SUGAR LAND, Texas _ The second meeting in three days between the University of Central Arkansas Bears and Houston Baptist Huskies in the Southland Conference Tournament went to the Huskies on Friday night, setting up yet a third meeting coming up on Saturday at Constellation Field.

    The Huskies (29-24) scored twice in the second inning and added three more runs in the fourth on Friday night to hand the Bears (32-25) their first tournament loss and set up an elimination game for 1 p.m. Saturday. UCA, which beat HBU 15-4 in a run rule game in Wednesday's tournament opener, did not score until the seventh inning, and also played the final six innings without head coach Allen Gum, who was ejected in the top of the fourth by the home plate umpire.  

    The Huskies, who ousted top seed McNeese State 5-4 earlier in the day, plated two runs in the second on a two-run home run by designated hitter Christian Thames off UCA starter Cody Davenport. HBU got three more in the fourth, shortly after the ejection, turning four hits into three runs.     

    The Bears, who left 10 on base in the game, finally got it together in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with a leadoff double by junior Ty Tice, who came in to play right field in the fifth inning. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Eddy Sanchez and scored on junior Michael Haun's RBI single to right field to make it 5-1. Junior Keaton Presley followed with a base hit that got Haun to third but HBU starter Zach Carter got out of the jam.
    
    Carter (7-3), who threw three pitches to earn the save in the McNeese State game earlier, went eight innings for the victory, allowing eight hits and two runs. Davenport (4-4) took the loss for the Bears, allowing seven hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings. Junior Will Brand was solid out of the bullpen, tossing 5 1/3 innings and alllowing just four hits and one run while striking out three and walking one.

    The Bears, who handed McNeese its first loss on Thursday night, added another run in the eighth inning when junior catcher Justin McCarty doubled to right field and scored on senior shortstop Brooks Balisterri's RBI single to close the gap to 5-2. But the Huskies added an insurance run in the top of the ninth for the 6-2 final. HBU reliever Tanner Luna walked the leadoff batter Haun in the bottom of the ninth but then recorded the final three outs.

    McCarty finished 2 for 4 for UCA, while Haun was 1 for 2 with an RBI and Balisterri was 1 for 1 with another RBI.
    
    According to SLC officials, Gum will be allowed to coach in Saturday's game. The UCA-HBU winner will turn around and face Sam Houston State at 6 p.m. for the SLC title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.