CONWAY, Ark. _ Junior righthander Connor Gilmore tossed a four-hit complete game Friday night as the University of Central Arkansas Bears grabbed a comeback 4-3 victory over the Sam Houston State Bearkats in Southland Conference action at Bear Stadium.

    Gilmore (3-2) pitched his second consecutive complete game win over Sam Houston dating back to last season. He allowed three runs in the top of the second inning but shut the Bearkats down after that, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters of the game. Gilmore struck out four and walked two as UCA improved to 13-7 overall and 7-3 in SLC play, jumping a game ahead of the Bearkats in the league standings.

    The Bears got one of the runs back in the bottom of the second inning, with help from the Bearkats. Braxton Phillips singled to left field and Hayden Steele followed with another. A wild pitch moved both runners up and a throwing error on the SHSU catcher allowed Phillips to score to make it 3-1.

    UCA took the lead with a three-run sixth inning. Senior designated hitter started the rally with a one-out double down the left-field line. Phillips was hit by a pitch and Steele brought both in with another double just inside the left-field foul line. Left fielder Wesley Hoover added the final run with an RBI single to the right-center gap that scored Steele for a 4-3 advantage.

    The Bears threatened again in the seventh but left two runners on base. Gilmore set the Bearkats down in order in the eighth and returned in the ninth and worked around a walk to end it.

    Steele, a junior third baseman from St. Joseph, Mo., finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored, while Hull was 2 for 3 and center fielder Tyler Langley was 2 for 5 as UCA finished with 10 hits off two SHSU pitchers.

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