SPRINGFIELD, Mo. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears got a two-run home run from Hunter Hicks and solid relief outings from a pair of pitchers to down Missouri State 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at Hammons Field.

The Bears evened the series at 1-1 by making the most of their seven hits. Dillan Janak relieved started Logan Gilbertson and went 3 scoreless innings, striking out three. After Trent Gregson went 2/3 of an inning, Tyler Cleveland came on and finished it off with 3 1/3 innings, striking out 6 and allowing just one hit.

The Bears held a 3-2 lead through six innings when Beau Orlando walked to lead off the top of the seventh. A sacrifice bunt by Benny Ayala moved him to second and a ground out sent him to third. Hicks, from Sheridan, followed with a 2-run shot to left field to push UCA's lead to 5-2. After that, Cleveland shut down the MSU Bears, who totaled 11 hits but just one in the final three frames. Cleveland struck out the final batter of the game for his career-high sixth strikeout.

The Bears opened the scoring in the second inning when Christian Brasher's groundout brought in Hicks, who was hit by a pitch. After MSU tied it in the bottom of the second, UCA went back ahead for good in the fifth on Benny Ayala's sacrifice fly that brought home Conner Emmet.

MSU got one back in the bottom of the sixth but that was all the Bears would score. Hicks finished 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 3 runs scored as the only UCA player with multiple hits. Jack Duffy led MSU, going 3 for 5 from the leadoff spot. MSU starter Jared Viertel picked up the loss, lasting 4.1 innings and allowing 2 earned runs.

The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Hammons Field.