CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears made it five consecutive victories on Saturday, rallying for a 5-4 victory over the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Bear Stadium.

Senior designated hitter Jonathan Houston tied a school record with two triples and junior third baseman Bryan Willson knocked in the winning run with an eighth-inning double to keep the Bears’ perfect 5-0 record intact. Junior lefthander Dustin Ward got the victory with five innings of relief and junior righthander Blake Payne picked up his second save in as many days with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Panthers (0-5) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second against UCA starter Clint Green. Ben Thoma led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Brad Schweigert’s single to left field.

UCA got two runs in the bottom of the inning as Ethan Harris had a lead-off double followed by a walk to Wilson. Houston doubled to left center to score Harris and Greg Noble’s sacrifice fly to center scored Wilson for the 2-1 lead.

The Panthers knocked Green out in the third, scoring three runs to re-take the lead. UCA cut it to 4-3 in the bottom of the third on Michael Pair’s triple and an RBI groundout by Blake Roberts.

UCA tied it in the fourth on Houston’s first triple and Jordan Getchell’s RBI single through the left side of the infield. It remained that way until the eighth when senior Zack Dickson led off with a walk, went to second on Harris’ sacrifice bunt and scored on Willson’s double to center. Houston followed with his second triple in the right-center gap but was stranded at third.

Houston, from Conway, finished 3 for 4 with eight total bases. EIU out-hit the Bears 11-7, with leadoff batter Zach Borenstein going 3 for 5 and Thoma and T.J. McManus getting two hits apiece.

Ward (1-0) allowed three hits and struck out two in five innings for his first victory. Payne, a transfer from Seminole State, already has a win and two saves in five games this season.

The teams conclude the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.