HOUSTON, Texas _ The Houston Baptist Huskies evened the Southland Conference series with the University of Central Arkansas Bears on Saturday, taking a 5-3 victory in Game 2 at Husky Stadium.

    The Huskies (14-14, 6-5) overcame a 3-2 UCA lead with single runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings to hold off the Bears (16-16, 6-8). 

    UCA sophomore Cody Davenport (2-1) went the distance for UCA, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in eight innings. HBU second pitcher Daniel Endsley (1-2) tossed five innings of scoreless relief for the win, while J.T. Newton went 1 2/3 innings for the save.

    The Bears, after falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, took the lead in the top of the second on Jansen McCurdy's two-run double that glanced off the second base bag and went into left field, scoring Dusty Wright and Michael Haun. The Huskies got one back in the bottom of the inning but UCA pushed its lead to 3-2 in the third when Rigo Aguilar led off with a triple to right center and scored on William Hancock's ground out.

    But the Bears would not score again, despite leaving two runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings. Junior right fielder Dusty Wright was the only UCA player with multiple hits, going 2 for 4. 

    The deciding game of the series is set for 2 p.m. Sunday.