CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday to beat the University of New Orleans Privateers 6-5 in walk-off fashion in Southland Conference action at Bear Stadium.

    The Bears (11-13, 2-5) recorded their second walk-off win of the week after beating Southeast Missouri in 12 innings on Tuesday. 

    UCA, trailing 5-2, loaded the bases off UNO reliever John Michael Stephens to open the ninth inning. Shortstop Brooks Balisterri had a leadoff single to center and right fielder Josh Somdecerff followed with a base hit through the right side. Pinch hitter Justin McCarty drew a walk to load the bases and Paul Rouse pinch ran for him at first.

    Jarred Taylor came in to pitch for the Privateers (13-10, 3-4) and promptly gave up a three-run triple to the left-center gap to left fielder Keaton Presley, scoring all three and tying the game at 5-5. After a strikeout, Taylor then intentionally walked both Hunter Strong and Rigo Aguilar to load the bases again with one out and set up a potential double play. 

    UCA sophomore catcher William Hancock, on a 1-1 count, hit a slow ground ball to second base that UNO's Samual Capielona fielded and threw to shortstop Aaron Palmer at second base to start an apparent double play. However, the third base umpire said Palmer came off the base allowing Presley to score the game-winning run. Hancock was also called safe at first base and UNO head coach Blake Dean was ejected after the game for arguing the call.

    Senior Brandon Hagerla (3-3) picked up the victory on the mound for the Bears with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits and striking out three. Junior Ty Tice struck out seven in his 5 2/3 innings as the starter.

    Presley and designated hitter Jansen McCurdy both had RBI singles in the fifth inning to close UCA's 3-0 deficit to just 3-2. The Privateers had taken the 3-0 lead on Tristan Clarke's three-run home run in the previous inning.

    Strong, UCA's leading hitter, went 3 for 4, while Presley finished 2 for 5 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Palmer and Dakota Dean both had three hits for UNO, which owns two victories over Top 10 LSU this season.

    Game 2 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by the series finale at 1 p.m. Sunday.