CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas turned to its seniors to extend its season past this weekend, and they did just that Friday night with a walk-off, 3-2 victory over league leader Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference action at Bear Stadium.

    The victory, UCA's second straight over SLU, puts the Bears (27-25, 15-14) into next week's SLC Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. The Lions (36-17, 22-7) dropped their fourth SLC game in their last five and dropped to second place behind Sam Houston State, which swept Houston Baptist in a doubleheader Friday. The series wraps up at 1 p.m. Saturday with UCA assured a spot in the tournament field, with only seeding up for grabs.

    After sophomore righthander Ty Tice pitched eight strong innings, allowing just two runs, the UCA seniors took over. Senior Connor McClain pitched around a two-out base hit in the top of the ninth and ended the inning by striking out Jameson Fisher, the NCAA's leading hitter, who entered the game hitting .453. He went 0 for 4 on Friday.

    Sophomore Michael Haun started the rally for the Bears in the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff single off SLU starter Mac Sceroler, who had stymied the Bears the entire game, limiting them to two hits and no runs through eight innings. After Haun's hit, SLU closer Kade Granier came on, sporting a minuscule 0.28 earned-run average. He recorded consecutive outs to send the Bears to their final at-bat, still trailing 2-0.

    Senior second baseman Chris Townsend singled sharply up the middle, advancing Haun to second. Senior left fielder Brandon Montalvo then drove in Haun with a base hit up the middle to make it 2-1. Matt Anderson then hit a 2-0 pitch off Granier to left-center field, bringing in Townsend with the tying run and Montalvo with the game-winner, setting off a wild celebration on the turf of Bear Stadium.

    The Bears, who have now won three consecutive games, finished with just six hits, but four of those came in the decisive ninth inning off two of the top pitchers in the league. Montalvo finished 2 for 4 and Anderson was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI. 

    The Lions, who led the SLC wire-to-wire until Friday night, took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Fisher grounded into a double play, allowing Brennan Breaud to score. SLU made it a 2-0 advantage in the sixth when Jacob Seward's infield single scored Carson Crites, who was hit by a pitch. 

    Sceroler, who got a no decision, went 8 innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 run and striking out 6 on just 86 pitches. Tice, who started in right field in Thursday's 13-5 victory, struck out a season-high seven in just his third start of the year and fourth of his career. 

    The Bears, who won the 2013 SLC Tournament and finished as runnerup in 2014, will host "Senior Day" activities Saturday, beginning at 12:45.