NATCHITOCHES, La. _ The  Missouri State Bears used a three-run fifth inning to down the University of Central Arkansas Bears 6-4 on Friday in the series opener being played at Northwestern State's Brown-Stroud Field.

    MSU (5-2) took a 2-0 lead in the third inning off UCA starter Connor Gilmore, with Eduardo Castro and Blake Graham supplying the RBI. The home Bears got three more unearned runs in the fifth, taking advantage of a UCA throwing error.

    The Bears (3-2) put up four runs in the eighth to close the gap to 5-4. Senior third baseman Nate Ferrell hit his first career home run for the first run. Left fielder Brandon Montalvo reached on a fielder's choice and catcher Travis Hull singled to right center, moving Montalvo to third.

   Logan Preston drew a walk to load the bases and pinch hitter Joey Pinney cleared them with a double to the right-center gap. 

    Jake Burger laced a triple to right field in the bottom of the eighth to give MSU a 6-4 cushion heading into the ninth inning. UCA loaded the bases on base hits by Ferrell, Matt Anderson and Montalvo but could not bring anyone home against MSU's Bryan Young.

    Hull finished 3 for 5, while Ferrell was 2 for 5 and Anderson was 2 for 4. Montalvo was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a pair of walks. Gilmore allowed 7 hits and 2 earned runs, striking out 4 and walking 2 in 5 innings. 

    The teams meet again at 10 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.