CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears swept the Southland Conference Pitcher and Hitter of the Week honors on Monday for the first time since joining the league.

    Junior left fielder Ethan Harris was named the hitter of the week and junior pitcher Caleb McClanahan was the SLC Pitcher of the Week, while McClanahan was also named the SLC Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.

    Harris, from White Hall, hit .467 for the week and helped the Bears to a three-game sweep of the Lamar Cardinals on the opening weekend of conference play. Harris had a pair of home runs and 9 RBI for the week, and had UCA’s game-winning single in Friday’s 12-inning, 1-0 victory over the Cardinals.

    McClanahan, a right-hander from Wynne, was dominant in that same game, starting and going 10 scoreless innings. He left with the score tied 0-0 after allowing just four hits and striking out a career-high 12 with only one walk. Lamar batters hit .118 against him.

    McClanahan led a UCA staff that pitched three shutouts against Lamar, the first time in school history that was accomplished in a league series. UCA pitchers struck out 32 and walked just 4 in 28 innings last weekend.

    UCA is currently in sole possession of first place in the SLC at 3-0. The Bears are second in the conference in hitting (.286) and pitching (2.73 ERA) and lead the league in fielding (.975). The Bears return to conference play this weekend at McNeese State.