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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears and Jacksonville State Gamecocks are both battling for a top three finish in the ASUN West Division standings, which would earn them a guaranteed spot in the postseason conference tournament. 

With just two league series remaining, six total games, UCA holds an advantage with a 16-8 record, sitting in second place behind Eastern Kentucky (17-7). JSU is 14-10 and sits in fourth behind third-place Lipscomb (15-9).

The Bears won the first series of the season with the Gamecocks 2-1 at Bear Stadium in Conway, but there were two one-run games and one two-run margin. UCA lost the opener 4-3, then won the final two games 11-9 and 5-4, for a combined 19-17 margin. The Bears hit .286 for the weekend while the Gamecocks hit .250. The earned-run averages were similar as well, with UCA at 5.33 and JSU at 6.75.

Both of UCA's victories on the mound came from relievers. Andrew Shoultz and Tyler Navarro picked up the wins. Shoultz, a junior right hander from Scurry, Texas, also earned the save in Navarro's win on Saturday. UCA's Friday starter Tyler Cleveland, now 6-2, went the distance against JSU, striking out nine but allowing four runs to take the loss.

UCA got a pair of home runs from senior left fielder Conner Emmet and junior catcher Noah Argenta, while sophomore center fielder Drew Sturgeon hit .455 for the weekend with a double and triple. The Bears finished the series with six doubles by six different players.

The Bears' final series of the season is next weekend at home against EKU, a team UCA beat 2-1 in the earlier series on April 14-16 in Richmond, Ky. The top three teams in each division make the ASUN Tournament field, along with the teams with the two next best RPIs. The tournament is set for March 24-28 at Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers, Fla.