Purple Bears Over Maroon
For a while Thursday, runs were coming in pairs for UCA. They started the game with two in the bottom of the first and went on to win 7-2 over Missouri State at UCA Field.
The game only lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes due to a pretty efficient game by UCA starter Matt Whitaker. Whitaker went seven innings, giving up just two runs on five hits. Head Coach Doug Clark did say he thought he had trouble commanding his fastball and that led to five walks and a hit batter.
“He had pretty good stuff,” Clark said. “He’s striking people out with his change up, and that’s big. In the past he’s had to use his curve for that.”
Whitaker was replaced to start the eighth by Matt Humphrey. Humphrey has a weird looking over-the-top delivery but is able to make it work. He gave up just one hit in relief and faced the minimum six batters thanks to a double play to end the eighth.
Offensively, UCA struck with the first six batters in the lineup. They accounted for 10 of UCA’s 11 hits and 6-of-7 RBIs.
“It’s about getting baserunners,” Clark said.
And when UCA did just that, they were successful enough in scoring those runners. Three of those runs came on sacrifice flies. Having said that, the purple Bears did strand 10 runners.
On the other side of things, MSU stranded just runners. And you can attribute some of that to two double plays.
“Yeah, we got out of a couple of jams right there,” Clark said.
Another part of that was outstanding play behind the plate from senior catcher Chris Davis. Davis was 3-for-3 throwing out MSU’s runners on steal attempts.
Sophomore Graham Martin (2B) led the Bears at the plate, going 3-for-5, but it was the three through six batters behind him that can take credit for the RBIs. Davis, Jonathan Yerby (3B), Chris Houk (RF), and Scott Cline (CF) were a combined 7-for-15 with three doubles, three sac flies and six RBIs.
Clark said that Daniel Price will get the start on Friday and Brandon Dun on Saturday. After only using two pitchers today, the bullpen should be fresh. Clark hopes to get around five innings from Price, who only got through 3-1/3 in his first start of the season.
Football adds 22
| MID-YEAR TRANSFERS: | |||||
| Jacob Bane | LB | 6-1 | 230 | Rogers, AR | New Mexico (Trinity Valley CC) |
| 2006 All-Conference (Trinity Valley); 2005 Pilgrim Pride Bowl (Texas Junior College Conference champions; 4-year letterman at Rogers HS; 3-time All-State selection; 2004 Super Center Defensive Player of the Year – 195 tackles in 15 games; Also baseball/track standout at Rogers; 2-Star rated by Rivals.com | |||||
| Jonathan Beard | PK | 5-10 | 165 | Weir, MS | NE Mississippi CC (Alcorn St.) |
| Two-time Mississippi Junior College All-State selection; 2007 Mississippi JC North/South All-Star Game; averaged 40 yards per punt; career-long 45-yard field goal; holds Mississippi High School point-after record with 197; 3-time All-Conference selection at Weir HS; 2-time All-State selection | |||||
| Derrick Boyd | S | 6-0 | 200 | West Point, MS | East Mississippi CC |
| 2007 Preseason All-American at East Miss. CC; 2-time All-State selection at EMCC; recorded 125 tackles, 6 interceptions at EMCC; 2007 Mississippi Junior College North/South All-Star Game; 2005 All-Conference /All-Region/All-State selection at West Point HS | |||||
| Pieri Feazell | S | 5-11 | 200 | Mt. Olive, MS | Jones CC |
