NACOGDOCHES, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will open Southland Conference play this weekend with just seven games under their belt due to a month of winter weather.

    The Bears (4-3) will take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in a three-game road series, one that has also been altered by the weather. The teams open the series at 4 p.m. Friday, moved up from the original 6:30 start. The final two games will be played as a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at noon at Jaycees Field.

    UCA's last game was a 6-4 victory over Missouri State last Sunday, the finale of a series that was moved from Springfield, Mo., to Natchitoches, La. The Bears then had two mid-week games at the University of Missouri canceled because of weather. Three games have already been postponed until later in the season.

    Junior infielder  Anderson is the Bears' leading hitter through seven games with a .417 batting average. Junior center fielder Tyler Langley is next at .409, followed by junior right fielder Braxton Phillips (.385) and junior shortstop Logan Preston (.364, 3 home runs). UCA has a team batting average of .296 with 13 doubles and six home runs. 

    UCA will start juniors Connor Gilmore  (1-2, 4.11 earned-run average), Andrew Kemmerer (0-1, 4.22) and Brandon Hagerla (1-0, 3.55) on the mound in the series. The Bears' pitching staff has struck out 45 batters but walked 27 on the season. 

    The Bears are scheduled to play at Wichita State on Tuesday before returning home to host the Lamar Cardinals in an SLC series beginning next Friday.