CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored the second-most runs they have against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday and they needed every one of them, holding on for a wild 15-13 victory in Southland Conference play at Chapman Field.

    The victory was the sixth consecutive league win for the Bears (24-19, 12-8) and gave them their fifth straight SLC series victory. The Islanders (14-29, 6-14) dropped their 10th game in the past 11.

    UCA led by as much as 11-4 through 4 1/2 innings but lost that lead in the fifth inning when the Islanders scored eight times. A four-run eighth inning put the Bears back in front for good but not without some more late drama.

    The Islanders entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 15-13 but loaded the bases off the combination of relievers Brandon Hagerla and Ty Tice, But with two outs, Tice got junior outfielder Dalton Stark to pop up to shortstop Brooks Balisterri to end it. Hagerla, who went 4.0 innings in relief of starter Cody Davenport, picked up his team-leading seventh win while Tice earned his team-high fifth save.

    The Bears, who had four innings with at least three runs scored, finished with 14 hits, but had four errors after entering the game as the top defensive team in the conference. Junior outfielder Keaton Presley finished 2 for 5 with 4 RBI and 3 runs scored, including a two-run triple. Junior third baseman Rigo Aguilar was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI, with a three-run double in the third inning that gave UCA a 6-0 lead.

    Sophomore first baseman Hunter Strong went 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, 3 runs scored and 3 walks. Center fielder Michael Haun went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

    Strong and Balisterri had RBIs in a three-run first inning and it only got crazier from there. After A&M's eight-run fifth inning, the Bears found themselves down 12-11. Justin McCarty led off with a base hit and Josh Somdecerff pinch ran for him. A sacrifice bunt by Balisterri followed by a walk by Eddy Sanchez put runners at first and second before Somdecerff went to third on a wild pitch.

    Michael Haun drew another walk off the fifth Islander pitcher Chris Cooper to load the bases. Presley then got a bloop two-run single to center to give the Bears the lead. Dusty Wright followed with another two-run single to make it 15-13.      

    The series finale is set for 11 a.m. Sunday. After a week of final exams, UCA returns home on Friday, hosting Abilene Christian in SLC play.