COOKEVILLE, Tenn. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears earned a split of a non-conference doubleheader with Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, dropping the opener 11-6 and winning the nightcap 10-6 at Bush Stadium.

    The Bears (6-3) scored in the first five innings of the victory, including home runs from third baseman Rigo Aguilar and designated hitter William Hancock in the third. It was Aguilar's second home run of the night after a two-run shot in the first inning of the opener. 

    Aguilar had an RBI ground out in the first inning as UCA took the early lead again. Shortstop Brooks Balisterri had an RBI single in the second inning before the third-inning home runs made it a 4-2 Bears' lead. The Golden Eagles tied it with two runs in the bottom of the third but UCA's offense took over from there. 

    Keaton Presley had a two-run base hit in the fourth, scoring Zach Langston and Cody LeBlanc. Balisterri, Michael Haun and Presley brought in three consecutive runs in the fifth with base hits to center field to make it 9-4.  The Golden Eagles got single runs in the fifth and sixth but UCA added one more in the eighth on Haun's double and Aguilar's base hit to center to set the final. 
    
    Ty Tice pitched two scoreless innings and Tyler Gray struck out two in a scoreless ninth.

    Presley finished 3 for 5 with 3 RBI, while Balisterri was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored as UCA finished with 15 hits off seven TTU pitchers.       

    In the opening game, the Golden Eagles overcame a 2-0 first-inning deficit. Tennessee Tech scored four runs in the bottom of the first, added one in the second and three more in the fourth. The Bears rallied with four runs in the top of the ninth but the rally fell short. 

    The Bears scored all four runs with two outs, on a two-run single by Rigo Aguilar, and RBI single by William Hancock and an error that allowed the fourth run to cross the plate. UCA got two in the first on Keaton Presley's leadoff double and Aguilar's first career home run, a two-run shot to right field.
    
    Aguilar finished 2 for 4 wit 4 RBI and Presley was 2 for 2 and scored twice.

    Freshman starter Kaleb Schmidt took the loss for the Bears.