HOUSTON, Texas _ Three arms and one big bat carried the University of Central Arkansas Bears to a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Houston Baptist Huskies on Friday afternoon in Southland Conference action at Husky Field.

    Sophomore first baseman Hunter Strong had a home run and a pair of doubles to lead the offensive charge for the Bears (16-15, 6-7). His two-run shot to right field in the top of the eighth tied the game for UCA and sparked a four-run inning. 

    Starter Tyler Gray, a junior from Fort Smith, pitched six strong innings, allowing eight hits and two runs and striking out four. Senior Brandon Hagerla pitched a scoreless seventh before and got his team-high fourth victory before turning it over to junior Ty Tice. He pitched the final two innings, allowing a single run and striking out three and getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to earn his team-high third save.

    After falling behind 2-0 after seven innings, the Bears _ winners of eight of their past 10 games _ added on after Strong's home run with two more runs. Junior third baseman Rigo Aguilar singled up the middle and then scored the go-ahead run on Eddy Sanchez' base hit to right field and a throwing error by HBU right fielder. Senior shortstop Brooks Balisterri followed with another RBI single to center that brough in Sanchez and made it 4-2.

    The Huskies (13-14, 5-5) got one run back in the bottom of the eighth but Tice finished it off with a strikeout and two fly ball outs to end it.

    Strong, the SLC leader in hits with 51, finished 3 for 4, while Aguilar went 2 for 4. The Huskies out-hit the Bears 11-8 but left 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the eighth. 

    Game 2 of the series is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.