CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas celebrated “Senior Day” with a 5-2 victory over Sam Houston State and a series victory over the Bearkats on Sunday at Bear Stadium.

UCA (23-27, 12-18) got a solid, six-inning performance from senior right hander Evan Cox and a 3-for-4 day from senior first baseman Jonathan Houston to keep alive their Southland Conference tournament chances. The Bears close out the regular season next weekend at UTSA.

The Bears fell behind briefly Sunday but after taking a 2-1 lead in the third inning, road the strong pitching of Cox and junior reliever Andy Steinmetz to their second victory over the third-place Bearkats. Steinmetz earned a three-inning save, allowing just one hit and striking out one over the final three innings for his first save.

Trailing 1-0 in the third, senior Kyle Prevett started it for the Bears with a leadoff bunt single. Freshman Jonathan Davis singled to advance Prevett before Houston laced a triple to right field for two runs. The triple was a school-record seventh of the season for Houston, who had four RBI on the day.

In the fifth inning, Davis walked and immediately stole second. Houston’s single through the left side scored Davis for a 3-1 lead. UCA tacked on two more runs in the seventh when Davis had a base hit, stole second again, his 21st steal of the season, and scored on Houston’s double to right field.

Catcher Travis Snider then knocked in Houston with a single to left center.

The Bearkats (34-19, 17-13) came in with the top rated pitching staff in the league but allowed 23 runs, all earned, in the three-game series. Cox (3-5) and Steinmetz limited SHSU to six hits, only one for extra bases, on Sunday.

Davis went 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored, while Snider was 2 for 4.

The series at UTSA begins at 6 p.m. Thursday.