COOKEVILLE, Tenn. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears exploded for seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a 4-4 tie and blow past the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 11-5 on Saturday afternoon, winning their non-conference series at Bush Stadium.

The Bears scored 11 runs on just nine hits, which included home runs by senior first baseman Tyler Smith and junior designated hitter Marco Navarro. Navarro hit his third home run of the season in the ninth, a two-run shot, as the Bears batted around against the TTU bullpen. Smith finished 2 for 5 with a game-high 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.

UCA senior reliever Taylor Anders pitched six strong innings, allowing 7 hits and just 1 run with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk. Senior Conner Williams (2-1) pitched the final two innings, striking out four and allowing 3 hits and 1 run. The Golden Eagles (14-19) got a single run off Williams in the bottom of the ninth but he struck out three in the inning to secure the victory.

UCA (17-19) won the second game of Friday's doubleheader to take the series 2-1 against TTU, which was an NCAA Super Regional team a year ago.

The Bears came from behind twice again Saturday after trailing 3-0 after one inning and 4-3 after the seventh. UCA matched TTU's three runs with their of its own in the third. Jay Anderson reached on a two-out throwing error, stole second and scored on Josh Ragan's double to left center. Smith followed with his second home run of the season to tie it at 3-3.

The Golden Eagles re-took the lead with a run in the seventh but the Bears responded in the top of the eighth to tie it again after TTU starter Caleb Morgan left the game with 5 strikeouts and no earned runs. Anderson started it again with a walk and went all the way to third on consecutive wild pitches. Smith grounded out, allowing Anderson to tie it at 4-4.

In the ninth, UCA greeted reliever Tony Curry with Joshmar Doran's leadoff double to left. Bryce Dodd followed with a walk and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Ty King replaced Curry and threw another wild pitch, allowing Doran to score the go-ahead run. Anderson hit a sacrifice fly and Smith doubled to left to chase King. Beau Orlando reached on a fielding error, scoring Smith to make it 9-4. Navarro then homered down the left-field line for the final UCA runs.

Navarro finished 3 for 5 with 2 RBI while Doran was 2 for 5. John Dyer went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI for the Golden Eagles, who committed three errors and had five wild pitches.

UCA takes on the Little Rock Trojans at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock before returning to Southland Conference play at home this weekend against Southland Conference leader Sam Houston State at Bear Stadium.