CONWAY, Ark. _ Eight strong innings from freshman Cody Davenport and a 13-hit attack carried the University of Central Arkansas Bears to a 9-0 victory over the Incarnate Word Cardinals in Southland Conference action on Friday night at Bear Stadium.

    Davenport. a righthander from Fayetteville, went eight scoreless innings, allowing seven hits, striking out three and walking two. UCA's defense turned three double plays behind him as UIW (12-33, 5-17) left seven runners on base.

    UCA (19-23, 10-12) got a combined nine hits, seven runs scored and five RBI from its top four players in the lineup. Senior center fielder Tyler Langley went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Junior shortstop Brooks Balisterri went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored, while senior second baseman Chris Townsend was 3 for 4 with 3 run scored and an RBI. Senior left fielder Brandon Montalvo finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.

    The Beares got all the runs they would need in the second inning, scoring twice after the first three batters of the inning drew walks off UIW starter Denson Hull. Langley eventually brought in both runs with a single over the shorstop's head, scoring Logan Preston and Hunter Strong.

    UCA added a run in the third when Townsend was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double play ground out. In the fifth, Matt Anderson had an RBI single and Preston added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0. Preston added his second RBI in the seventh with a base hit that scored Townsend again.

    The Bears added their final three runs in the eighth off UIW's fifth pitcher of the night. Townsend had an RBI single and Montalvo added a two-run double to the left-center gap, just UCA's second extra base hit of the game. 

    Senior Connor McClain pitched a perfect ninth inning with three straight ground outs. The Cardinals ended with seven hits, with no player getting multiple hits. Davenport improved to 4-2, while Hull dropped to 0-3.

    Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday.