Bears fall 1-0 to Northwestern St.

NATCHITOCHES, La. One unearned run was the difference Friday night as the Northwestern State Demons knocked off the University of Central Arkansas Bears 1-0 in Southland Conference baseball action at Brown-Stroud Field.

The Demons (19-22, 11-12) took advantage of UCA's lone error to pick up an unearned run in the fourth inning for the victory. UCA sophomore righthander Reece Cross went eight innings, allowing only six hits and striking out a season-high eight.

Northwestern State junior starter Ryan Zimmerman got his first victory, going 8 1/3 innings and also striking out 8. After UCA senior Josh Huffman got a one-out single in the ninth, redshirt freshman Chad Sheppard came on and got the final two outs for his eighth save of the year.

UCA (18-24, 9-16) managed eight hits, with Huffman and junior Bobby Pritchett getting two each.

In the fourth inning, senior Beau Snodgrass had a two-out, infield single and then stole second base. He also stole third and then scored on a Pritchett error. UCA left two runners on base in both the first and third innings, and nine for the game.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. today.