# 2021 Central Arkansas Bears baseball team

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 :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 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)

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Central Arkansas win |
| | Central Arkansas loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Central Arkansas team member |
2021 Central Arkansas Bears baseball game log :
Regular season (23-28) :
February (1-2) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Feb. 21 | Western Illinois | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Feb. 22 | Western Illinois | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Feb. 22 | Western Illinois | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Feb. 26 | at Missouri State | 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar. 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 | Tarleton State | • 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 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 13 | Abilene Christian | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 4-5 | Cervantes (2-0) | Johnston (1-2) | Huffing (1) | | 274 | 3-6 | 0-2 |
| Mar. 13 | Abilene Christian | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 6-3 | Janak (2-0) | Stephenson (0-3) | Cleveland (3) | | 232 | 4-6 | 1-2 |
| Mar. 14 | Abilene Christian | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 9-8 | Gilbertson (1-0) | Morgan (0-1) | Cleveland (4) | | 284 | 5-6 | 2-2 |
| Mar. 19 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | L 5-7 | Michael (1-0) | Moyer (1-2) | Dallas (6) | | 785 | 5-7 | 2-3 |
| Mar. 20 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | W 5-2 | Cleveland (1-2) | Bravo (2-1) | None | | 805 | 6-7 | 3-3 |
| Mar. 20 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | L 2-7 | Palmer (2-0) | Janak (2-1) | None | | 805 | 6-8 | 3-4 |
| Mar. 21 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium • Beaumont, TX | W 6-1 | Cleveland (2-2) | Johnson (1-1) | None | | 658 | 7-8 | 4-4 |
| Mar. 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 | 5-4 |
| Mar. 27 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 11-12 | Garza (2-0) | Verel (0-1) | None | | 115 | 8-10 | 5-5 |
| Mar. 27 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 2-10 | McElmeel (2-0) | Janak (2-2) | Hayward (1) | | 115 | 8-11 | 5-6 |
| Mar. 28 | at Incarnate Word | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 4-3 | Cleveland (3-2) | Martinez (0-1) | None | | 92 | 9-11 | 6-6 |
| Mar. 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr. 1 | Sam Houston State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 2-3 | Davis (4-1) | Williams (0-1) | Lusk (3) | | 185 | 9-13 | 6-7 |
| Apr. 2 | Sam Houston State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 0-2 | Robinson (2-1) | Moyer (1-3) | Lusk (4) | | 122 | 9-14 | 6-8 |
| Apr. 2 | Sam Houston State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 1-3 | Dillard (1-3) | Busey (0-1) | Lusk (5) | | 155 | 9-15 | 6-9 |
| Apr. 3 | Sam Houston State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 4-10 | Atkinson (3-1) | Gilbertson (1-1) | None | | 258 | 9-16 | 6-10 |
| Apr. 6 | at Arkansas State | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed |
| Apr. 9 | at No. 14 Oklahoma State | O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Apr. 10 | at No. 14 Oklahoma State | O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Apr. 11 | at No. 14 Oklahoma State | O'Brate Stadium • Stillwater, OK | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Apr. 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 | 6-11 |
| Apr. 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 | 6-12 |
| Apr. 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 | 6-13 |
| Apr. 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 | 6-14 |
| Apr. 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 | 7-14 |
| Apr. 24 | Stephen F. Austin | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 2-8 | Todd (3-2) | Moyer (2-5) | None | | 325 | 12-21 | 7-15 |
| Apr. 25 | Stephen F. Austin | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 7-6 | Navarro (1-0) | Gauthe (1-2) | None | | 310 | 13-21 | 8-15 |
| Apr. 25 | Stephen F. Austin | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 9-0 | Cleveland (5-3) | Sgambelluri (2-3) | None | | 310 | 14-21 | 9-15 |
| Apr. 30 | Northwestern State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 4-8 | Harmon (4-2) | Gilbertson (1-3) | Brown (3) | | 295 | 14-22 | 9-16 |
| Apr. 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | Northwestern State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 9-2 | Moyer (3-5) | David (2-5) | None | | 348 | 16-22 | 11-16 |
| May 1 | Northwestern State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 13-8 | Verel (1-1) | Ohnoutka (2-1) | Navarro (1) | | 348 | 17-22 | 12-16 |
| May 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 | 13-16 |
| May 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 | 13-17 |
| May 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 | 14-17 |
| May 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 | 14-18 |
| May 11 | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| May 14 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 1-7 | Coats (3-6) | Navarro (1-1) | None | | | 19-25 | 14-19 |
| May 14 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 8-6 | Moyer (4-6) | Zarella (0-6) | Cleveland (9) | | 400 | 20-25 | 15-19 |
| May 15 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | W 3-2 | Cleveland (6-3) | Reitmeyer (2-4) | None | | | 21-25 | 16-19 |
| May 15 | at Houston Baptist | Husky Field • Houston, TX | L 6-8 | Smitherman (1-2) | Janak (2-4) | None | | 400 | 21-26 | 16-20 |
| May 20 | McNeese State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 8-1 | Moyer (5-6) | Hudgens (1-3) | None | | 348 | 22-26 | 17-20 |
| May 21 | McNeese State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 1-6 | Dion (8-4) | Williams (2-2) | None | | 304 | 22-27 | 17-21 |
| May 21 | McNeese State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | L 5-6 (10 inns) | Foster (1-3) | Williams (2-3) | None | | 255 | 22-28 | 17-22 |
| May 22 | McNeese State | Bear Stadium • Conway, AR | W 5-4 | Gilbertson (2-3) | Abraham (3-3) | Verel (1) | | 410 | 23-28 | 18-22 |

## 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
References: