By Brad Greer and Myra Bean

Chris Townsend batted 2-of-13 with two runs and five walks as Central Arkansas won their first ever Southland Conference baseball championship Saturday with a 4-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

After losing the opening round game  5-3 to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Bears (39-20) reeled off five straight wins over a three-day period to claim the title.

Central Arkansas will travel to Starkville to play host Mississippi State (43-17) tonight at 7 p.m. in the NCAA South II Regional matchup. No. 2 seed South Alabama (42-18) takes on No. 3 seed Mercer (43-16) at 2 p.m. to open up regional play.
The freshman designated hitter from Batesville and South Panola has thrived his freshman season at Central Arkansas.

Under the direction of third-year UCA head coach Allen Gum, the Bears coached up several freshmen and found answers of how to win a conference championship.

“When he recruited Chris, he promised me three things,” said Nyanthia Townsend, mother of Chris. “He promised championships, the opportunity to play before people who can help him get to the next level and a good academic degree. He told me he didn’t expect the championship the first year. I am trying not to cry.”

 A professional scout was at the game and has Chris on his radar, according to his mom.
Chris said in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon as the team was traveling to Starkville that to get the championship his first year was “spectacular.”

He contributes his successes, “first of all to God. With God, all things are possible.” He said the team reads scriptures before every game.

“Also I contribute success to hard work and our coaches who work with us all, getting our bodies ready, our minds ready. Our hard work paid off,” Townsend said.

Central Arkansas had some notable wins this season over ranked team, particularly over Mississippi State, who they play tonight in the first round of  regionals.

“I don’t think anybody took us for granted,” Townsend said. We knew what we were capable of doing. Our coach always told us if play our best baseball, we could beat anybody in the country.”
Townsend gave some insight into his world as he transitioned from a high school to a collegiate player.

A faster speed of the game is what he had to adjust to.

“It takes a while to get adjusted to speed,” he said. “Things are a lot faster. You have to move a lot faster. Plays are a lot quicker. Runners are a lot faster. The main thing was adjusting to the speed of the game.”

In high school, he said there may be a few games you know you will win, but everybody in college is “pretty good.”

“You have to focus a lot each and every day,” Townsend said. “You can’t take a day off. You have to go out and do your best each and every day.”