HOUSTON, Texas _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears exploded for 16 runs in the final five innings Sunday to take a 17-4 run-rule victory over the Houston Baptist Huskies in Southland Conference action at Husky Field.

    Tied at 1-1 after two innings, the Bears outscored the Huskies 16-3 over the next five innings to win their third consecutive SLC series and take their second run-rule Sunday victory in the past three weeks. UCA (17-16, 7-8) scored 17 runs off just 12 hits and took advantage of three HBU errors and five hit batters.

    Redshirt freshman Mark Moyer (4-1) won his fourth consecutive outing, a complete-game, seven hitter, striking out six and walking two. HBU used seven pitchers, with starter Zach Carter (4-3) taking the loss.

    After the Huskies took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, UCA tied it in the second on an RBI single by shortstop Brooks Balisterri. The Bears then put up five runs in the third, five more in the fourth and six runs in the sixth to win going away.

    In the third, UCA scored five runs on just two hits, a two-run single by Balisterri and RBI single by second baseman Eddy Sanchez. Justin McCarty brought in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and William Hancock added a sacrifice fly. 

    Keaton Presley started the five-run fourth with a leadoff double and eventually scored on a fielder's choice by Hunter Strong. McCarty came through with a two-run double and Hancock added a two-run single up the middle for an 11-2 lead. After a scoreless fifth inning, UCA struck again in the sixth, getting six run on just three hits. Jansen McCurdy singled up the middle for two runs and Rigo Aguilar hit his team-leading fourth home run, a three-run shot to left.

    Balisterri finished 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, while Aguilar, McCarty and Hancock knocked in three runs each on the day. Strong, Aguilar, McCarty and Sanchez all scored three times.

    UCA  plays at Oklahoma State at 4 p.m. Tuesday before returning home to host Dallas Baptist in a three-game non-conference series beginning Thursday at Bear Stadium.