ABILENE, Texas _ Two school records were erased by the same player Friday night as the University of Central Arkansas Bears beat Abilene Christian 10-3 in the Southland Conference series opener at Crutcher Scott Field.

Senior right hander Tyler Gray broke both the single-game strikeout record and the career strikeout mark, finishing with 15 in eight innings of work to improve to 6-1 on the season. Gray now has 274 career strikeouts, surpassing Matt Whitaker's old mark of 269 set from 2006-08. Gray, from Fort Smith Southside, was one of four pitchers tied for the single-game record with 14, which he had earlier this season at McNeese State.

The third-place Bears (26-18, 14-8) fell behind 2-0 in the third inning but then reeled off the next 10 runs to back Gray's strong outing. UCA finished with 12 hits, while Gray and Mark Moyer held the Wildcats (19-24, 5-17) to just five. Junior catcher William Hancock had three hits and scored three runs, while junior right fielder Coby Potvin, senior shortstop Josh Somdecerff, junior first baseman Tyler Smith and senior third baseman Rigo Aguilar had two hits each.

The Bears tied the game in the fourth on Aguilar's two-run triple. They took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth, coming on Potvin's RBI single and bases-loaded walks to Hunter Strong and Smith. UCA drew six walks in the game, four of those with the bases full. A single run in the sixth made it a 6-2 lead on Hancock's solo home run to right, his fourth of the season.

A four-run eighth inning by the Bears put the game out of reach. UCA had just two hits but got a safety squeeze bunt from T.J. Black, two more walks and a hit by pitch for Somdecerff with the bases loaded as well. Strong, Smith and Aguilar had two RBI each, with Black and Keaton Presley scoring twice apiece.

Gray, who struck out the side in the fourth and seventh innings, allowed a run in the ninth before exiting for sophomore Mark Moyer, who recorded the final three outs Gray entered the game second in the SLC and 17th in the nation in strikeouts. 

Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, with junior right hander Tanner Wiley on the mound for the Bears.