CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears could not make an early lead hold up Friday night in a 6-5 loss to defending Southland Conference regular-season champion Southeastern Louisiaina at Bear Stadium.
The Bears (10-13, 1-6) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off Lions starter Brandon Efferson (4-1). SLU came back with four runs in the fourth and two more in the seventh for a 6-3 lead. UCA rallied with a two-run seventh inning, then left two runners on base in the eighth against SLU closer Stefan Lopez, and another in the ninth.
Lopez struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth before senior second baseman Zack Dickson reached when first baseman Britt Gautreaux dropped a throw from shortstop Justin Boudreaux that would have been the third out. Lopez then got UCA shortstop Kyle Prevett to fly out to center for the final out.
In the first inning, sophomore Ethan Harris led off with a single to center and freshman Jonathan Davis beat out a bunt, sliding into first under the tag attempt of Efferson. First baseman Jonathan Houston followed with a double down the right-field line to score Harris. Bryan Willson’s ground out brought in Davis and Jake Fuller singled up the middle to score Houston for the 3-0 lead.
UCA starter Evan Cox pitched three scoreless innings before the Lions (15-7, 5-2) got to him with two outs in the fourth. Cass Hargis and Cody Gougler drew consecutive walks and Joe Sparacino had a base hit up the middle to score the first run. Gautreaux knocked in the next one with a single to left field and Brock Hebert’s triple to right field gave the Lions a 4-3 lead.
After SLU put up two more runs in the top of the seventh, UCA responded with two in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally. Fuller and Greg Noble had consecutive singles before SLU reliever Jason Greenleaf took over for Efferson and threw a wild pitch that allowed Fuller to score. Dickson singled to left field to bring in Noble and bring the Bears within 6-5.
Harris and Willson both reached base in the eighth inning but Lopez, who recorded his fifth save with 2 hits and 3 strikeouts in two innings, got out of that inning with an infield pop-up.
Fuller, a junior designated hitter from Fayetteville, finished 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Bears. Harris went 2 for 5. Cox, who struck out 4 and walked 4 in seven innings, took the loss. Andy Steinmetz threw two scoreless innings of relief.
Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.
