CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears got three RBI from Garrett Brown and a solid pitching performance from Caleb McClanahan to down the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders 7-2 in the Southland Conference series opener on Friday at Chapman Field.

Brown, a senior third baseman from Marlow, Okla., went 3 for 5 with 3 two-out RBI. McClanahan (7-3), a senior right hander from Wynne, went eight innings, striking out 8 and allowing 8 hits and 2 runs.

The Bears, who improved to 27-9 overall and 7-6 in SLC play, had six two-out RBI on the night. Brown spotted UCA a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-run single that scored Jonathan Davis and Ethan Harris.

The Bears made it 3-0 in the third on Scott Zimmerle’s RBI single that brought in Davis. The Islanders (21-16, 8-5), who entered the game in a four-way tie for first in the SLC, got one run in the third but UCA answered with another in the top of the fifth on Brown’s single down the left-field line.

After A&M-CC made it 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth, UCA added three more runs over the next two innings. In the sixth, Justin Treece doubled and scored on Forrestt Allday’s sacrifice fly to left center. In the seventh, Michael Marietta hit a two-out double that scored both Davis and Zimmerle for a 7-2 lead.

Senior Ethan McKinzie came on in the ninth and got the Islanders out in order on nine pitches, with Davis ending the game with a diving catch in center.

   Davis went 1 for 2 with 3 walks and 3 runs scored. Zimmerle finished 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored, while Treece was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Marietta went 1 for 4 with 2 RBI.

Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.