SAN ANTONIO — After sweeping a doubleheader from Incarnate Word on Friday, Central Arkansas came up short in its bid for a series sweep as the Bears fell 9-3 to the Cardinals on Saturday.

The Bears (22-31, 11-12 Southland) went ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Briana Whisenhunt scored from third base while Jessie Taylor was caught in a rundown between first and second, but UIW (20-28, 6-12) drew even in the bottom of the 3rd. 

UIW took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the 4th to go ahead 5-1, and after the Bears put up one in the top of the 5th on a Sarah Bigej single to score Amy Gunnells, the Cardinals came back with four more in the bottom half to pull ahead 9-2. The Bears got one more in the top of the 7th when Sam Forrest scored Tylor Dodson on a sacrifice fly, but drew no closer.

Bigej had two hits for UCA, with Gunnells and Randi Wallace each doubling for the Bears. Whisenhunt, Taylor and Taylor Dear each reached via walk. 

UCA will wrap up its regular season next weekend when the Bears host Nicholls for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m. and a single game on Sunday at Noon as they look to secure their third straight trip to the Southland Conference tournament.