Conway, Ark. - Central Arkansas pitcher Dustin Ward limited Sam Houston to three hits as UCA run-ruled the Bearkats 16-0 in the first contest of a three-game Southland Conference baseball series Friday night.
The loss ended a four-game winning streak for Sam Houston (33-18, 16-12). Central Arkansas (22-26, 11-17) totaled its 16 runs on 15 hits.
Shortstop Braeden Riley was the only Bearkat to reach second base in the seven-inning contest. Riley walked in the first inning and reached second on a stolen base. Third baseman Kevin Miller posted two singles and outfielder Mark Hudson accounted for the third SHSU hit.
Brandon Kimbrel (6-3) was the starter and losing pitcher for Sam Houston, giving up seven hits and seven runs in three and two thirds innings. Michael Hilliard, Cody Dickson and Daniel Nottebart also pitched for the Bearkats.
Sam Houston and Central Arkansas meet in the second game of the series Saturday at 4 p.m.
Following the UCA series the Bearkats will wrap up the regular season against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Thursday, May 19, through Saturday, May 21.
The series marks the final home appearance for Sam Houston head coach Mark Johnson who is retiring at the end of the 2011 season. Game times for the series are 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Johnson, who last year became only the 44th head coach in NCAA Division I baseball history to post more than 1,000 victories, will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony before the "Farewell Game" Friday, May 20.
Tickets for the three remaining home games including the Mark Johnson "Farewell Classic" Friday May 20 at 6:30 p.m. are available online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
