CONWAY, Ark. _ The Northern Illinois Huskies had 14 hits and took advantage of four Central Arkansas errors on Sunday to take a 9-4 victory and win the season-opening series at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (1-2) fell behind 7-0 before finally getting on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to get within 7-4. But the Huskies (2-1) posted two more runs in the top of the eighth to put the game away.

In the sixth, with a revamped lineup, the Bears scored twice off NIU's solid starter Michael Lasiewicz, who went six innings and allowed just 4 hits and no earned runs, striking out 8. Hunter Strong reached in an error and Tyler Smith followed with a double to left field. Joey Pinney's ground out scored Strong, and pinch hitter Brett D'Amico followed with an infield single that brought in Smith.

UCA got two more in the seventh off NIU reliever William Anderson. Rigo Aguilar singled to right field, and two outs later, Dusty Wright reached on a fielding error. Strong loaded the bases with an infield single and Smith brought home two runs with a base hit through the left side to close the gap to 7-4. However, Strong ended up stranded at third base, one of nine baserunners the Bears left on base Sunday, and a combined 28 for the three-game series.

Smith, a junior transfer from Alvin Community College, finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and a run scored. Strong and Aguilar had two hits apiece and both scored a run., while Wright went 1 for 3 with a run scored. NIU had a pair of solo home runs from Samuel Vega and Hunter Bross among its 14 hits.

UCA sophomore starter Mark Moyer took the loss, allowing 5 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The Bears are scheduled to host the Little Rock Trojans at 4 p.m. Tuesday, weather permitting. UCA is also at home this weekend for a non-conference series with Missouri State. Game times are 3 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Bear Stadium.