FLORENCE, Ala. _ A six-run third inning carried the University of Central Arkansas Bears to a 7-1 victory over the North Alabama Lions on Friday in their ASUN series opener at Mike Lane Field.

UCA (10-14, 5-2) got a second consecutive complete game from Friday starter Tyler Cleveland, who scattered five hits and struck out eight  while walking one and allowing only an unearned run. Senior left fielder Connor Emmet put together a four-hit night and Drew Pollum and Reid Bowman each had a pair of runs batted in to carry the offense.

The Bears jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the third as they batted around against UNA starter Jacob Bradshaw. Emmet had an RBI single for the first run, followed by a ground-out RBI by Hunter Hicks. Pollum's two-run single came next, and Bowman topped that with a two-run triple to make it a 6-0 lead.

The Lions (6-18, 1-6) plated their only run in the fourth inning off a pair of UCA errors. The Bears made it 7-1 in the seventh when Kolby Johnson and Emmet had consecutive base hits to lead off the inning, with Johnson coming in on A.J. Mendolia's sacrifice fly.

Cleveland, the reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week, did the rest, working around another UCA error in the seventh and stranding a UNA runner in the eighth. He got the Lions in order in the ninth to improve to 2-1 on the season.

Johnson was the only other Bear with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored. 

Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. UCA has won its first two ASUN series of the season 2-1, at Bellarmine and at home against Lipscomb.