The UCA Bears (19-11, 8-3) allowed only three runs in their three games last week, beating Dana College once and Ouachita Baptist twice.

UCA has not given up a run in their last 16 innings of play.

“Our pitching gives us a chance in every game we play,” UCA coach Doug Clark said.

UCA 4, Dana 3

Starting Pitcher Matt Mullikin (4-3) scattered six hits and allowed two earned runs in seven innings of work during UCA’s win against Dana College on Thursday at Bear Field.

The Bears offense took advantage of defensive miscues by the Vikings (15-19) to strike the first blow of the ballgame.

In the bottom of the third inning, Austin McKnight scored on a passed ball and Todd Gossage scored on an error, bringing the score to 2-0.

Dana scored one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, but UCA answered back both times, scoring a run of its own in the bottom of the fifth and sixth.

After the Vikings scored one run off of Patrick Stacks in the top of the eighth, Clark brought in Jeremy Mason with runners on second and third.

Mason pitched out of the jam by striking out the side and retaining the Bears’ one run lead. Jake Goodwin picked up his third save of the season for UCA, working a scoreless ninth inning.

Todd Gossage went 2-3 with a double and a walk to lead the Bears offense.

Jonathan Ashworth also had two hits and an RBI.

UCA 6, Ouachita Baptist 0

UCA ace Zach Barnett (5-1) didn’t throw one of his best games of the season Friday at Bear Field, but he got the job done in conference action against OBU.

“I didn’t have my good stuff working,” Barnett said. “I really had to pitch today. I did what I had to do to get them out.”

Barnett gave up six hits and walked four in 5.1 innings.

UCA gained the early lead when Jonathan Ashworth and Jeff Mack scored on a double to center field by Drew Sadler.

Brian Blankenship took over for Barnett in the fifth inning and stayed on the mound for the rest of the game.

Blankenship let only two OBU hitters reach base in his 3.2 innings of work.

“I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes,” Blankenship said. “I knew my defense would take care of me.”

Clark was happy with the performance of the first-year pitcher.

“Blakenship picked us up,” he said. “We needed someone to eat up some innings.”

UCA scored three more in the seventh inning and added a sixth run in the eighth.

Barrett Ward, Roger Lenderman and Ashworth all had two hits in the game for the Bears.

UCA 5, Ouachita Baptist 0

The rains came down hard on Saturday but not before UCA managed to beat OBU (13-17, 1-7) in 6.2 innings, their 17th win in the last 20 games.

Second baseman Bubba Dickens returned to the field for the first time since being hit by a pitch in the face in early February.

Dickens went 1-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

UCA scored four runs in the first inning on three hits. Four runs was more than Bears starting pitcher Jonathan Nichols (5-1) needed to work with.

Nichols gave up only two hits and walked only one in the seven inning shutout.

Clark was impressed with the freshman’s ability to perform well after a bad outing.

“He really bounced back after last weekend,” Clark said.

Ashworth went 2-2 with an RBI for UCA. Matt Warren added 2 RBI and a double.

The third game of the series against OBU scheduled for Saturday afternoon was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The Bears resume action today and Thursday against Lemoyne-Owen at Bear Field, and they return to conference action this weekend with a three game series against UAM in Conway.