NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of Central Arkansas Bears won their second consecutive Southland Conference series on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Northwestern State 9-3 and 1-0 at Brown-Stroud Field.

UCA (15-15, 5-7) used a three-run home run from junior Keaton Presley in the second inning to eventually grab a 9-0 lead in the opener to back starter Cody Davenport (2-0). Davenport scattered three hits over six innings and struck out five. Will Brand pitched the final three innings, allowing three runs but still picked up his first save of the season.

The Bears opened up a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Presley doubled down the left-field line, moved to third on Jansen McCurdy’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Hunter Strong’s sacrifice fly. UCA’s fourth run in the second came on another sacrifice fly by Michael Haun.

UCA added four more runs in the fourth inning on five hits, including a two-run triple by McCurdy, and RBI single by Strong and an RBI double by William Hancock. Presley finished 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI, while Strong was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Right fielder Dusty Wright was also 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Game 2 was a pitching duel, won by the combination of redshirt freshman Mark Moyer and junior Ty Tice. Moyer went seven innings, striking out 5 and allowing just 4 hits. Tice tossed the final two scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and recording 1 strikeout.

The Bears got the only run they would need in the sixth inning against NSU starter Evan Tidwell, who went the distance. McCurdy drew a one-out walk and went to third on Strong’s single up the middle. Rigo Aguilar laid down a safety squeeze bunt that NSU first baseman David Fry fielded and threw into right field, allowing McCurdy to score the game’s only run.

UCA won with only four hits, with Strong picking up two of them.

The Bears are off until next weekend when they face the Houston Baptist Huskies in Houston.

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ALVA, Okla. – University of Arkansas at Monticello Football (0-1) faced the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State (1-0) in a shootout in the 2016 season opener for each of these programs with the Rangers coming out on top.

This was an incredibly back-and-forth contest between the two Great American Conference opponents as each seemed to always have an answer for the other throughout the match-up. The final score was 59-56 in favor of Northwestern. 

Northwestern jumped out to a 7-0 quick lead in this season opening contest but Arkansas at Monticello found their way into the end-zone on the next possession as Cole Sears would find Jalen Tolliver for the 65 yard score to even things up at 7-7.

The Rangers continued to move the ball through the air against the visiting Weevils and saw themselves with a 21-7 lead heading into the second quarter. UAM found a spark on the defensive side of the ball however in the second quarter with an interception by Ed Smith which set up Monticello with fantastic field position. Jeremy Jackson went on to find his way into the end-zone for the touchdown to cut into the home lead and make it 21-14 midway through the quarter.

Northwestern opened up the third quarter with a quick touchdown to extend their lead to 35-14 over UAM and continued to put pressure on the visitors as the home team saw leads as big as 28 points throughout this quarter. The Weevils notched a rushing touchdown midway through the third quarter as Brett Courville punched in the score from three yards out to put the score at 35-21. NWOSU quickly answered on multiple occasions unfortunately to push their second half lead out to 49-21.

Monticello put six on the board right out of the gate in the fourth quarter as Sears connected with Austin Harris for the 22 yard touchdown as the Weevils cut into the Northwestern lead at 49-28.

The Weevils would not go quietly in this season opener after a receiving touchdown by Nathan Crouch inched the visitors closer to the Ranger lead, which was immediately followed by a successful onside kick recovery by UAM. The next possession for Monticello saw Jeremy Jackson power his way into the end-zone, putting the home lead at only seven points with the score at 49-42. Sears went on to find Tolliver once again late in the fourth quarter but a failed two point conversation attempt left the score at 49-48 Northwestern, with just over two minutes in the game.

NWOSU went on to score once again with a rushing touchdown with 1:45 remaining in the contest, but UAM did what they had done best all night long and that was find an answer to the Rangers. Sears found Tolliver deep down the left side of the field for the 39-yard touchdown which put the Weevils within only two points. Monticello converted on the two point conversion this time around and tied up the game at 56-56. Northwestern ultimately was able to make a few big plays down the stretch with under a minute remaining to set themselves up for a 24 yard field goal which went on to seal the game at 59-56.

Leading the way for the Weevils on opening night was Jalen Tolliver and Nathan Crouch in the receiving game as Tolliver finished with 204 yards with three touchdowns on nine catches and Crouch racked up 200 yards, 10 catches and 1 touchdown overall.

Cole Sears had quite a game passing the ball as he went 33-55 for 533 total yards and six touchdowns. Sears set the all-time UAM record for passing yards in a single game with his effort and tied the single-game Monticello record for total passing touchdowns in a game as well.

Jeremy Jackson provided a solid game on the ground as he went on to have 27 total rushing yards and was able to score one touchdown and added 40 receiving yards and a touchdown reception as well. On the defensive side of the ball C.J. Hawkins led the Weevil defense with eight total tackles, and Ed Smith provided a solid effort finishing the game with one interception and six overall tackles.

Next up for Weevil Football will be Great American Conference foe Southwestern Oklahoma State, on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Monticello, Arkansas for the Weevil’s 2016 home opener with kick-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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LITTLE ROCK – The Little Rock soccer team began its season with a 2-0 loss against Northwestern State at the Coleman Sports & Recreation Complex.

The Trojans outshot the visiting Demons 24-8 including a 13-5 edge in shots on goal, but they were unable to get a ball past Northwestern State goalkeeper Alex Latham.

The Demons got their goals from Brittany Caserma and April Trowbridge in the 62nd and 82nd minutes, both on passes through the defense that resulted in one-on-one breakaways against Trojan keeper Sara Small. Small had three saves in the loss.

Little Rock used 19 players in the game including newcomers Samantha Rolka, Doro Greulich and Jaylin Finney in starting roles. Harrison Hayworth got her first career minutes as well after missing all of last season with an injury. Arola Aparicio Gili and Shannon Shields were the Trojans’ leading shot takers with five each while Greulich and Caitlyn Eddy had three apiece.

The Trojans return to the pitch on Sunday evening when they travel to nearby Central Arkansas for an in-state rivalry game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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