CONWAY, Ark. _ University of Central Arkansas senior Dusty Wright laced a two-out single to left field in the bottom of the 10th to score William Hancock and give the Bears a 4-3 win over Incarnate Word in their Southland Conference series opener at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (10-8, 2-2) won their seventh consecutive home game on the strength of another quality start by senior righthander Tyler Gray on the mound and a 12-hit attack by the UCA offense. Gray went nine innings, striking out nine and allowing five hits and three runs. Sophomore Mark Moyer (3-2) came on and got the win with a scoreless 10th inning.

UCA, which left eight runners on base, did not strand the one that counted in the 10th. First baseman Tyler Smith opened the inning with a ground-rule double into the left-field corner. A sacrifice but by Keaton Presley moved him to third before Michael Haun came on to run for Smith. A ground ball to the pitcher by catcher William Hancock turned into the second out as Haun was caught between third and home, with Hancock advancing to second.

Designated hitter Colby LeBlanc, who went 3 for 4, was intentionally walked by UIW reliever Cody Allen, who then became the losing pitcher when Wright rolled a ground ball through the left side of a drawn-in infield and Hancock slid home for the game winner.

The Bears scored their first run in the third inning on an RBI ground out by Hunter Strong that scored Rigo Aguilar. UIW (13-7, 3-1) got three runs in the fifth inning but the Bears got one back in the bottom of the innning and tied in the sixth. In the fifth, Aguilar singled up the middle and eventually scored on an error. Hancock had a pinch-hit double and scored on LeBlanc's RBI single in the sixth.

UIW starter Bernie Martinez went 8 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, striking out three and allowing just two earned runs. 

Aguilar also finished 3 for 4 and scored two runs for the Bears, while shortstop Josh Somdecerff and Hancock had two hits each. Gray and Moyer held the Cardinals to just six hits, two each by Kyle Bergeron and David Anaya.

The series will conclude with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday to avoid possible rain on Sunday.