RICHMOND, Ky. _ What looked like a blowout for six innings Thursday night turned into a barn burner as the University of Central Arkansas Bears finally subdued the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 13-9 at Earle Combs Stadium to take over sole possession of first place in the ASUN West Division.

The Bears (15-17, 9-4) got a school-record tying three home runs from senior left fielder Connor Emmet and needed all of them as they jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the fifth inning before the home team scored six consecutive runs over the next two innings to climb back into the game.  

UCA, clinging to a 10-9 lead heading into the ninth inning, got some relief by scoring three times off EKU's standout closer Will Brian, who had not allowed a run of any kind in ASUN play and had an NCAA-leading 11 saves on the season. But the Bears touched him for three runs, all earned, as catcher Noah Argenta led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch.  Tanner Leonard's sacrifice bunt moved him to third before R.J. Pearson was hit by a pitch.

After the Colonels recorded the second out, Emmet got a base hit to left center to score both runners. Hunter Hicks followed that with an RBI double to center to give the Bears a four-run cushion. Emmet finished the night  4 for 5 with 6 RBI and 5 runs scored, while HIcks was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. 

Emmet tied the school record for single-game home runs held by Eric Cameron and Michael Marietta, while his five runs scored also tied the school mark.

Emmet started the offensive fireworks with a one-out solo home run on the first pitch he saw in the first inning. Hicks made it back-to-back blasts to give the Bears a 2-0 lead. After the Colonels cut the deficit in half with a run in the third, UCA pushed across five more in the fifth, with the aid of just one base hit. For the game, UCA drew 10 walks and had four batters hit by a combination of seven EKU pitchers.

UCA sophomore starter Tyler Cleveland allowed a career-high seven runs in 6 1/3 innings but still earned the win to improve to 3-2. Sophomore Trent Gregson went the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his second save. EKU starter Isaac Milburn took the loss, allowing the Bears the early lead they never relinquished.

Argenta, Leonard, A.J. Mendolia and Drew Sturgeon accounted for UCA's other runs batted in, while Kolby Johnson scored twice and Drew Pollum drew three of the 10 walks. 

UCA and EKU entered the game tied for first in the West, with Lipscomb and Jacksonville State a game back. The Bears have now won a season-high four consecutive games, three in league play. This series wraps up the first half of the conference slate, with five more series remaining. The Bears are the only team in the ASUN that has won all four series to date.

Game 2 of the series is set for 3 p.m. (CT) Friday, with the finale at 11 a.m. (CT) Saturday.