SAN ANTONIO, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears rallied with five runs in the seventh but came up a run short Saturday in a 9-8 loss to the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals in Southland Conference action at Sullivan Field.

    UCA (8-12, 1-4) trailed 9-3 going to the seventh inning but plated five runs on just two hits. Michaul Haun was hit by a pitch with one out and then stole second. Keaton Presley walked before Jansen McCurdy singled up the middle to score Haun with the first run. A new pitcher for UIW recorded the second out but then hit William Hancock with a pitch to load the bases.

    Rigo Aguilar drew a walk to bring in Presley before Eddy Sanchez cleared the bases with a double to center field for three more runs to cut the Bears' deficit to 9-8. 

    The Bears went in order in the eighth inning and put one runner on base in the ninth but could not tie it.

    The Bears scored first in the opening inning when Presley tripled to the right-center gap and scored on McCurdy's sacrifice fly to right center. UIW picked up two runs in the second inning and UCA re-took the lead  in the fourth with a pair of runs on Brooks Balisterri's two-run base hit up the middle that scored Hancock and Strong.

    The Cardinals (12-8, 3-2) took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth. UIW finished with 15 hits off three UCA pitchers. Starter Jacob Murray (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs and striking out five in four innings. Gavin Tillery allowed five runs in 1/3 of an inning before Will Brand went the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and striking out six.

    Strong finished 3 for 5 for the Bears, while Sanchez had a team-high three RBI, with McCurdy and Balisterri adding two each.

    The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.