CONWAY, Ark. _  The University of Central Arkansas Bears scored first again Saturday against the Bradley Braves but could not hold on for the victory in a 4-3 loss at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (0-2) scored a run in the bottom of the first inning when freshman leadoff batter Kolby Johnson opened with a double down the right-field line, went to second on a passed ball and scored on Tyler Smith's fielder's choice. But just as they did in Friday's win, the Braves (2-0) jumped back ahead quickly in the top of the second and never trailed again.

Bradley got two runs in the second, one on a bases-loaded walk and another on an RBI groundout.

The Braves added two more runs in the fourth before UCA rallied for two in the bottom of the fifth to get within 4-3. Johnson, UCA's right fielder, ended the top of the fifth by throwing out Andy Shadid at home after catching a fly ball for the second out. The Bears put together two hits and a hit by pitch in the fifth. Marco Navarro's fielder's choice scored Cole Fiori and Smith's single to center field plated Joshmar Doran.

The Bears threatened in the eighth when Beau Orlando hit a one-out double to left center but Bradley's bullpen kept the Bears off the board. Jed Moscot pitched 2.2 innings of relief to get the victory, while Allan Beer closed it out with two strikeouts in the ninth. A combination of four Bradley relievers allowed just one hit over the final 4.1 innings.

The Bears finished with just four hits and struck out nine times, with Smith getting a pair of RBI. UCA starter Ty Callahan took the loss in his Bears debut, allowing six hits, four runs and walking three in 4.0 innings. Bradley managed just six hits but drew five walks and struck out just three times.

The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.