Central Arkansas takes series opener from baseball

CONWAY, Ark. — Central Arkansas took a 5-0 lead after two innings and held on to beat the Bellarmine University baseball team 7-4 Friday in an Atlantic Sun Conference series opener at Bear Stadium. Bellarmine (6-31, 5-11 ASUN) struggled to make consistent contact against Central Arkansas (14-22, 5-11), as winning pitcher Jesse Barker struck out 11 in 7.0 innings pitched and Hunter Alexander fanned two more in 2.0 innings while earning the save. Although both teams registered six hits, Bellarmine's staff walked seven and hit four batters. Two of the walks and one of the hit batters came in Central...