CONWAY, Ark. _ The Northwestern State Demons answered Central Arkansas' late rally with one of their own Sunday afternoon to claim a 7-5 victory in 10 innings in the Southland Conference series finale at Bear Stadium.

    The Bears (16-22, 7-11) came back from a 5-3 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to prolong the game. But the Demons (20-18, 11-10) plated two runs in the top of the 10th inning and the Bears could not match it in the bottom of the inning, despite putting two runners on base with two outs. NSU reliever Devin Bear then forced a fielder's choice for the final out.

    UCA's top four hitters, Tyler Langley, Brooks Balisterri, Chris Townsend and Brandon Montalvo, combined to go 10 for 18. Balisterri, a junior shortstop from Benton, and Townsend, a senior second baseman Batesville, Miss., had three hits each, with Townsend getting two RBI and Balisterri scoring twice. However, the remainder of the lineup had just one hit, an infield single by freshman Hunter Strong in the second inning.

    The Demons, who won the series 2-1, scored two runs in the top of the first on consecutive home runs, but the Bears did the same in the bottom of the frame. Senior Logan Preston reached on a fielding error, scoring Balisterri. Matt Anderson then hit a sacrifice fly to tie it at 2-2.

    NSU got a run in the third on Nick Heath's solo home run but UCA got it back in the fifth when Ty Tice walked, stole second and scored on Langley's RBI single. Single runs in the eighth and ninth made it 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Langley was hit by a pitch for the fourth time in the series and went to third on Balisterri's base hit to left center.

    Townsend then tied it up with a double to left center. The Bears loaded the bases before the Demons got the final out with a strikeout to force extra innings. The Demons got a walk, a hit by pitch and a pair of hits to take their 7-5 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Langley drew a two-out walk and Balisterri an infield single before Townsend's fielder's choice ended it.

    UCA reliever Chris Durham (3-5) took the loss, while Bear (1-1) got the victory, allowing one hit and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings of relief. 

    The Bears will travel to New Orleans to take on the Privateers in Southland Conference play this weekend.