   
McNeese relievers hold UCA at bay
By STEVE EAST
UCA SPORTS INFORMATION
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 The McNeese State bullpen shut down the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Saturday in an 11-9 Southland Conference victory at UCA Field.
The Bears (21-24, 9-14) had put up six runs off MSU starter Ryan Frantz in the first three innings. They picked up three more off reliever Scott Holstein in the third and fourth innings but the bats went silent after that. Holstein and closer Justin LeBleu held the Bears hitless and scoreless from there, retiring the final 16 batters.
The Cowboys erased a 9-6 deficit with five runs in the seventh inning off UCA relievers Matt Whitaker and Reece Cross. Three hits, including two-run singles by Shon Landry and Taylor Freeman, three walks and an error gave McNeese the lead for good,.
The Cowboys took a first-inning lead for the second consecutive day, scoring three in the top of the first off UCA starter Brandon Dunn, aided by two UCA errors. The Bears got two back in the bottom of the inning, scoring once on a double-play ball and another on a passed ball.
McNeese made it 4-2 with a run in the third on Josh Cholley's RBI single, but the Bears took the lead in the bottom of the inning with four runs. Chris Davis' double to center field scored Josh Huffman and Payton Seelinger's sacrifice fly brought in Davis. Graham Martin's two-run double to right center scored Dillon Smith and Chris Houk for a 6-4 lead.
McNeese tied it in the top of the fourth with two runs, but UCA pushed back ahead with three in the bottom of the inning. Houk hit a two-run double to the left-center gap and then went to third when the MSU left fielder Kyle Roth bobbled the ball. He then scored the Bears' final run on a wild pitch.
UCA, which finished with eight hits, did not get another one the rest of the day. The Cowboys totaled 16 hits, including a two-run home run by Nick Eubanks. Freeman, the leading hitter in the Southland Conference, went 3 for 5 with 4 RBI, while Ryan Brauninger was 4 for 5 and Landry was 4 for 6.
Cross (3-3) took the loss, allowing two earned runs in three innings of work. Holstein (2-6) got the win and LeBleu picked up his fourth save.
The series finale will be at 1 p.m today.
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