CONWAY, Ark. _ The Nicholls Colonels brought their bats again Sunday in downing the University of Central Arkansas Bears 5-3 in their Southland Conference series finale at Bear Stadium.

    The Colonels (21-34-1, 10-8) had 14 hits against three UCA pitchers and withstood a ninth-inning rally by the Bears (18-12, 9-6). UCA, stymied at the plate for most of the day, scored twice in the ninth against Nicholls closer Stuart Holmes, who leads the nation with 11 saves. Catcher Travis Hull drew a one-out walk and pinch runner Ty Tice stole second base with two outs.

    Tyler Langley walked and Wesley Hoover singled up the middle to score Tice and send Langley to third and close the gap to 5-2. Chris Townsend then followed with another single to left center that brought in Langley and made it a 5-3 game. Holmes then got Matt Anderson to ground out to end the threat.

    UCA managed only five hits against a combination of four Nicholls pitchers. Townsend was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBI. UCA starter Riley Echols (2-2) went seven innings, allowing 11 hits and five runs, while striking out four and walking three. Nicholls starter Justin Sinibaldi improved to 7-1, lasting five innings and allowing just one earned run while walking four.

    Trailing 3-0, the Bears plated their first run in the fifth when third baseman Hayden Steele and Langley walked and Townsend's single to left scored Steele. The Colonels got three runs in the third _ aided by a home run by shortstop Joey Morales _ and single runs in the sixth and eighth innings. The top three hitters in the Nicholls lineup went a combined 8 for 13.

    UCA plays at Arkansas State in Jonesboro at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Bears return to SLC action next weekend at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La.