THIBODAUX, La. _ A solid pitching performance from junior Riley Echols and timely hitting up and down the lineup gave the University of Central Arkansas Bears a 7-2 victory over the Nicholls Colonels in the series finale at Ray E. Didier Field.

    Echols (2-1) pitched into the ninth inning, allowing just six hits and two runs. Sophomore Tyler Gray relieved with one out in the ninth and struck out the ifnal two Colonels to preserve the victory.

    The Bears (15-19, 6-9) broke open a scoreless game with a run in the fifth inning on Justin McCarty's single and Hunter Strong's RBI double. The Colonels (16-21, 7-11), who won the first two games of the series, answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

    But UCA struck back with four runs in the top of the sixth and never trailed again. The Bears batted around against three different Nichollls pitchers. Senior second baseman Chris Townsend, who finished 3 for 4, scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. Sophomore catcher Justin McCarty added a two-run single that brought in Brandon Montalvo and Butch Rea. Brooks Balisterri then made it 5-2 with an RBI bunt single.

    In the seventh inning, UCA put it out of reach with two more runs, on RBI singles by Cody Davenport and Balisterri. Echols got the Colonels in order in the seventh and worked around a two-out walk in the eighth. He struck out the first batter in the ninth before walking pinch hitter Ross McWhorter. Gray came on and allowed a base hit before striking out Devin Morrill looking and Joey Morales swinging to end it.

    McCarty, Balisterri and Strong had two hits apiece, with McCarty and Balisterri getting a pair of RBIs each. Townsend and Montalvo both scored two runs for the Bears, who won a road game for just the second time this season. The Colonels had just seven hits with Dylan Manichia going 2 for 4. Nicholls starter Alex Ernestine (2-2) took the loss, allowing 6 hits and 4 earned runs. 

    UCA takes on Top 10 powerhouse Vanderbilt on Tuesday night in Nashville, Tenn. Game time is 5:30 at Hawkins Field. The Bears return to Southland Conference play at home this weekend, hosting the Northwestern State Demons, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday at Bear Stadium.