NATCHITOCHES, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears lost a 4-1 lead and dropped the final game of their Southland Conference series 8-4 to the Northwestern State Demons on Sunday at Brown-Stroud Field.

    The Bears (19-14, 10-8) lost the series 2-1 after winning the opener on Friday night. The Demons (22-17, 14-6) scored three runs in the bottom of the third to tie it at 4-4, when got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and two more in the seventh to take the deciding victory.

    UCA used five pitchers, with four of them allowing at least one run. The Bears also committed two errors that led to two unearned runs for starter Chris Caudle. Junior reliever Bo Stitch (4-4) took the loss, throwing two innings and allowing one earned run.

    UCA fell behind 1-0 in the first but scored two runs in the second and two more in the third to take a 4-1 lead. In the second, Brad Dillenberger, Charles Deckard and Logan Preston had consecutive singles to load the bases before Ty Tice's infield single scored two runs. Tyler Langley led off the third with a base hit, and Wesley Hoover followed with another. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Anderson moved both runners before Hayden Steele grounded out to score Langley.
    
    Dillenberger followed with and RBI single up the middle to make it 4-1. But the Demons had five hits and took advantage of one of UCA's errors to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the third. Brandon Smith pitched the final 5 1/3 innings for the Demons, allowing just two hits and no runs, striking out three.

    Tice, a freshman right fielder from Prairie Grove, was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, while Dillenberger went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. NSU's Joel Atkinson went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored from his leadoff spot.

    UCA plays at Ole Miss at 6:30 Tuesday in Oxford, Miss, and at UAPB in Pine Bluff on Wednesday. The Bears return home to host New Orleans in SLC play of Friday night.