CARBONDALE, Ill. _ Despite a pair of home runs on Monday, the University of Central Arkansas Bears lost 8-4 to the Southern Illinois Salukis  in the series finale at Itchy Jones Stadium.

Junior outfielder Trey Harris had a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Bears an early lead. Junior second baseman Hunter Hicks added a pinch-hit solo shot in the seventh that set the final score.

The Salukis (6-1) put up three runs in the third before UCA tied it back up at 3-3 with a single run in the fourth. Drew Sturgeon reached on an error by the SIU shortstop. Consecutive sacrifice bunts by Noah Argenta and R.J. Pearson advanced him to third and he scored on a wild pitch.

But the Salukis plated five runs on five hits in the fifth inning, including a three-run double, to blow the game open.

Harris, from Little Rock Christian and Crowder Community College, finished 2 for 4 with 2 runs batted in. UCA collected eight hits and did not commit an error for the third time this season.

UCA reliever Jesse Barker took the loss while SIU's Jordan Bloemer got the victory, striking out 10 in 6 1/3 innings.

The Bears continue their road trip with a matchup with No. 5 Vanderbilt at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn. UCA returns home to host a four-game series with South Dakota State this weekend.