CONWAY, Ark. _ A 10th-inning walkoff home run by junior Josh Somdecerff completed one of the most unlikely comebacks in Central Arkansas baseball history on Saturday night as the Bears downed the Evansville Purple Aces 10-9 at Bear Stadium.

    Somdecerff, a junior transfer shortstop from Connors State, hit his second home run in as many games on a 1-1 pitch from Evansville closer Ryan Brady with two outs in the bottom of the 10th. UCA had scored six runs in the ninth inning to force extra innings, with the big blow coming on a three-run triple by junior right fielder Michael Haun. 

    The Bears (2-0) were no hit through five innings by Evansville starter Patrick Schnieders and struck out 11 times against the senior righthander. They trailed 9-0 going into the bottom of the sixth. The comeback began with a three-run sixth that started with a pitching change for the Purple Aces. UCA's Hunter Strong singled up the middle on reliever Hunter Porterfield's first pitch and Rigo Aguilar followed with a full-count base hit. After a strikeout, Somdecerff walked to load the bases and pinch hitter Cody Davenport plated UCA's first run with another walk.

    A sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Jansen McCurdy made it 2-0 and Eddie Sanchez singled up the middle to score Somdecerff to cut the deficit to 9-3.

    A combination of three more Evansville pitchers kept the lead at six run until the bottom of the ninth. Aguilar drew a one-out walk against Evansville reliever Nathan Croner and Somdecerff hit a two-out single to left field. Davenport was hit by a pitch to load the bases and McCurdy walked to make it 9-4. Brady came in to get the final out but Eddie Sanchez reached on a fielding error by the Purple Aces' shortstop Stewart Nelson, with Somdecerff scoring. 

    Haun, a junior from Little Rock, then laced a triple off the wall in right center to clear the bases and close the gap to 9-8. Keaton Presley then reached on another miscue by Nelson, this time a throwing error, tying it at 9-9 and forcing extra innings.

    UCA junior closer Tyler Gray, who earned the victory in Friday's 16-9 win, came on for the 10th and set the Purple Aces down in order in the top of the 10th and eventually earned his second win of the season. Brady struck out the first two Bears in the 10th before Somdecerff ended it with a shot to left center, just to the right of the scoreboard.

    Somdecerff finished 2 for 5 with and RBI and 3 runs scored. Haun was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and a run scored, while Aguilar went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored. Redshirt freshman Gavin Tillery of Cabot threw 4 2/3 strong innings of relief, allowing just 1 earned run and striking out 5. 

    Schnieders struck out 11 and allowed no hits in 5 innings. In all the six Evansville pitchers struck out 18 Bears. UCA's four pitchers struck out  12 Purple Aces.

    The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.