CONWAY, Ark. _ A combined pitching gem by Jesse Barker and Tate Busey gave the University of Central Arkansas Bears a 3-0 victory over the Southeast Missouri Redhawks on Saturday at Bear Stadium.

Barker, a junior right hander from Benton, Ark., started and went 5 2/3 innings and struck out a carer-high nine batters, including three in the second inning. Busey, who missed the entire 2022 season after surgery, went the final 3 1/2 scoreless and hitless innings. 

UCA allowed just three hits and no extra-base hits. The only error came in the ninth inning, after three miscues in Friday's series opener.

The Bears manufactured single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings against SEMO's first two pitchers. In the third.  UCA catcher Noah Argenta singled through the left side and advanced to third on a perfectly placed bunt by second baseman Tanner Leonard. Center fielder Drew Sturgeon then executed a safety squeeze bunt that scored Argenta for the 1-0 lead.

Designated hitter Dylan Cyr led off the fourth with a double to left center, moved to third on A.J. Mendolia's base hit and scored on a ground out by freshman Kade Seldomridge. UCA made it 3-0 in the fifth when Reid Bowman and Evan Hafley had consecutive base hits and Kolby Johnson's ground out scored Bowman.

The rest was all Barker and Busey. Barker was in control throughout, exiting with two outs and two runners on in the sixth. Busey came on and got Josh Cameron to ground out in a 10-pitch at-bat. After that, the sophomore right hander from Pea Ridge struck out two and allowed just one base runner on an error in the ninth.

Bowman, a sophomore shortstop from Little Rock, finished 2 for 4, as did Argenta. Leonard, a sophomore second baseman from Searcy, was 2 for 3.

SEMO's Collin Wilma took the loss, allowing two earned runs in three innings.

The rubber game of the series is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at Bear Stadium.