JONESBORO, Ark. (4/23/24) – Arkansas State baseball (17-23-1, 4-13-1 SBC) made a late comeback bid against Central Arkansas (17-22, 7-11 ASUN), but fell just short by a score of 10-8 on Tuesday night at Bear Stadium.
 
Max Charlton made his first start of the season in his 15^th appearance, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out two over 2.0 scoreless innings pitched. At the plate, Austen Jaslove and Cade Tucker had a pair of three-hit performances while Cason Campbell and Jared Toler led the team with two RBIs apiece.
 
Tucker broke the ice during the second inning, firing a line drive into right field for an RBI-single. However, the Bears struck in the third when AJ Mendolia fired an RBI-double down the left field line to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Hunter Ryan broke the stalemate in the fifth after delivering a solo-blast to left center for his second round-tripper of the season.
 
Central Arkansas took their first lead of the contest with a two-run double from Bryce Cermenelli in the bottom of the fifth. Colton Sagely followed with a three-run homer inside the foul pole in left field to make the score 6-2.
 
Zeb Allen extended the Bears lead to five runs with a single to left in the sixth, but the Scarlet and Black managed to fight back into the game in the seventh.
 
A sacrifice fly from Blake Burris allowed Tucker to score uncontested, cutting the deficit back to four. Toler brought in two more with a double off the wall in right center to make the score 7-5.
 
Central Arkansas made another quick response to the Red Wolves’ offensive surge, scoring two runs on two hits in the bottom frame. Mason King drove in the first with a single through the left side while Tan Leonard recorded a sacrifice fly as the Bears took a 9-5 lead into the eighth.
 
Campbell led off the top frame with his third home run of the year, a solo-shot to right field. Tucker advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a throwing error by the catcher, making it a 9-7 ballgame.
 
Mendolia nullified Campbell’s homer with a solo-blast of his own to the scoreboard behind left, putting the Red Wolves down three going into the ninth.
 
Campbell recorded his second consecutive hit and brought in his second RBI after lining one to right field. With the bases loaded and one out, Central Arkansas turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the contest.
 
Cole Macrae (3-5) earned the win and Gavi Alveti (2) recorded the save while Arlon Butts (1-1) took the loss.

NEXT UP
Arkansas State returns home to take on Texas State in a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 26 at Tomlinson Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.
 
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