CONWAY, Ark. _ The Evansville Purple Aces put up five runs in the fourth inning and downed Central Arkansas 9-3 on Sunday in the series finale at Bear Stadium.

    UCA took the series 2-1 after a 16-9 win on Friday and a 10-9, 10-inning victory on Saturday.

    The Bears managed nine hits against four Evansville pitchers on Sunday, including a home run by junior designated hitter Justin McCarty, a solo shot in the second inning that tied the game at 1-1. The Aces (1-2) finally got to UCA starter Brandon Hagerla in the fourth, scoring five runs on six hits in the frame. 

    After Evansville added a run in the fifth, UCA matched it with a run in the bottom of the inning on Rigo Aguilar's RBI single to left field. UCA senior reliever Jacob Murray held the Purple Aces in check until the ninth inning when they added two more runs to pad their lead to 9-2. 

    The Bears, facing Evansville's closer Ryan Brady for the second straight day, put two runners on before sophomore first baseman Hunter Strong doubled to left center to score Michael Haun, who had led off the inning with a base hit. Brady then recorded three consecutive outs to end it. Brady had given up the walk-off home run to Josh Somdecerff on Saturday.

    Strong finished 3 for 4 with an RBI, while second baseman Eddie Sanchez was the only other Bear with multiple hits, going 2 for 3 with a run scored. Andrew Tanous and Travis Tokarek both had three hits for the Purple Aces.
    
    UCA plays at Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 3 p.m. Tuesday before returning home next weekend for a four-game series against Eastern Illinois, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.