NEW ORLEANS, La. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears got a one-out triple from freshman Hunter Strong and a wild pitch from New Orleans closer Daniel Martinez in the top of the 11th inning Friday to take a 4-3 victory over the Privateers in Southland Conference action at Maestri Field.

    Sophomore Tyler Gray (3-1), who went the final 2 2/3 innings for the Bears, struck out UNO's Chase Calderara for the first out and then Preston Marsh for the final out to seal it. Freshman starter Cody Davenport put up a quality effort, allowing a single earned run in 8 1/3 innings, striking out four and walking none.

    In the 11th, Strong followed Justin McCarty's ground out with a triple to the wall in center field. After Martinez got Ty Tice on strikes for the second out, he uncorked his 12th wild pitch of the season, allowing Strong to score his second run of the game. Martinez leads the SLC with nine saves but took the loss with three innings of relief, despite striking out five. Strong and junior shortstop Brooks Balisterri both finished with three hits for the Bears, who were playing their second consecutive extra-inning game. 

    The Privateers (25-16, 9-10), who entered the game 17-5 at home, used three hits and a pair of UCA errors to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning. They quickly made it 3-0 in the third on designated hitter Hezekiah Randolph's solo home run. UCA came back with a run in the third when Logan Preston singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Matt Anderson followed with a double that scored Preston.

    After Anderson went to third on another wild pitch, Strong doubled down the right-field line to make it 3-2 and send the Privateers to their bullpen early. Tice singled to right to put runners at first and third before Tyler Langley then executed a safety squeeze bunt that brought home Strong and tied it at 3-3.

    It stayed that way until the 11th but not without both teams threatening. The Bears left two runners on in the seventh and the Privateers stranded a runner at third in the ninth and two more in the 10th. Gray got a strikeout to end the ninth, 10th and 11th innings.

    The Bears and Privateers will conclude the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday in advance of severe weather on Sunday.