HUNTSVILLE, Texas _ For the second straight day, the University of Central Arkansas Bears could not hold an early lead in falling 9-7 to the Sam Houston State Bearkats in Southland Conference play on Sunday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium.

    The Bears (12-14, 5-7), who lost a 3-0 first-inning lead in Saturday's loss, saw the Bearkats (16-13, 9-3) come back from a 6-0 deficit Sunday with nine consecutive runs to sweep the series.

    The Bears staked starter Riley Echols to a 6-0 lead after a half inning, sending 11 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning. Tyler Langley started the burst when he was hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt attempt by Michael Haun turned into a bunt single and Brandon Montalvo followed with another bunt, moving the runners to second and third.

    Second baseman Matt Anderson had an infield single to shortstop that scored Langley for a 1-0 lead. Senior third baseman Logan Preston got a base hit to left to bring in Haun. Freshman catcher William Hancock matched that single to left to load the bases before Austin White scored Anderson with yet another single to left field for a 3-0 lead. 

    Junior shortstop Brooks Balisterri recorded his first hit as a Bear, a two-run single to left center to push the lead to 5-0. Langley, UCA's leadoff hitter, gave the Bears a 6-0 advantage with another base hit to right.

    The Bearkats got three runs back in the second inning with four hits, two that did not leave the infield, and a walk. They tied the game at 6-6 with three more runs on three more hits in the fifth. SHSU pushed across two more in the sixth and then made it 9-6 with another in the seventh. UCA finally answered the nine straight runs in the top of the ninth inning on Balisterri's RBI double. 

    Balisterri, in just his fifth start of the season, went 4 for 5 with 3 RBI. White, a senior designated hitter, was 3 for 5 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored, while Langley and Preston finished with two hits each. UCA reliever Chris Durham picked up the loss, allowing 2 runs in 2.0 innings. SHSU reliever Hayden Nixon got the victory with 3.0 innings of relief, while Greg Belton got his fifth save. 

    UCA hosts UAPB at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bear Stadium before heading west to face Top 10 Oregon State in a three-game series next weekend.