THIBODAUX, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored four runs in the final two innings Saturday but needed five, falling 6-5 to the Nicholls Colonels in Game 2 of their Southland Conference series at Ray E. Didier Field.

    The Bears (14-19, 5-9) trailed 4-1 heading to the eight inning, but scored three runs in the eighth and another in the ninth before Nicholls reliever Robbie Petty got a pop up to end the threat and the game. UCA out-hit Nicholls 13-10 but made two errors and had two runners caught stealing.

    The Bears grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when senior center fielder had a lead-off infield ingle, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ty Tice and scored on Chris Townsend's base hit to second base. The Colonels (16-20, 7-10) matched that run in the bottom of the inning, then took the lead with a single run in the second.

    Two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings gave the Colonels a 4-1 cushion before UCA staged its rally. In the top of the eighth, Langley greeted reliever Zac Thiac with a single that went off the pitcher's body. Thiac left the game Daniel Goff and Tice started him off with an infield single that sent Langley to third. Townsend then doubled down the right-field line to score both runners and close the gap to 4-3. 

    Brandon Montalvo singled up the middle to move Townsend to third, and he scored on  Logan Preston's sacrifice fly to center field to tie it at 4-4. The Colonels used a pair of hits, a throwing error and a passed ball to go back in front 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth. 

    In the ninth, UCA got a one-out triple to right center by freshman Hunter Strong and he scored on another infield single by Tice before Petty got Townsend to pop up to end the game.

    Langley finished 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored while Townsend finished 3 for 5 with 3 RBI. Tice was 2 for 4 with an RBI and run scored. Gavin Wehby was 3 for 4 for Nicholls. UCA sophomore reliever Chris Durham took the loss, allowing the two runs in the eighth. The Bears' starter Cody Davenport went 7 innings, striking out 9 but allowing 4 earned runs.
    
    The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.