| 2-year starter at Jones CC; 2007 JCCC was ranked No. 6 nationally; 2007 Mississippi Junior College North/South All-Star Game; 2007 had 85 tackles, 6 interceptions at JCCC; 2007 Mississippi JC All-State selection; Mt Olive HS – responsible for 152 career touchdowns, 260 tackles, 8 interceptions; 2-time All-State selection at Mt. Olive; 2006 Mississippi HS All-Star Game participant | |||||
| Larry Hart | DE | 6-1 | 255 | Madison, MS | Holmes CC |
| Two-time Mississippi Junior College All-State selection; 2007 had 56 tackles, 11 tackles for loss at HCC; 2007 Mississippi JC North/South All-Star Game; 2007 Holmes CC Most Valuable Player; 2005 All-District/All-Jackson Metro selection; had 65 tackles and 12.5 sacks at Madison Central HS | |||||
| Jamie Hill | CB | 5-10 | 200 | Meridian, MS | Pearl River CC |
| 2007 had 67 tackles, 2 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, 2 blocked punts and 2 forced fumbles at Pearl River; 2007 Pearl River Outstanding Achievement Award; 2-time All-Conference/All-State selection at Meridian HS; 2006 Meridian HS team captain; 300 meter hurdle state champion (37.6) at Meridian; 100M/200M state finalist at Meridian HS | |||||
| Anthony Summers | OLB | 6-2 | 205 | Olive Branch, MS | Mississippi State |
| 2006 played in 11 games and lettered at Mississippi State; 2007 redshirted at MSU; rated #8 high school athlete in country by Prep Star Magazine; rated #101 high school player in country by Rivals.com; rated 4-Star recruit by Rivals.com | |||||
| NEW SIGNEES: | |||||
| T.J. Adams | RB | 6-1 | 190 | Beckville, TX | Beckville HS |
| 2-time Associated Press All-State; 2-time All-East Texas; 3-time All-District; 4-year letterman; team captain; District Most Valuable Player; state track qualifier in long jump and 800M relay; National Honor Society; 5,863 career rushing yards; rated #37 overall player in East Texas by Smoaky.com | |||||
| Travis Anderson | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Shreveport, LA | Captain Shreve HS |
| 2007 LHSAA All-State; 2007 Captain Shreve HS Most Valuable Player; 3-year letterman; 3-time All-District; 3-time All-Metro in Shreveport; Basketball standout – All-District 3 times; state track qualifier on 4×400 relay; 1,202 career receiving yards on 101 receptions, 13 touchdowns; 2-Star rated by Scout.com; rated #186 best wide receiver in country by Scout.com | |||||
| Anthony Blackmon | RB | 5-10 | 180 | Bentonville, AR | Bentonville HS |
| Arkansas Activities Association AAAAAAA All-State; KARN Most Valuable Player; Landers’ Award finalist; Little Rock Touchdown Club AAAAAAA Most Valuable Player; Hooten’s Award finalist; Arkansas High School All-Star Game selection; 2-time All-County; 2-time All-Conference; 2007 rushed for 2,562 yards and 34 touchdowns; state track finalist in 110M hurdles; National Honor Society | |||||
| Terence Bobo | ATH | 6-0 | 200 | Atkins, AR | Atkins HS |
| 2-time Arkansas Activities Association AAA All-State; 3-time All-Conference; Arkansas Demcrat-Gazette Super Sophomore Team; Little Rock Touchdown Club AAA Most Valuable Player; State Farm AAA Offensive Player of the Year; Landers’ Award finalist; Associated Press All-Arkansas Super Team; KARV Dream Team Player of the Year; state track finalist in 300M hurdles; Arkansas High School All-Star Game selection; 4,367 career rushing yards; 58 career touchdowns; ESPN.com rated #134 athlete in nation; 2-Star rated by Rivals.com | |||||
| Trae Cook | QB | 6-2 | 175 | Muskogee, OK | Muskogee HS |
| 2007 District 6A-4 Player of the Year; 2007 Muskogee Phoenix All-Area team; 2007 had 2,908 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 10 interceptions; 2007 state track finalist in high jump (6 feet, 8 inches); Rivals.com rated | |||||
| Larry Duvall | DL | 6-4 | 240 | Marianna, AR | Marianna HS |
| Arkansas Actitivies Association AAAA All-State; Arkansas High School All-Star selection; 3-time All-Conference; 2-time All-County; 4-year Academic Honor Roll; basketball standout; state track finalist in the shot put | |||||
| Matt Hudson | QB | 6-1 | 200 | Jackson, TN | Jackson Christian |
| 2007 had 2,396 passing yards with 17 touchdowns; 524 rushing yards with 7 touchdowns; All-West Tennessee; Region 8-2A All-Region; Region 8-2A Offensive Player of the Year; 3-time Jackson Sun Player of the Week; Rivals.com rated | |||||
| Isaiah Jackson | ATH | 5-10 | 160 | Conway, AR | Conway HS |
| 2-time Arkansas Activities Association AAAAAAA All-State; Arkansas High School All-Star Game selection; Landers’ Award finalist; 2-time All-Conference; 3-time All-Faulkner County; voted Outstanding Back in AAAAAAA Central Conference; 2007 had 1,103 rushing yards with 9 touchdowns; 426 receiving yards; 908 return yards and 2 TDs; 2,530 all-purpose yardage; ESPN.com rated #156 athlete in nation; Rivals.com rated | |||||
| Carson Knowlton | LB | 6-2 | 205 | West Memphis, AR | West Memphis HS |
| 3-time Arkansas Activities Association AAAAAA All-State; 2007 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year; 3-time All-Conference; 3-time All-Metro; KAIT Channel 8 Super Team; KATV Channel 7 Powerhouse Team; voted Outstanding Player of the Year AAAAAA East Conference; ESPN.com rated #21 defensive end in nation; 35 career sacks; 3-time Academic All-Conference; state track finalist in high jump; Rivals.com rated | |||||
| Trey Lippe | DL | 6-3 | 255 | Vinita, OK | Vinita HS |
| 2007 Oklahoma High School Association All-State; Oil Bowl All-Star Game selection; 2007 All-Conference Most Valuable Player; 4-year letterman and starter; 52 career sacks; 75 career receptions; letterman in both basketball and track | |||||
| Marshall Loyd | DL | 6-3 | 260 | Houston, TX | Aldine-Nimitz HS |
| 2-time All-Conference selection; 81 career pancake blocks; 3-year letterman; 4-year Academic Honor Roll; standout in both basketball and baseball | |||||
| Josh Ragland | TE | 6-3 | 226 | Bolton, TN | Bolton HS |
| 2-time All-Conference; 2-time All-Region; selected to 2007 Memphis Area Autozone Liberty Bowl All-Star Game; 2-time Offensive Most Valuable Player; Top lineman at Bolton HS; US Army/National Guard preseason Academic All-American | |||||
| Jesse Sims | LB | 6-0 | 215 | Baker, LA | Baker HS |
| 2-time All-Conference; 2007 Conference Most Valuable Player; 2007 All-Metro (Baton Rouge); 2007 honorable mention All-State by coaches/sportswriters; 2007 Red Stick All-Star Game selection; 2007 had 151 tackles; 15 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 1 interception; had 552 yards rushing; Rivals.com rated | |||||
| Spencer Spane | TE | 6-3 | 270 | Terry, MS | East Central CC (NC A&T) |
| 2007 Mississippi Junior College North/South All-Star Game; All-State at ECCC; started all 11 games in 2006 at North Carolina A&T; 14 career collegiate receptions; 3-year letterman at Terry HS; Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee at Terry HS; WAPT Scholar-Athlete recepient 2005 | |||||
| Desmond Wilcox | CB | 6-0 | 170 | Beaumont, TX | Ozen HS |
| 2007 All-Conference; 41 tackles, 2 interceptions, 34 pass breakups; 4-time Academic Honor Roll; rated top 10 percent of senior class; 2-year letterman; also a standout in baseball | |||||
| INVITED NON-SCHOLARSHIP: | |||||
| Derek Owens | WR | 5-8 | 160 | Russellville, AR | Russellville HS |
| Dustin Hopper | S/OLB | 6-2 | 190 | Conway, AR | Conway HS |