CONWAY, Ark. _ Despite a pair of home runs from junior Hunter Strong, the University of Central Arkansas Bears dropped a 10-6 decision to the Southeastern Louisiana Lions on Saturday at Bear Stadium in Game 2 of their Southland Conference series.

Strong hit a two-run home run to right field in the fifth inning and a solo shot to right center in the seventh, but the Lions (33-19, 20-9) hit four homers on the day to even the series at 1-1 and take a one-game lead over UCA in the battle for second place in the SLC. The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday on Senior Day.

Four of UCA's seniors _ Justin McCarty, Will Brand, Michael Haun and Dusty Wright _ held their pregame graduation ceremonies with UCA President Dr. Houston Davis, UCA Athletic Director Dr. Brad Teague and UCA Registrar Becky Rasnick. Those four student-athletes missed the official UCA graduation ceremonies last weekend while playing on the road at Abilene Christian.

The Bears (31-19, 17-9) took an early 3-0 lead in the second inning off SLU ace Carlisle Koestler., who entered the game with a 7-1 record. Tyler Smith singled to right and Colby LeBlanc followed with another to right and William Hancock hit a slow roller down the third-base line to load the bases. T.J. Black reached on a fielder's choice to score Smith. Keaton Presley hit a two- run single to bring in the second and third runs.

The Lions got the lead by scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings, then adding two in the fifth. UCA re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on Strong's home run that followed a Coby Potvin base hit to right field. But the Lions came back with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh before UCA got one back in the bottom of the seventh on Strong's line drive home run, his fifth of the season.

SLU then put up three runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away and break UCA's eight-game winning streak. 

The Bears finished with 13 hits, led by Smith, who went 3 for 5. Potvin, Strong, LeBlanc and Hancock had two hits each. UCA starter Cody Davenport (5-3) took the loss, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing 6 runs and striking out 6. SLU reliever Bryce Tassin (2-1) got the win and Kade Granier (2) got the save.

Senior Day festivities for UCA's 11 seniors will begin at approximately 12:45 Sunday.