SAN ANTONIO, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears allowed a four-run inning Sunday, then left the bases loaded in the ninth inning in a 5-3 loss to the Incarnate Word Cardinals in Southland Conference action at Sullivan Field.

    UCA (8-13, 1-5) dropped the series 2-1 to the Cardinals. The Bears led 2-0 in the middle of the third inning but the Cardinals (13-8, 4-2) put up four runs on four hits in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. 

    The Bears got one run back in the eighth inning on Hunter Strong's double to right field and Rigo Aguilar's RBI triple to left, but UIW did the same in the bottom of the eighth for the 5-3 final. 

    UCA's Brooks Balisterri led off the ninth with a walk but was erased with a double play. Still, the Bears loaded the bases on walks by Keaton Presley and Jansen McCurdy and an error on UIW's reliever Cody Allen. But Allen got a ground out to end the game and earn his first save of the season. 

    The Bears got a run in the second inning on Balisterri's RBI double to left field that scored Ty Tice, who has singled to reach base. In the third, McCurdy walked, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.  He scored on William Hancock's sacrifice fly to right for a 2-0 UCA lead.

    Strong finished 2 for 5 and Aguilar was 2 for 4 for the Bears. UCA starter Tyler Gray (2-2) took the loss despite striking out a career-high 11 batters.
    
    UCA returns home for six consecutive games, beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Southeast Missouri. The Bears also host Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. Wednesday, then an SLC series with New Orleans beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.