CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears found their offense Sunday in taking a 6-5 victory over the Indiana State Sycamores in the series finale at Bear Stadium.
UCA (7-5) pounded out 13 hits against five ISU pitchers, with sophomore right fielder Ethan Harris going 3 for 5 in the leadoff spot. Harris had 2 RBI and scored 2 runs as the Bears came back from a 2-1 deficit after three innings.
The Bears put across four runs in the fourth inning and never trailed again. Freshman second baseman Jonathan Davis started the rally with an infield single and then stole second. Harris doubled to right field to score Davis before Michael Pair was hit by a pitch. Senior first baseman Jonathan Houston doubled to the gap in right center to score two more runs.
Sophomore catcher Travis Snider made it 5-2 with a two-out RBI single to center.
The Sycamores (5-5), who won the first three games of the series, got one run back in the fifth but UCA answered with one in the bottom of the frame. Harris also knocked in that run with a single to center that scored Kyle Prevett, who had singled and advanced to third on a throwing error.
ISU scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to make it interesting. They left two on in the eighth when UCA reliever Blake Payne struck out Jeremy Lucas to end the threat.
UCA left two on in the bottom of the eighth inning but Payne cruised through the ninth for his third save of the season. After allowing a walk and a sacrifice bunt, he struck out Jake Hartley for the second out and got Tyler Wampler on a soft liner to first base for the final out.
Junor righthander Bryan Willson (1-0) went six innings for the Bears, striking out six and allowing eight hits and 2 earned runs for the victory. He also had a hit and and RBI batting for himself. ISU starter Blake Drake (0-1) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in 3.2 innings.
Houston finished 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI and Prevett went 2 for 3 with a double for the Bears. Kyle Burnam was 3 for 5 for the Sycamores, while Wampler and Koby Kraemer had two hits apiece.
UCA hosts Creighton University in a two-game series on Tuesday (6 p.m.) and Wednesday (1).
