San Antonio, Texas – The Central Arkansas Bears were unable to take advantage of a big first inning at Sullivan Field in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday. Despite taking a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Bears were fell victim to a walk-off hit, losing to the Incarnate Word Cardinals 8-7 in ten innings.

UCA (23-17, 13-10 SLC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Right fielder Tyler Langley led off the inning with a home run to left-center, and the Bears then loaded the bases with a  single, a double, and a walk. Second baseman Brad Dillenberger then poked a single through the right side to drive in left fielder Wesley Hoover and force a pitching change from UIW (17-27, 8-15 SLC). Second baseman Chris Townsend welcomed the new Cardinal hurler with a single to right field to make it 3-0. The Bears also got an RBI ground out from designated hitter Brandon Montalvo and scored a run on an error in the inning.

UIW cut into the Bears' lead thanks to a two-run home run from left fielder Jesse Hoover, but UCA got one run back in the third off of an RBI double from shortstop Logan Preston.

The Cardinals got three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 7-6 lead, but Dillenberger picked up another RBI single, this one back up the middle, to even the score at 7-7 in the top of the sixth.

Neither team was able to find a run until the tenth, when UIW put together a two-out rally to secure its second straight walk-off win.

Brandon Hagerla started for the Bears, lasting three innings and allowing five runs on 10 hits. Tyler Gray was the first Bears out of the bullpen, giving up a pair of runs in 1.1 innings, while Chris Durham kept UIW off the board over four innings of work. Ty Tice (0-1) took the loss, allowing a run on two hits in 1.1 innings.

The Bears and the Cardinals will finish their series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM.