CONWAY, Ark._ A mid-week non-conference game turned into a marathon Tuesday night with the University of Central Arkansas Bears outlasting the UAPB Golden Lions 4-3 in 11 innings at Bear Stadium.

    UCA freshman first baseman Hunter Strong finally ended it with an RBI single up the middle that brought home left fielder Michael Haun, who led off the 11th inning by getting hit by a pitch for the third time in the game. Haun went to second on Brandon Montalvo's sacrifice bunt and to third on William Hancock's fly ball to center field. 

    Strong, from Sheridan, then hit the first pitch he saw from UAPB reliever Ciji Ramos past the pitcher into center field to easily score Haun with the game-winning run.

    UAPB (6-17) used 11 pitchers and played 25 total players in the game. UCA (12-11), on the other hand, used just four pitchers and two pinch-hitters, including Strong in the seventh inning. UCA closer Jacob Murray (1-2) pitched the final three innings to earn the victory, while Ramos (0-3) took the loss.

    The Bears stranded 13 runners, including the bases loaded in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth. UCA took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, with the help of one of UAPB's two errors. Tyler Langley reached on an error to open the inning and eventually scored on William Hancock's base hit to center field.

    The Golden Lions went ahead 2-1 in the fourth with three hits and a UCA error. The Bears put up two runs of their own in the seventh. Montalvo singled to left field and went to second on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch. Hancock brought him in with a base hit to right field before Matt Anderson tripled to the gap in right center to make it 3-2.

    UAPB tied it at 3-3 in the eighth to send it to extra innings. UCA left runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but finally got to Ramos, who was a starter for the Golden Lions but came out of the bullpen for 1 2/3 innings. Both teams managed only eight hits in the 3:20 game. Hancock went 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and a run scored for UCA, while Montalvo finished 2 for 4 with a run scored. 

    UCA returns to Southland Conference action this weekend, taking on Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas. The first game is set for 6:30 Friday.