CARBONDALE, Ill. _ Junior Connor Gilmore tossed a seven-hitter Thursday night, striking out six in a complete-game 5-2 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis in the opening game of their non-conference series at Richard "Itchy" Jones Stadium.

    The Bears (15-9) took advantage of 11 walks from three SIU pitchers to go along with just six hits. UCA fell behind 2-1 after five innings but scored four runs over the final four innings to back Gilmore's second straight and eighth career complete game.

    UCA scored first in the top of the first when center fielder Tyler Langley led off with a walk, moved to second on Wesley Hoover's walk, went to third on Chris Townsend's sacrifice bunt and came in on Travis Hull's RBI single. SIU (5-23) tied it in the second inning, and went ahead 2-1 with another in the fifth.

    The Bears then manufactured the tying run in the sixth without a hit. The Salukis walked four in the inning _ and picked one off _ before catcher Travis Hull scored on a wild pitch to tie it at 2-2.  UCA added two more runs in the seventh when Langley had a bunt single, advanced to third on Hoover's single and scored on a throwing error. Townsend followed with an RBI double to left center to score Hoover.

    With Gilmore cruising, the Bears added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on Matt Anderson's sacrifice fly that scored Langley again.

    Langley finished 2 for 3 with 3 runs scored, while Hoover was 2 for 4 with a run. Gilmore improved to 4-2 on the season.

    Game 2 is set for 1 p.m. Friday.