Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CONWAY, ARKANSAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team was swept in a doubleheader by the 2013 Southland Conference Tournament champions, University of Central Arkansas, on Saturday, 9-1 and 5-4 at Bear Stadium.

The first game was dominated by the Bears (25-21, 13-13) who received an outstanding pitching performance by Bryce Biggerstaff.  He retired the first 18 batters of the game and only allowed three singles and one run in a complete game victory.  He struck out six without allowing a walk.

The UCA offense pounded out 12 hits, including a pair of home runs.  They got on the board in the fourth inning when Chris Townsend hit a solo homer.  In the fifth inning, they put the game away with a five spot that was capped by a Tyler Langley three-run homer.

Cardinals' (15-31, 6-14) sophomore righty Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) was tagged with the loss.  He had his shortest outing in two and a half months going 5.0 innings allowing eight hits, six runs, two earned runs and a walk while striking out two.

After a tough opening game, the Cardinals bounced back in the second game and gave themselves a chance to win.  Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS) cracked his first home run in a UIW uniform in the second inning to put them up 1-0.

The Bears would reclaim the lead with two unearned runs in the third inning and another run in the fifth inning to make it 3-1.  However, the Cardinals responded with three runs in the sixth inning to take a 4-3 lead.  Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS), McGill and Jonathan Armijo (San Antonio/Highlands HS) hit three consecutive doubles to start the inning.  All three players scored in the inning.

UIW starting pitcher Dylan Boss (Boerne/Boerne HS) pitched well scattering eight hits and no walks in 7.0 innings of work.  He allowed one earned run and struck out six in a tough-luck no-decision.  The Bears were able to come back against UIW closer Kris Looper (Wharton/Wharton HS).  A leadoff walk in the eighth inning came back to hurt the Cardinals.  Langley and Scott Zimmerle hit back-to-back run-scoring singles to put UCA in the lead.

Josh Markel made the one-run lead stand for the Bears.  He pitched 4.0 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.  He allowed just a walk while striking out three.

The Cardinals had eight hits in the game.  Hoover and Armijo each had two doubles while McGill had a double and a home run.

The Bears finished with 10 hits and had three players with multi-hit games.  Doug Votolato went 3-for-4 while Zimmerle and Brandon Montalvo each had a pair of hits.

The two teams will close out their series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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