NATCHITOCHES, La. _ A two-run home run by junior third baseman Rigo Aguilar was not enough for the University of Central Arkansas Bears in a 3-2 loss to the Northwestern State Demons in the opening game of their Southland Conference series on Friday night at Brown-Stroud Field.

    Aguilar's two-run shot, his team-high third of the season, spotted the Bears a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning but the Demons (8-16, 3-4) evened the score with two in the bottom of the frame on redshirt freshman Austin Townsend's two-run home run.

    NSU then took the lead for good on Matthew Alford's sacrifice fly in the sixth. The Bears (13-15, 3-7) loaded the bases in the seventh inning but could not score, then put the potential tying and winning runs on base in the top of the ninth but failed to score, ending the game by grounding into a double play.

    UCA junior righthander Tyler Gray went the distance, allowing six hits and three earned runs while tying his career high with 11 strikeouts. The Bears, who had won five of their last six games entering the series, managed just five hits off NSU pitchers Nathan Jones (3-3) and Kyle Swanson, who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing no runs.

    The series continues with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.