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CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will play their next 13 games within the borders of Arkansas, beginning Tuesday afternoon with a 4 p.m. matchup with the Memphis Tigers at Bear Stadium.

UCA wil not play another game outside of Arkansas until Tuesday, March 21 when they travel to face No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

The Bears are coming off three consecutive one-run losses, one in 14 innings, last weekend at Missouri State in Springfield, Mo. UCA had started the season 3-1, including a road win over No. 10 Vanderbilt last Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn. 

  UCA lost by scores of 11-10 (14 innings), 4-3 and 2-1 at Hammons Field. They now return to Bear Stadium for four straight games, including a weekend series with Illinois State that begins Friday.

The Bears are hitting .259 as a team and are holding their opponents to just a .192 average. UCA's leading hitter is sophomore second baseman Tanner Leonard at .500, with 12 hits and five stolen bases. Junior center fielder Drew Sturgeon, who had his team-best third home run on Sunday, is next at .310, followed by junior left fielder/designated hitter Dylan Cyr (.280) and sophomore shortstop Reid Bowman (.280).

The Bears have also stolen 15 bases (in 22 attempts), compared to 4 of 6 for its opponents.

UCA's pitching staff sports a 3.58 earned-run average, led by junior transfer Payton Windham, this week's ASUN Conference Pitcher of the Week, who has yet to allow an earned run in 8.1 innings.

The Tigers, under the direction of first-year head coach Kerrrick Jackson, is 6-2 overall and won three of four games against Youngstown State last weekend in Memphis. The Tigers, who are hitting .304 as a team, have four players hitting above .300, including two better than .400. 

Austin Baskin has a .440 average and Anthony Hansen is hitting .433. The Tigers have hit 16 home runs in eight games. 

The game can be heard live on The Bear 91.3 and on ESPN+.