The 2021 Central Arkansas Bears baseball team represented the University of Central Arkansas during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Bears played their home games at Bear Stadium and were led by fifteenth–year head coach Allen Gum. They were members of the Southland Conference. This was Central Arkansas' final year in the Southland as they will be moving to the ASUN Conference for the 2022 season.
Preseason
Southland Conference coaches poll The Southland Conference coaches poll was released on February 11, 2021, and the Bears were picked to finish second in the conference with 247 votes and five first place votes.
Coaches poll 1 Sam Houston State 276 (17) 2 Central Arkansas 247 (5) 3 McNeese State 244 (1) 4 Southeastern Louisiana 243 (3) 5 Northwestern State 193 6 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi 146 7 Incarnate Word 144 8 Nicholls 108 9 New Orleans 101 10 Abilene Christian 98 11 Stephen F. Austin 92 12 Lamar 87 13 Houston Baptist 49
Preseason All-Southland Team & honors
First Team Ryan Flores (UIW, 1st Base) Nate Fisbeck (MCNS, 2nd Base) Beau Orlando (UCA, 3rd Base) JC Correa (LAMR, Shortstop) Gavin Johnson (SHSU, Catcher) Clayton Rasbeary (MCNS, Designated Hitter) Sean Arnold (UIW, Outfielder) Brandon Bena (HBU, Outfielder) Colton Cowser (SHSU, Outfielder) Noah Cameron (UCA, Pitcher) Will Dion (MCNS, Pitcher) Kyle Gruller (HBU, Pitcher) Conner Williams (UCA, Pitcher) Itchy Burts (TAMUCC, Utility)
Second Team Preston Faulkner (SELA, 1st Base) Logan Berlof (LAMR, 2nd Base) Anthony Quirion (LAMR, 3rd Base) Reid Bourque (MCNS, Shortstop) Chris Sandberg (NICH, Catcher) Lee Thomas (UIW, Designated Hitter) Josh Ragan (UCA, Outfielder) Jack Rogers (SHSU, Outfielder) Tyler Smith (NSU, Outfielder) John Gaddis (TAMUCC, Pitcher) Gavin Stone (UCA, Pitcher) Luke Taggart (UIW, Pitcher) Jeremy Rodriguez (SFA, Pitcher) Jake Dickerson (MCNS, Utility)
Roster 2021 Central Arkansas Bears roster Pitchers 11 Brady Walker - Redshirt Freshman 12 Mark Moyer - Senior 14 John Breaux - Sophomore 15 Trent Gregson - Freshman 16 Brad Verel - Redshirt Freshman 18 Tyler Cleveland - Redshirt Freshman 21 Ryan Johnston - Junior 24 Conner Williams - Senior 28 Jack Haley - Freshman 30 Tyler Navarro - Junior 32 Logan Gilbertson - Junior 33 Cole Halpin - Junior 34 Dillan Janak - Sophomore 35 Jackson Kraus - Freshman 37 Andrew Shoultz - Sophomore 38 Noah Cameron - Sophomore 39 Jesse Barker - Freshman 41 Tate Busey - Freshman 43 Brant Morris - Freshman 49 Ryan Hallstrom - Freshman 50 Kaydon Patrick - Freshman 51 Wes Sutton - Freshman 52 Eli Thomas - Freshman Catchers 10 Beau Orlando - Senior 25 Nathaniel Sagdahl - Senior 26 Andrew Pollum - Redshirt Freshman 31 A. J. Mendolia - Freshman 36 Connor Flagg - Freshman
Infielders 2 Ramon Vingochea - Sophomore 3 RJ Pearson - Junior 6 Taylor Daniell - Junior 8 Coby Potvin - Senior 13 Christian Brasher - Senior 17 Rylan Meek - Junior 20 Benny Ayala - Junior 27 Tanner Leonard - Freshman 40 Hunter Hicks - Sophomore 42 Brock Kuehler - Freshman 44 Cade White - Freshman 47 Avery Williams - Freshman
Outfielders 1 Kolby Johnson - Sophomore 5 Kinner Brasher - Junior 9 Alonso Bibiano - Senior 19 Connor Emmet - Junior 23 Drew Sturgeon - Freshman
Coaching staff 2021 Central Arkansas Bears coaching staffAllen Gum – Head coach – 11th year Nick Harlan – Associate head coach/pitching coach – 8th year Justin Cunninghamn – Assistant head coach/recruiting coordinator – 4th year Hayden Simpson – Volunteer assistant coach
Schedule and results Legend Central Arkansas win Central Arkansas loss Postponement/Cancelation/SuspensionsBoldCentral Arkansas team member
2021 Central Arkansas Bears baseball game log Regular season (23-28) February (1-2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordFeb. 21 Bear Stadium • Conway, AR Game cancelledFeb. 22 Western Illinois Bear Stadium • Conway, AR Game cancelledFeb. 22 Western Illinois Bear Stadium • Conway, AR Game cancelledFeb. 26 at Hammons Field • Springfield, MO L 1-6 Russell (1-0) Moyer (0-1) None 439 0-1 Feb. 27 at Missouri State Hammons Field • Springfield, MO W 5-2 Janak (1-0) Viertel (0-1) Cleveland (1) 815 1-1 Feb. 28 at Missouri State Hammons Field • Springfield, MO L 2-12 Wiley (1-0) Johnston (0-1) None 420 1-2 March (8-10) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMar. 3 at Little Rock Gary Hogan Field • Little Rock, AR L 3-5 Evans (1-0) Gregson (0-1) Barkley (1) 294 1-3 Mar. 5 • ConwBear Stadium ay, AR W 6-1 Moyer (1-1) Pinedo (1-2) Cleveland (2) 210 2-3 Mar. 6 Tarleton State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 19-2 Johnston (1-1) Gagnon (0-3) None 245 3-3 Mar. 7 Missouri State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 9-15 Wiley (2-0) Cleveland (0-1) None 256 3-4 Mar. 12 Abilene Christian Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 8-9 (11 inns) Riley (4-0) Cleveland (0-2) None 265 3-5 0-1Mar. 13 Abilene Christian Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 4-5 Cervantes (2-0) Johnston (1-2) Huffing (1) 274 3-6 0-2Mar. 13 Abilene Christian Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 6-3 Janak (2-0) Stephenson (0-3) Cleveland (3) 232 4-6 1-2Mar. 14 Abilene Christian Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 9-8 Gilbertson (1-0) Morgan (0-1) Cleveland (4) 284 5-6 2-2Mar. 19 at Lamar Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX L 5-7 Michael (1-0) Moyer (1-2) Dallas (6) 785 5-7 2-3Mar. 20 at Lamar Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX W 5-2 Cleveland (1-2) Bravo (2-1) None 805 6-7 3-3Mar. 20 at Lamar Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX L 2-7 Palmer (2-0) Janak (2-1) None 805 6-8 3-4Mar. 21 at Lamar Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX W 6-1 Cleveland (2-2) Johnson (1-1) None 658 7-8 4-4Mar. 23 at No. 4 Ole Miss Swayze Field • Oxford, MS L 2-5 Mallitz (2-1) Johnston (1-3) Broadway (4) SECN+ 6,847 7-9 Mar. 26 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX W 12-7 Haley (1-0) Rollins (1-2) Gregson (1) 82 8-9 5-4Mar. 27 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX L 11-12 Garza (2-0) Verel (0-1) None 115 8-10 5-5Mar. 27 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX L 2-10 McElmeel (2-0) Janak (2-2) Hayward (1) 115 8-11 5-6Mar. 28 at Incarnate Word Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX W 4-3 Cleveland (3-2) Martinez (0-1) None 92 9-11 6-6Mar. 30 at No. 2 Arkansas Baum–Walker Stadium • Fayetteville, AR L 8-21 Ramage (1-1) Janak (2-3) None SECN+ 5,735 9-12 April (6-10) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordApr. 1 Sam Houston State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 2-3 Davis (4-1) Williams (0-1) Lusk (3) 185 9-13 6-7Apr. 2 Sam Houston State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 0-2 Robinson (2-1) Moyer (1-3) Lusk (4) 122 9-14 6-8Apr. 2 Sam Houston State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 1-3 Dillard (1-3) Busey (0-1) Lusk (5) 155 9-15 6-9Apr. 3 Sam Houston State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 4-10 Atkinson (3-1) Gilbertson (1-1) None 258 9-16 6-10Apr. 6 at Arkansas State Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR Game postponedApr. 9 at No. 14 Oklahoma State O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK Game cancelledApr. 10 at No. 14 Oklahoma State O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK Game cancelledApr. 11 at No. 14 Oklahoma State O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK Game cancelledApr. 14 Little Rock Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 4-2 Moyer (2-3) Beardsley (0-1) Cleveland (5) 345 10-16 Apr. 16 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX L 4-7 Ramirez (3-2) Cleveland (3-3) None 239 10-17 6-11Apr. 17 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX L 1-2 Thomas (2-1) Moyer (2-4) Bird (1) 197 10-18 6-12Apr. 18 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX L 1-5 Gaddis (2-3) Gilbertson (1-2) None 167 10-19 6-13Apr. 18 at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX L 4-10 Ramirez (4-1) Busey (0-2) None 167 10-20 6-14Apr. 20 Arkansas State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 5-3 Shoultz (1-0) Albat (0-1) Cleveland (6) 245 11-20 Apr. 23 Stephen F. Austin Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 