CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears hit a pair of home runs and got eight strong innings from junior left hander Dustin Ward to beat UT Arlington 9-1 and gain a split of their Southland Conference doubleheader on Friday night at Bear Stadium.

The Mavericks held on in a slugfest in the opener, taking an 18-14 win as the teams combined for 36 hits.

In the nightcap, Ward allowed six hits and only one run in winning his third consecutive SLC start. Blake Payne pitched the ninth inning in relief as the Bears beat the Mavericks for the first time since joining the Southland Conference. UCA out-hit UTA 12-6.

Sophomore catcher Travis Snider hit a three-run home run in the third inning and freshman center fielder Jonathan Davis added a solo shot in the fourth as the Bears (19-20, 9-11) jumped out to an 8-1 lead after four innings. They added another run in the eighth when Greg Noble scored on a throwing error.

Snider finished 2 for 3 with 5 RBI, while Davis was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. Bryan Willson and Jordan Getchell also had two hits each.

In the opener, the Bears came back from a 12-2 deficit after five innings to go ahead 14-12 in the eighth inning. But the Mavericks (22-18, 11-9) came back and scored six runs in the ninth to pull out the victory.

UCA put up 17 hits, with seven players having multiple hits. Sophomore Ethan Harris had a grand slam in the Bears’ seven-run sixth inning that brought them within 12-9. Harris was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI, while Noble and catcher Michael Pair both had 2 RBI.

UT Arlington had 19 hits, with right fielder Preston Beck going 3 for 5 with 5 RBI.

Game 3 of the series will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday.