CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears let an early 2-0 lead slip away Sunday and dropped a 3-2 decision to the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders in their Southland Conference series finale at Chapman Field.

    The Bears (24-20, 12-9) won the series after victories on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the Islanders (15-29, 7-14) overcame a 2-0 lead after one inning, scoring a single run in the sixth inning, then two more in the eighth to earn the victory.

    UCA starter Mark Moyer went six innings, allowing just three hits and 1 earned run. Reliever Ty Tice took the loss, allowing three hits and two unearned runs in the final two innings. 

    In the top of the first, the Bears  put up two runs off A&M-CC starter David Worrell. Jansen McCurdy had a one-out base hit and stole second base. After Hunter Strong walked, sophomore catcher William Hancock singled down the left-field line to plate McCurdy with the game's first run. Senior shortstop Brooks Balisterri added a two-out RBI single that scored Strong for a 2-0 lead.

    The Islanders struck for a run in the sixth with a leadoff double and a pair of ground outs. In the eighth, A&M-CC used two hits and a UCA error to get two runs and take the lead for good. The Bears got a runner to second base in the top of the ninth but could not tie it.

    Each team finished with six hits, with Hancock going 2 for 3 for the Bears and Cam Boudreaux going 2 for 3 for the Islanders.

    UCA returns home to Bear Stadium this weekend hosting Abilene Christian. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.