CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears led for seven innings Tuesday but the Missouri Tigers scored eight runs in the eighth to take a 12-7 victory at Taylor Stadium.

UCA’s bullpen fell apart in the eighth inning, as a combination of four pitchers allowed 8 runs, walked 2 and hit 4 batters. The Tigers (15-8) sent 13 batters to the plate and had just four hits in the inning.

Junior Ethan McKinzie was solid for six innings in relief of starter Jeffery Enloe. He staked the Bears to a 7-4 lead through seven innings, allowing 7 hits, 2 earned runs and striking out 6. But the rest of the bullpen promptly gave back the lead and more in the eighth as the Tigers moved to 2-1 in the career series with the Bears.

The Bears (10-11) led 4-1 after three innings. In the first, Jonathan Davis led off with a walk, stole second and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ethan Harris. He scored on Forrestt Allday’s ground out. UCA got another run in the second on an RBI ground out by Blake Marchal that scored Garrett Brown.

The Bears made it 4-0 in the top of the third on RBI singles by Logan Moon and Doug Votolato. Marchal walked, stole second and scored on an error for a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning.

After Missouri closed to within 5-4 in the fourth, UCA got single runs in the seventh and eighth innings for a 7-4 lead. Griffin Glaude’s fielder’s choice scored Moon in the seventh and  Bryan Willson singled to right field to bring in Davis in the eighth.

Willson went 3 for 5 for the Bears, while Davis, Moon and Brown had two hits each.

    The teams will meet again at 1 p.m. Wednesday.