HUNTSVILLE, Texas _  The University of Central Arkansas Bears lost a 3-0 lead on Saturday as the first-place Sam Houston State Bearkats rallied for a 5-3 victory in Game 2 of their Southland Conference series at Don Sanders Stadium.

The deciding game is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.

UCA (23-15, 11-6), in second place in the SLC standings, scored all three of its runs in the first inning off SHSU starter Seth Ballew but would not score again. The Bearkats (27-13, 14-3) got a run in the sixth and four more in the seventh to even the series at 1-1. 

In the first inning, senior shortstop Josh Somdecerff was hit by a pitch and scored on junior first baseman Tyler Smith's RBI double to left center. Senior center fielder Keaton Presley followed with an RBI double to bring in Smith, and one out later, senior third baseman Rigo Aguilar's base hit to left scored Presley for the early 3-0 lead.

UCA starter Tanner Wiley (3-2) shut out the Bearkats for five innings before allowing a single run in the sixth. Wiley took the loss after allowing four runs in the seventh. He allowed eight hits, struck out four and walked one. Junior right hander Conner Williams held the Bearkats scoreless over the final 1 1/3 innings but UCA's offense could not come through. 

The Bears did get a base runner to second base in the top of the ninth on Coby Potvin's double but SHSU closer Dakota Mills got a strikeout to preserve the win. UCA fnished with seven hits, with Potvin and Smith getting two apiece. SHSU's Andrew Fregia had a pair of home runs and went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI.

Junior Cody Davenport (3-1) will start for the Bears in the series finale.