CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears rallied from an 8-2 deficit on Tuesday before coming up short in an 8-6 non-conference loss to the Memphis Tigers at Bear Stadium.

The Bears (3-5) scored the final four runs of the game and had their chances late, leaving three runners on base in the eighth and two more in the ninth as the Tigers (7-2) held on for the win.

UCA scored two runs in the eighth when the Mason King and A.J. Mendolia drew consecutive walks to open the inning. Pinch hitter Jack Angus followed with an RBI single down the left field line to score King. Jack McLaughlin had another walk  before freshman Kade Seldomridge drew a bases-loaded walk to close it to 8-6. 

The Bears had also put up two runs in the fourth inning when senior right fielder Dylan Cyr hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot to right field. The second run came in on a Seldomridge ground out.

Memphis grabbed an early lead with a five-run second inning. UCA got one back in the bottom of the inning when Cyr doubled and eventually scored on a throwing error. The Tigers pushed across two more in the third but UCA got another run in the bottom of the frame on Mendolia's RBI base hit that scored Drew Surgeon.

UCA got a solid relief outing from freshman Charlie Christensen in his first appearance of the season. He went 5.0 innings, allowing six hits and three runs adn striking out three. Junior Trent Gregson struck out three over the final two scoreless innings.

Cyr, Mendolia and Evan Hafley had two hits apiece for the Bears. Memphis, which used six pitchers, had 11 hits, including three players with two each.

UCA is at home this weekend for a non-conference series against Illinois State. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.