10-9 (10 inns) Cleveland (4-3) Koch (1-1) None 245 12-20 7-14Apr. 24 Stephen F. Austin Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 2-8 Todd (3-2) Moyer (2-5) None 325 12-21 7-15Apr. 25 Stephen F. Austin Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 7-6 Navarro (1-0) Gauthe (1-2) None 310 13-21 8-15Apr. 25 Stephen F. Austin Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 9-0 Cleveland (5-3) Sgambelluri (2-3) None 310 14-21 9-15Apr. 30 Northwestern State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 4-8 Harmon (4-2) Gilbertson (1-3) Brown (3) 295 14-22 9-16Apr. 30 Northwestern State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 3-1 Williams (1-1) Carver (5-4) Cleveland (7) 348 15-22 10-16 May (8–6) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SLC RecordMay 1 Northwestern State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 9-2 Moyer (3-5) David (2-5) None 348 16-22 11-16May 1 Northwestern State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 13-8 Verel (1-1) Ohnoutka (2-1) Navarro (1) 348 17-22 12-16May 7 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA W 15-5 Verel (2-1) Erbe (1-4) Gilbertson (1) 437 18-22 13-16May 8 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA L 0-11 Turpin (8-2) Moyer (3-6) None 492 18-23 13-17May 8 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA W 8-0 Williams (2-1) Mitchell (4-2) Cleveland (8) 358 19-23 14-17May 9 at New Orleans Maestri Field at Privateer Park • New Orleans, LA L 3-4 LeBlanc (1-3) Gregson (0-2) Seroski (10) 371 19-24 14-18May 11 Bear Stadium • Conway, AR Game cancelledMay 14 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX L 1-7 Coats (3-6) Navarro (1-1) None 19-25 14-19May 14 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX W 8-6 Moyer (4-6) Zarella (0-6) Cleveland (9) 400 20-25 15-19May 15 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX W 3-2 Cleveland (6-3) Reitmeyer (2-4) None 21-25 16-19May 15 at Houston Baptist Husky Field • Houston, TX L 6-8 Smitherman (1-2) Janak (2-4) None 400 21-26 16-20May 20 McNeese State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 8-1 Moyer (5-6) Hudgens (1-3) None 348 22-26 17-20May 21 McNeese State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 1-6 Dion (8-4) Williams (2-2) None 304 22-27 17-21May 21 McNeese State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR L 5-6 (10 inns) Foster (1-3) Williams (2-3) None 255 22-28 17-22May 22 McNeese State Bear Stadium • Conway, AR W 5-4 Gilbertson (2-3) Abraham (3-3) Verel (1) 410 23-28 18-22 Schedule source: *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades Player of the Year: Colton Cowser – SHSU Hitter of the Year: Colton Eager – ACU Pitcher of the Year: Will Dion – MCNS Relief Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Cleveland – UCA Freshman of the Year: Brennan Stuprich – SELA Newcomer of the Year: Grayson Tatrow – ACU Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Rick McCarty – ACU
All Conference First Team Chase Kemp (LAMR) Nate Fisbeck (MCNS) Itchy Burts (TAMUCC) Bash Randle (ACU) Mitchell Dickson (ACU) Lee Thomas (UIW) Colton Cowser (SHSU) Colton Eager (ACU) Clayton Rasbeary (MCNS) Will Dion (MCNS) Brennan Stuprich (SELA) Will Warren (SELA) Tyler Cleveland (UCA) Anthony Quirion (LAMR)
All Conference Second Team Preston Faulkner (SELA) Daunte Stuart (NSU) Kasten Furr (UNO) Evan Keller (SELA) Skylar Black (SFA) Tre Obregon III (MCNS) Jack Rogers (SHSU) Pearce Howard (UNO) Grayson Tatrow (ACU) Chris Turpin (UNO) John Gaddis (TAMUCC) Trevin Michael (LAMR) Caleb Seroski (UNO) Jacob Burke (SELA)
All Conference Third Team Luke Marbach (TAMUCC) Salo Iza (UNO) Austin Cain (NICH) Darren Willis (UNO) Ryan Snell (LAMR) Tommy Cruz (ACU) Tyler Finke (SELA) Payton Harden (MCNS) Mike Williams (TAMUCC) Cal Carver (NSU) Levi David (NSU) Dominic Robinson (SHSU) Jack Dallas (LAMR) Brett Hammit (ACU)
All Conference Defensive Team Luke Marbach (TAMUCC) Nate Fisebeck (MCNS) Anthony Quirion (LAMR) Darren Willis (UNO) Gaby Cruz (SELA) Julian Gonzales (MCNS) Colton Cowser (SHSU) Avery George (LAMR) Will Dion (MCNS)
References:
References