek games.
UCA has won the past 12 matchups against UAPB, with the Golden Lions’ last win coming in Conway on April 7, 2015.