NEW ORLEANS _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears posted eight runs in the third inning Thursday night and cruised to a 14-0, seven-inning victory over the New Orleans Privateers in Southland Conference play at First NBC Ballpark.

    The Bears (27-21, 15-13) rolled up a season-high 20 hits and it was more than enough with senior right hander Bryce Biggerstaff on the mound for his final career regular-season start. Biggerstaff tossed his third straight complete game, allowing just four hits to improve to 6-5 overall.

    All nine starters for the Bears had at least one hit and one run scored, with senior shortstop Justin Treece going 4 for 5, Nate Ferrell going 3 for 5 with 3 runs batted in and Carson Dowdle finishing 3 for 5. Seven UCA players finished with RBIs, six with multiple runs batted in.

    UCA, which won its fourth consecutive game, added six more runs in the fourth through sixth innings to earn its first run-rule victory of the season.  

    The Bears sent 12 batters to the plate in the big third inning, scoring eight runs on just six hits. Treece had a two-run single and catcher Charles Deckard and Doug Votolato added two-run doubles. In the fourth, an RBI double by Ferrell and an RBI single by Scott Zimmerle made it 11-0.

    UCA put it even more out of reach with three runs in the sixth, all coming with two outs, before leaving the bases loaded against New Orlean's fourth pitcher of the night. UNO starter Nick Halliday (2-7) took the loss, allowing 10 earned runs in 3.0 innings or work.

    Biggerstaff struck out three and did not walk a batter for the third consecutive game. Votolato, Chris Townsen, Tyler Langley and Zimmerle all had two hits each.

    Game 2 of the series is set for 6:30 Friday, with the series finale at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Bears need to win one more game to assure a spot in next week's Southland Conference Tournament being played at Bear Stadium.